Watch Out for the "Geek Squad" Renewal Email Scam

Greek Squad email scam

Have you recently received an email confirming a direct debit or card charge for a software renewal you never asked for? You aren't alone. A widespread tech support refund scam is currently circulating, targeting UK inbox addresses.

Here is a breakdown of how this scam works, what to look out for, and how to protect yourself.

How the Scam Works

The email claims that your "Geek Squad Internet Security Plan" has automatically renewed and that a payment—often around $434—has been successfully taken via auto-debit.

It explicitly includes a warning: If you did not authorise this transaction, you have 24 hours to contact customer support for an immediate refund.

This payment is completely fake. No money has actually left your account. The scammers intentionally create fake financial panic so that you immediately ring the "Help Desk" number listed in the email.

If you call the number:

1. The scammer pretends to be a customer service representative helping you cancel the subscription.

2. They will ask you to download remote-access software (such as AnyDesk or TeamViewer) to "process your refund" on your device.

3. Once inside your computer or phone, they will attempt to access your online banking or lock your device until you pay them real money.

Key Dead Giveaways to Spot

Even though the email looks official at first glance, several red flags expose it as a fraud:

• Contradictory Branding: The top of the email claims to be from Geek Squad, but the small print at the bottom reads "Copyright, 2026 Windows Defender"—two completely unrelated companies.

• Sent from a Personal Email: Official receipts come from company domains. This message came from an individual's personal email account rather than an official Best Buy or Geek Squad domain.

• Artificial Urgency: Demanding action within "24 hours" is a classic pressure tactic designed to stop you from thinking clearly or double-checking.

• Generic Greetings: It addresses the recipient by their email address rather than their actual name.

• Dollar Billing: For UK targets, receiving an invoice in US Dollars ($) for a local service is a clear sign of an automated international scam.

What to Do If You Receive This Email

1. Do NOT call the telephone number listed in the email.

2. Do NOT reply or click any links inside the message.

3. Check your actual bank account: Log in via your official mobile banking app or internet banking. You will see that no such transaction has taken place.

4. Report and Delete: Mark the message as phishing or spam in your email provider, then delete it.

If you ever accidentally fall for one of these scams or give out banking details, contact your bank immediately using the phone number on the back of your debit or credit card, or call 159 (the UK's direct hotline to bank fraud departments). You can also report phishing scams in the UK to Action Fraud (actionfraud.police.uk).

Houses of Parliament used in new Booking.com scam

The world’s biggest accommodation booking platform is still failing to stop fraudsters scamming its customers. Armed security guards at an office block belonging to the House of Commons have had to turn away Booking.com customers after criminals used the address to set up a scam listing.

According to reviews under the listing, despite it being an obvious scam, Booking.com refused to refund them or offer an alternative genuine apartment stay unless they travelled to Westminster and physically tried to check in. 

Source: Which? (25 Sep 2026)

How to spot a police impersonation scam

Scammers are posing as police officers to convince victims into handing over money and personal details. Typically, you will be cold called and told that a fraud case is being investigated, that a relative is in custody or that someone has your bank card and ID.

The aim is to get you to hand over cash either physically or digitally, find out how to keep you and your loved ones safe from this scam. 

Source: Which? (30 Sep 2026) 

'I was targeted by this highly personalised scam'

Our fraud expert, Faye Lipson was targeted by a highly sophisticated and manipulative spear-phishing scam, which is when fraudsters create personalised scams to target an individual.

Faye was invited to deliver a guest lecture at a university in her area of expertise: investigating scams and protecting consumer data. Unfortunately, this gratifying offer was a total lie devised by fraudsters and crafted, almost certainly, using artificial intelligence. Faye spotted this scam before it could harm her and you can learn how to do the same. 

Source: Which? (01 Oct 2026) 

Scams to watch out for right now

Stay in the know about scams that are currently targeting people across the UK. Our experts share real examples and telltale signs to look out for, so you can protect yourself.

The latest scams we've spotted include a TV licensing impersonation, a fake PayPal email and fraudsters impersonating the mobile network Three. Check out our full list.

Source: Which? (16 Sep 2026) 

Stay ahead of the phone scammers

Some phone scams can be extremely convincing. For example, fraudsters can spoof phone numbers so it appears you're being called by a trusted contact. They might also have some of your information, such as your name and address.

To help you spot a fake and stay safe, we've rounded up the most common types of phone scams you're likely to encounter. 

Source: Which? (22 Dec 2025) 

Apple account compromised

Our fraud expert, Faye Lipson, spoke to a concerned Which? member about an alarming pop-up message on her iPhone. The message claimed that issues had been detected on her device, which could result in her losing all her data if she didn't take action.

Although it seems worrying, these are often not real pop-ups, but scam ads that appear when using certain apps or sites, designed to spook you into compromising your account. Find out what Faye recommends you do if you see a similar warning.

Source: Which? (17 Sep 2026)