Geek Squad scam emails: how to spot the fake renewal or invoice
Quick answer
Scammers pretend to be Geek Squad with emails or texts saying you were charged for a renewal and must call within 24 hours to dispute it. Don't call the number. Check your bank statement, and report the message to Best Buy at abuse@BestBuy.com.
- Comes by
- Email, Text, Phone call
- Pretends to be
- Geek Squad
- Last updated
How it works
The FTC describes fake emails and texts that say you were, or will be, charged hundreds of dollars to renew a Geek Squad membership. They add a deadline: call a number within 24 hours if you want to dispute the charge.
The call is where the money is taken:
- The person asks to connect to your computer "to process the refund", which gives them remote access.
- They send you to a copy of a real website and ask for bank or card details.
- They then say they refunded too much and demand you pay the difference back by gift card, wire, crypto or a payment app.
The FTC also warns that scammers can install spyware that steals online banking logins.
Red flags
- A renewal charge for a plan you don't remember buying
- A deadline of 24 hours to call and dispute it
- A phone number in the message rather than a link to your Best Buy account
- A sender address from a free email service instead of Best Buy
- A request to let someone connect to your computer
- Being asked to pay back a "refund by mistake"
Example message
Your Geek Squad protection plan has been renewed and $[amount] was charged to your account. If you did not authorize this, call [phone number] within 24 hours to cancel and get a refund.
What to do
- 1
Don't call the number or open attachments
If you think the notice might be real, contact the company using a number you know is genuine, not the one in the message.
- 2
Check your bank or card statement
The FTC says that if you can't find a charge for the subscription, the message was a scam.
- 3
Report it to Best Buy
Best Buy asks that suspected Geek Squad scams go to abuse@BestBuy.com. Then delete the message.
- 4
If you gave someone remote access, disconnect
Shut down the computer, remove any remote access app they had you install, change your passwords from a different device and run a security scan.
- 5
If you shared card or bank details, call your bank
Use the number on your card. Tell them it was fraud and ask about stopping payments. Our guide on what to do after a data breach covers the rest.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
These emails go out in bulk, but scammers do better when they have your real name and email. Both are easy to find in breaches and on people-search sites.
Serus finds where your phone number, address and email are listed on people-search sites and other data brokers and files removal requests, and it alerts you when your details turn up in a breach. That won't stop every message, but it gives scammers less to work with.
Common Geek Squad scams
- Geek Squad automatic renewal scam A message saying you were charged hundreds of dollars to auto-renew Geek Squad, with a number to call within 24 hours, is a scam. Don't call it. Check your card or bank account, and contact Best Buy at a number you look up yourself. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Geek Squad invoice scam An email or text saying your Geek Squad membership renewed for hundreds of dollars, with a number to call, is a scam. Don't call it. Check your card or bank statement, and contact Best Buy through its own site or app. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Geek Squad renewal scam An email saying your Geek Squad plan renewed for hundreds of dollars, with a number to call and dispute it, is a scam. Don't call it. Check your bank or card statement, and contact Geek Squad only through a number you look up yourself. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Geek Squad subscription renewal scam An email saying your Geek Squad subscription renewed for hundreds of dollars, with a number to call within 24 hours, is a scam. Scammers pretend to be Geek Squad. Don't call it. Check your own account and report the email at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Geek Squad subscription scam An email or text saying your Geek Squad subscription renewed for hundreds of dollars, and you must call within 24 hours to cancel, is a scam. The number reaches a scammer who asks for remote access to your computer. Don't call. Check your card statement and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Frequently asked
Is a Geek Squad renewal email real?
Check your account and statements before you do anything. The FTC says a missing charge means it's a scam, and you should never use the phone number in the message.
What if I already called the number?
Hang up, don't pay anything and check your accounts. If you gave remote access or card details, follow the steps above and call your bank.
Is Geek Squad itself a scam?
No. Geek Squad is a real Best Buy service. Scammers pretend to be Geek Squad.
Where do I report it?
Forward it to abuse@BestBuy.com and report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Sources
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