Independent guide. We are not affiliated with any company. This page is about protecting yourself, and it applies to every support number you find, including ones from third parties like us.
Fake support is common because people searching for help are often stressed and in a hurry. Search ads, social posts and look-alike pages can show phone numbers that belong to someone other than the company.
Warning signs
- A phone number found through a search ad or a social post rather than the company's own app or site.
- A page that copies a company's look but has an unfamiliar web address.
- A caller who contacted you first, claiming a problem with your account or an unexpected refund.
- Pressure to act right now, or to keep the call secret.
- Requests for passwords, one-time codes, or your full card number.
- Requests to pay by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency.
- Requests to install remote-access software on your phone or computer.
- An offer to "refund too much" and ask you to send some back.
How to reach a company safely
- Open the company's own app, or type its web address into your browser yourself.
- Sign in and use the help or contact section.
- If you need a phone number, take it from the company's official site, a card statement or an account letter.
- Compare any number you were given against those sources before you call.
How to judge any helper, including third parties
- Do they say clearly who they are, and that they are not the company?
- Do they claim to be able to see or change your account? Only the company can.
- Is the help free, and is that stated up front?
- Do they ask for payment details or access to your device? A real guide does not need either.
If you already shared something
- Contact your bank or card issuer right away and tell them what you shared.
- Change the passwords for the affected accounts and your email, starting with email.
- If you installed remote-access software, uninstall it and run a security scan, or ask a trusted technician for help.
- Watch your statements and credit reports for unfamiliar activity.
- Report it. In the United States, use reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Questions
Is it safe to call a number from a search result?
Treat it with caution. Verify the number against the company's own site or app first.
What if someone calls me claiming to be support?
Hang up. Then contact the company yourself using its official app or website.