Is the Geek Squad / Norton renewal email a scam?
RED — high risk
Scam — a fake-invoice “refund” trap.
An email saying your Geek Squad, Norton, or McAfee subscription auto-renewed for ~$300–$500, with a phone number to “cancel or dispute,” is a scam. The goal is to get you to call — then they remote into your computer and “accidentally refund too much” to trick you into paying them back.
How to tell
- A phone number, not a link
The whole play is to make you call. Real companies point you to your account, not a call-center number in an invoice.
- A charge you don't recognize
Panic about a $400 charge you never made is the hook — there is no charge; it's a PDF.
- Remote-access + refund
On the call they install AnyDesk/UltraViewer, then stage a fake “over-refund” so you wire or gift-card the difference back.
Is there a real version?
If you actually have Best Buy/Geek Squad or Norton, check the real charge in your bank app and log into the vendor's site directly. They will never ask you to install remote software to process a refund.
What to do
Don't call the number. Don't install anything. Check your actual bank statement; if there's no charge, it's fake. Delete the email.
Got the exact message? Check it now.
Paste your version for an instant RED / YELLOW / GREEN verdict, the reasons, and a safe reply.
FAQ
They already remote-accessed my PC — now what?
Disconnect from the internet, uninstall any remote-access tool they added, run a malware scan, change passwords from a different device, and call your bank. Do not send any “refund.”
Is the phone number safe to call just to check?
No. The number connects to the scammers. Verify only through the vendor's official website that you navigate to yourself.