Scams

Where scams enter your family's daily life

Keep your family one step ahead of fake virus alerts

When a warning suddenly fills your screen claiming your device is infected, it's natural to feel a jolt of alarm. These are scareware scams, designed to look and sound urgent enough to push anyone into a snap decision. The FBI's 2023 Elder Fraud Report shows tech support scams are the top fraud reported by people over 60, with the highest per-incident losses across all age groups. A little awareness across the family goes a long way.

Fake virus pop-ups that hijack the screen

These alerts appear suddenly during browsing, filling the screen with flashing warnings and loud alarm sounds.
Messages often claim to be from trusted brands like Microsoft or Apple, complete with official-looking logos.
Browsers can't actually scan a device for viruses, so any "threat count" shown in a pop-up is entirely fabricated.
It often takes several tries to close the alert, which adds to the stress in the moment.

Scam phone numbers disguised as help

Fake alerts display a phone number and urge people to call immediately for "emergency support."
The person who answers is trained to sound professional, calm, and genuinely helpful.
They may ask for hundreds of dollars to fix a problem that simply doesn't exist.

Remote access requests that put personal data at risk

Scammers often ask to connect remotely to the device to "run a diagnosis" during the phone call.
Once connected, they can install real malware, copy passwords, or browse financial accounts without anyone noticing.
They may appear to be helping while quietly gathering information in the background.

Manufactured urgency

Scammers display countdown timers and threaten that data or money will be lost soon, leaving no time to verify whether the warning is real.
Anyone facing the screen alone is more likely to act before checking with family or a trusted friend.
Losses can reach thousands of dollars within minutes, before family or a bank has any chance to step in.

Irreversible payment tactics

Scammers push for payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, all methods chosen because they're nearly impossible to reverse.
People are often told to keep the transaction quiet, framed as a way to protect an "active fraud investigation."
The sense of secrecy is a deliberate tactic to prevent someone from reaching out to family or their bank.
Once payment is sent, there's typically no way to recover it.

What you can do to stay safe

Scareware scams are much easier to handle once you know what they look like. A few shared habits across your family can make a real difference.

Spot the scam by what it asks for: real security alerts never come through a browser pop-up, and never ask you to call a number or make a payment
Close the browser tab or restart the device instead of following the on-screen instructions
Take a breath before doing anything; the urgency is the scam
Check in with a family member before taking any action

How TrendLife can support you

Kaleida

Every family is learning to live with AI. Kaleida helps protect, guide, and support your whole family every day.

Trend Micro ScamCheck

It's getting harder to tell what's real and what's a scam. ScamCheck uses AI to help you instantly know what to trust.