Geek Squad is a popular, legitimate multinational consumer electronics retailer that provides various technology support and services, including technical support, installation services, etc. It is a subsidiary of multinational consumer electronics corporation Best Buy, headquartered in the USA. But the Geek Squad name occasionally gets exploited by threat actors who send deceptive emails. Most of us, at some time or the other, may have received emails purporting to be from Geek Squad containing messages about PC issues, software problems, password reset or the need for immediate action regarding payment Auto-renewal. In this post, we talk about Geek Squad Email Scams and how to protect yourself.
In digital scams that aim to steal your data and money, keeping track of all the new types that keep coming up is impossible. Digital scams are getting clever and cleverer each time. Few make it to the headlines, like the Geek Squad Email scam, which often preys on your data and bank details.
What are these Geek Squad Scam Emails?
Geek Squad Email Scam is a phishing attempt where the scammers impersonate support and service providers from Geek Squad. In these scams, users get fraud emails that appear to be from Geek Squad. These contain alarming messages about security issues, software problems, or the need for immediate action and a link to fix the issue. They usually read something like this:
Dear Happyandyk, Thank you for your new purchase Banking Security.
Please review your payment amount below.Company Name:- Geek Squad LLC
Item Name:- Banking SecurityItem Code:- 836-965-DI-166
Plan:- 60 Months
Payment Id:- 37752665314175528
Payment Method:- Bank account
Payment received:- $679.56Your estimated delivery date is Wednesday, 13 December 2023. When your order ready, you will receive a ‘Notification’ email for your register email. If you have any questions or need further information about returns, you can view our return policy.
Questions? We’re here to help- +1-[815] 313-7601
Note:- Please do not reply to this email. This email is system generated. The mailbox is not monitored and you will not receive a response.
Best Regards,
The Geek Squad LLC,
+1-[815] 313-7601
If Telephone numbers are mentioned, you should ignore them. If the email includes links and you click on them, they open malicious websites and install malware on the recipient’s device. It can then steal the user’s sensitive information, such as login credentials, personal details, or financial information.
Opening a spam email typically won’t harm your computer. However, the real risk comes from downloading attachments or clicking links within the email, which can unleash malware like Trojans. It is best to be cautious and avoid interaction with the content to prevent potential security threats.
According to the FBI’s official data, more than 300,000 people have fallen prey to this scam, with an average value of $200 for each person. Well, now that you know much about Geek Squad Scam email, let’s learn how to protect from Geek Squad email scams.
How to protect yourself from Geek Squad Email Phishing scams?
Phishing is a cyberattack using which scammers steal user’s sensitive data. This is done by sending spam emails, messages, etc. However, you can follow some simple suggestions and protect yourself from phishing:
- Verify Authenticity of email ID
- Check the linked domain
- Look for Red Flags
- Don’t reply to email with personal details
- Never Share Sensitive Information
- Add Spam Filters to your Email
- Don’t reply to email with personal details
- Keep your Software and Antivirus Updated
- Report spam and phishing
Now, let’s see these in detail.
1] Verify Authenticity of email ID
Start by checking the sender’s email address. This is because phishers and scammers often try to mimic real email addresses. If you find the mail suspicious, don’t click on links or open any attachments. You should always take some precautions before you click on any link.
In the case of the GeekSquad email scam, the official domain will be Bestbuy.com or Geeksquad.com. The official link to their website is geeksquad.com or bestbuy.com/site/services/geek-squad/pcmcat138100050018.c.
2] Check the linked domain
If you are being redirected to a link, check the website it redirects you to. It will never be from the official domain, Bestbuy.com or Geeksquad.com. It will have a weird name or a shady extension in almost every case. Clicking on these links will instantly expose your personal data to the scammers.
3] Look for Red Flags
Phishing emails and messages generally contain some spelling mistakes, ask for sensitive information, use urgent or threatening language, or redirect the user to suspicious websites. In our experience, emails that contain any of these can try to steal your data.
In case you are in doubt, you can use the free services of any one of these URL Scanners to check the genuinity of any website.
4] Don’t reply to email with personal details
Never reply to an email with your personal details, even when you have reasons to believe it comes from legitimate sources. The scammers might ask you for your details to cancel the subscription. For canceling a subscription, even authorized personnel don’t ask you for personal details. The scammers might try to instill a sense of urgency that you will be charged in a few days and have only 1-2 days to cancel your subscription. Usually, they give their customers at least seven days for the same.
5] Never Share Sensitive Information
If you doubt any email or website, prefer not to enter sensitive information like credit/debit card details as it can be a phishing attempt. However, if you need to enter card details, use a credit card number generator website.
6] Don’t reply to email with personal details
Never reply to an email with your personal details, even when you have reasons to believe it comes from legitimate sources. The scammers might ask you for your details to cancel the subscription. For canceling a subscription, even authorized personnel don’t ask you for personal details. The scammers might try to instill a sense of urgency that you will be charged in a few days and have only 1-2 days to cancel your subscription. Usually, they give their customers at least seven days for the same.
7] Add Spam Filters to your Email
Always enable spam filters on your email as they automatically filter potentially malicious messages. Keep checking your spam folder to ensure any important emails aren’t being marked as spam.
8] Keep your Software and Antivirus Updated
Lastly, keep your device’s antivirus and OS updated and updated with the latest security patches. This is because scammers can exploit vulnerabilities and launch phishing attacks.
9] Report spam and phishing
You can successfully dodge a GeekSquad Scam email by following the methods stated above, but to protect yourself from such attempts, you can do a simple thing. Report the email as phishing and scam. To do so, go to the triple dot menu on the email and click on it. From the menu, select Report spam and report phishing. This will signal the email service provider to send similar emails to the spam folder, preventing future scam emails from landing in your primary inbox.
Read: Where to report Online Scams, Spam and Phishing websites?
We hope this post helps you.
Conclusion
This article taught us ways to protect ourselves from Geeksquad Email scams. Online scammers are getting clever and subtler in their techniques, but there are always some ways these can be identified. The key to protecting yourself against these scams is to stay vigilant, not click on suspicious links, and not disclose your data. We hope you found the article to be insightful. Please make sure that you share it with everyone.
What happens if you accidentally open a spam email?
It is highly unlikely to get a virus or malware simply by opening a phishing email. The majority of viruses, such as Trojan horses and worms, are activated only when an attachment is downloaded or a link is clicked in the email. The worst that attackers can do is see that you have opened the email.
Why am I suddenly getting spam emails?
When you sign up for a service or make a purchase online, you are typically required to provide an email address. Unfortunately, this email address may be shared publicly, leaked, or sold to third-party marketers who use it for spam emails. Therefore, it is important to be cautious about providing your email address and to regularly monitor your email for any suspicious or unwanted emails.
Speaking of scams, have a look at some of these links:
- Avoid online scams and know when to trust a website
- Avoid scams that fraudulently use the Microsoft name
- Avoid Vishing and Smishing Scams
- Be aware of Whaling scams
- Avoid Online Shopping Fraud & Holiday Season Scams
- Avoid Internet Catfishing Social Engineering Scams.
How do I stop being scammed by phishing?
To make sure you don’t get scammed by phishing, make sure you never share any sensitive data like your credit card or social security number. Also, keep your operating system and antivirus updated.
Read: What are different TEMU scams?
How can I stop phishing emails?
To stop phishing emails, enable spam filters and two-factor authentication for your account. Also, ensure you do not share any information by clicking on links and installing any malware accidentally. But again, this can only control the amount of spam and not totally stop it!
