Scam alert
Is That Geek Squad Renewal or Refund Email a Scam?
An email lands saying your “Geek Squad” protection plan is about to renew for a few hundred dollars — call this number to cancel. It is alarming, and it is meant to be. Most of the time, it is a scam. Here is how to tell, and what to do instead of calling.
The short answer
If you never signed up for a Geek Squad plan, this email is fake — full stop. And even if you have used Geek Squad before, never call the number printed in the email. This is one of the most common scams in the country precisely because it is so convincing. The number does not reach Best Buy; it reaches a scammer waiting to “help” you.
How the scam actually works
Knowing the playbook makes it powerless. It almost always goes like this:
- 1You get an “invoice” for a renewal you do not remember — usually $300 to $500 — meant to startle you.
- 2It urges you to call a number right away to dispute or cancel the charge.
- 3On the call, they say it was a billing error and offer a refund.
- 4They ask to connect to your computer to “process” the refund.
- 5They claim they accidentally refunded far too much and pressure you to repay the difference — in gift cards, wire transfer, or cash.
There was never a real charge and never a real refund. The whole thing exists to get you on the phone and talk you into paying. No legitimate company refunds money and then asks you to send some of it back.
What to do instead
- 1Do not call the number in the emailThe phone number on the invoice does not reach Best Buy or Geek Squad — it reaches the scammer. Calling it is the trap. Everything they want begins with you dialing that number, so simply do not.
- 2Do not click any links or “cancel” buttonsButtons like “Cancel subscription” or “Get a refund” are designed to either capture your information or start the scam. Leave them alone. You never have to click inside a suspicious email to protect yourself.
- 3Check your own records, on your ownDid you ever buy a Geek Squad plan? If not, the email is clearly fake. If you are unsure, look up Best Buy’s real customer-service number yourself — from their official website or a past receipt — and call that, never the number in the email.
- 4Mark it as spam and delete itIn your email, choose “Report spam” or “Junk,” then delete the message. This tells your email service to block similar ones and gets it off your screen.
- 5When in doubt, ask someone you trust firstBefore you call, click, or pay anything, run it past a family member or a patient neighbor. A real bill can always wait a day. The pressure to act this instant is itself the warning sign.
Common questions
Is the Geek Squad renewal email a scam?
In the vast majority of cases, yes. Scammers send fake “Geek Squad” invoices saying your antivirus or protection plan is about to auto-renew for a few hundred dollars, hoping you will panic and call the number to “cancel.” It is consistently one of the most reported impersonation scams in the United States. If you never bought a Geek Squad plan, it is fake — and even if you did, never use the phone number printed in the email.
Why do they want me to call instead of just emailing back?
Because a live phone call lets them work on you in real time. Once you call, they claim there was a “mistake” and offer a refund — then ask to connect to your computer to “process” it. From there they try to convince you they refunded too much and pressure you to pay the difference in gift cards or a bank transfer. The whole scam depends on getting you on the phone.
I already called the number — what do I do?
If you only talked, hang up; no real harm done. If you let them onto your computer, gave card or bank details, or bought gift cards, act quickly: turn off the computer, call your bank and card company, contact the gift-card company, and have a trusted person help you change important passwords. If you would like a calm hand through it, we are happy to help over the phone.
How can I tell a fake invoice email from a real one?
Watch for these signs: you do not remember buying the product, the amount is high enough to scare you, the email pushes you to call a number fast, the sender’s address looks odd or random, and the message has small spelling or formatting mistakes. Real companies let you check your account on their official website — they do not force you to phone a number printed in the email.
Got one of these and not sure?
Forward it to a family member, or start with a free 15-minute help call and read it to us — we will tell you straight whether it is fake. Talk to a real, patient person. Get a straight answer or a clear plan — no cost, no card, no commitment. We help neighbors across Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, and San Juan Capistrano sort real bills from scams every week.
OC Tech Neighbor · (949) 800-8491
See more warning signs in our free scam checklist or read what to do if you already clicked. Serving Orange County, California.
Free checklist
Avoid Tech-Support Scams — a free, plain-English checklist
A simple one-page guide to keep by the phone or on the fridge — so you (or a parent) can spot the calls, texts, and pop-ups designed to scare people into paying. No fear-mongering, just clear, calm steps.
- The one rule that beats almost every scam
- The 6 warning signs in a call, text, or pop-up
- Exactly what to do instead — in plain words
- A printable page for the fridge or a family member