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Do not call the number in a pop-up that claims your computer is infected. Treat it as a tech-support scam, close the page without clicking its controls, revoke the site’s notification permission, and block its pop-ups. A real security warning does not ask you to telephone a number, pay someone, disclose a password, or grant remote access. If you already called, paid, installed remote-control software, or shared information, secure your money and accounts first, then update your security software and run a scan.
How to tell a tech-support pop-up is a scam
Scammers design these pages to look like operating-system or antivirus alerts. They may use a loud alarm, flashing colors, a countdown, a full-screen message, or a logo and wording that resemble a well-known technology company. The decisive warning sign is the requested action: a phone call, payment, password, verification code, download, or remote-control session.
The Federal Trade Commission says legitimate technology companies will not contact you by phone, email, or text to announce a problem with your computer. It also says that real security pop-ups and messages never ask you to call a phone number. A message that says “call support now” is therefore not a normal security notice, even when it names Microsoft or another familiar company.
| What the message does | How to interpret it |
|---|---|
| Displays an unexpected infection warning and gives a telephone number | Tech-support scam pattern; do not call |
| Requests a gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, card payment, password, or one-time code | Fraudulent support request; stop interacting |
| Asks you to install a “fix” or remote-access tool | Potential takeover of the computer; refuse |
| Arrives as a normal notification after you previously clicked Allow on a website | Likely a browser notification permission, not proof of infection |
| Appears during a scan you intentionally started in your installed security software | Could be a genuine result; use the software’s official help channel rather than a number in a web page |
If you need help with a real problem, open the company’s official website yourself or use a support number printed on an invoice or device documentation. Never use contact details supplied by the alarming pop-up.
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What to do in the first minute
- Stop engaging. Do not click “Call,” “Remove virus,” “Renew,” “Allow,” “Scan,” or any other button inside the warning. Do not call the displayed number, download its recommended tool, pay, type credentials, or disclose a verification code.
- Close the page. Use the browser’s normal close control. If the page traps the tab or repeatedly opens dialogs, use your operating system’s normal window-close or force-quit function. Do not press buttons in the page to make it disappear.
- Disconnect only if necessary. If you have already granted remote control and the person is actively using the computer, disconnect the computer from the internet using the operating system’s network control, then contact a trusted technician from another device.
- Revoke the site’s notification permission. Follow the Chrome, Edge, or Firefox procedure below. Notifications and pop-ups are separate settings, so address both.
- Run a security check. Update your installed security software before starting a scan. The FTC specifically recommends updating security software and running a scan when you suspect a computer problem.
Notifications and pop-ups are different controls
A browser pop-up is a window or tab that a site attempts to open. A web notification is a message delivered through the browser’s notification system, often appearing in the operating system’s notification area. Allowing one does not automatically grant the other. Removing a notification permission will stop that site’s push messages, but a separate pop-up rule may still allow new windows. Conversely, blocking pop-ups does not necessarily revoke a notification permission that was already granted.
Use both controls: remove or block the suspicious site under notification permissions, then block the same site under the browser’s pop-up settings. If you never approved notifications, the alerts may be ordinary pop-ups or another program’s messages; continue with the scan and troubleshooting section rather than granting the page more access.
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Remove scam notifications and pop-ups in Chrome
Block or remove the notification permission
- Open Chrome’s menu and choose Settings.
- Select Privacy and security, then Site Settings.
- Open Notifications.
- Under the sites allowed to send notifications, find the suspicious domain.
- Choose the site’s menu and select Block or Remove. Blocking prevents the site from sending notifications and requesting permission again in the usual way; removing deletes the listed permission so a future visit could ask again.
Block pop-ups from the same domain
- Return to Settings → Privacy and security → Site Settings.
- Select Pop-ups and redirects.
- Review the allowed list and block or remove the suspicious domain.
Review Chrome’s Safety Check
Chrome can show permissions it removed automatically in Privacy and security → Safety Check. Review that area after cleaning the site so you know whether Chrome has already taken action on a permission or extension. Do not restore a permission merely because the site asks for it again.
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Block the site notification
- Open Settings and more (the three-dot menu), then choose Settings.
- Select Privacy, search, and services.
- Open Site permissions, then All sites.
- Search for or select the suspicious website.
- Set Notifications to Block.
When the site is open, you can also select View site information at the left side of the address bar and change its Notifications permission there. This is useful when the domain is difficult to identify in the full site list.
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Block the site’s pop-ups
Edge treats website notifications and pop-ups as separate permissions. Open the browser’s pop-up-blocking setting and ensure the suspicious domain is not in an allowed list. Removing a notification grant alone does not change the pop-up rule.
Remove scam notifications and pop-ups in Firefox
Change one site’s permission
- Open Firefox’s menu and choose Settings.
- Select Privacy & Security.
- In the Permissions section, find Notifications and select Settings.
- Select the suspicious site.
- Choose Block to stop the site from sending notifications and requesting permission again, or choose Remove Website to revoke the current grant while allowing a future request.
- Select Save Changes if Firefox presents that button.
Stop future notification requests
In the same Notifications settings window, enable Block new requests asking to allow notifications. This prevents sites from repeatedly presenting an Allow prompt. Use Remove All Websites only when you are comfortable clearing every saved notification grant, including permissions for sites you trust.
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Use Firefox’s address-bar controls
With the suspicious page open, select the permissions icon in the address bar to inspect and change that site’s notification permission. Firefox also exposes the setting through its Page Info or permissions panel. The browser’s Web Push system is opt-in: Mozilla states that a site cannot send push notifications without your permission. If alerts continue after the permission is blocked, do not re-allow the site; proceed to the scan and compromise checks.
If alerts appear when the browser window is closed
A notification permission can allow a browser to deliver a message outside the tab where you originally clicked Allow. Closing one tab does not revoke the permission. The fix is to remove or block the site in the browser’s settings, not to click the notification itself.
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- Identify the domain shown in the notification, if the operating system displays it.
- Open the browser’s site-permission list and block or remove that domain using the relevant steps above.
- Close every browser window and restart the browser. This clears an already queued display and confirms whether the permission change took effect.
- Check the browser’s pop-up exceptions and remove the same domain there.
- If messages continue after the permission is gone, update security software and run a full scan. A persistent alert can indicate unwanted software rather than a remaining browser permission.
Do not revisit the scam page just to identify it. Use the domain visible in the notification, browser history, or a saved screenshot only if doing so is safe.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if you interacted with the scammer
Risk is highest when you paid, installed remote-access software, gave someone control of the screen, disclosed a password, or read out a verification code. Work through the consequences in this order.
Protect money and payment accounts
- Call your bank, card issuer, or payment service using a trusted number from its official website, card, or statement—not the number in the pop-up.
- Explain that the transaction was unauthorized or induced by a scam and ask whether it can be reversed, recalled, or disputed.
- Ask whether the account, card, or online-banking credentials should be replaced.
- Review recent transactions and continue checking statements for unfamiliar activity.
Protect passwords and identity
- Change the password you disclosed or typed into the scammer’s page.
- Change every other account that reused that password. Start with email, banking, payment, shopping, and cloud-storage accounts.
- Use unique passwords for each account and enable multi-factor authentication where available.
- If you gave a one-time code, tell the affected service that the code was shared with a scammer and ask it to review active sessions or recovery details.
Remove remote access and check the computer
- Uninstall any remote-access program the scammer asked you to install, if you can identify it confidently. If the person still has access or you are unsure what was installed, disconnect the computer from the internet and use a trusted technician.
- Update the operating system and security software.
- Run a complete scan and follow the security software’s remediation instructions.
- After the scan, change passwords again from a device you trust if the compromised computer was under remote control.
The FTC recommends using a trusted technician or a store’s support service when you need assistance. Choose a provider independently; do not accept a technician who contacted you through the fraudulent warning.
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Report the pop-up, telephone number, message, or payment request to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Preserve a screenshot, the displayed number, the domain, payment receipts, or chat records when you can do so safely. Do not return to the scam page merely to collect evidence, and do not call the number to “test” it.
Prevent the next notification trap
- Allow notifications only on sites you recognize and have a reason to monitor. A page that demands permission before showing ordinary content is a warning sign.
- When a site asks for notification access, inspect the domain in the address bar before selecting Allow.
- Keep the browser, operating system, and security software current.
- Use the browser’s built-in pop-up blocking and review exceptions periodically.
- Teach everyone who uses the computer that real security messages do not provide a phone number for urgent repairs.
- Save the official support page for your operating system or security product so you can reach it without relying on an unexpected message.
Quick comparison of the three browser procedures
| Browser | Where site notifications are listed | Action for a suspicious site | Can future prompts be disabled? | Pop-up control |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome | Settings → Privacy and security → Site Settings → Notifications | Block or Remove | Block the site; review Safety Check | Separate Settings → Privacy and security → Site Settings → Pop-ups and redirects |
| Edge | Settings and more → Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Site permissions → All sites | Set Notifications to Block | Block the site; the address-bar View site information panel also changes it | Separate pop-up blocker |
| Firefox | Settings → Privacy & Security → Permissions → Notifications → Settings | Block or Remove Website | Enable Block new requests asking to allow notifications | Notifications are managed in Permissions and Page Info; pop-up blocking remains a separate browser control |
When to seek hands-on help
Contact a computer technician you trust if the scammer had remote control, you cannot determine what software was installed, the computer remains unstable after an updated scan, or you are unable to secure an account. Use a phone number or website that you locate independently. Bring screenshots, transaction records, the suspicious domain, and a list of information you shared, but do not give the technician the scammer’s contact details as if they were legitimate support.
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