Geek Squad scam emails

Geek Squad renewal email: how to tell if it is fake

An email or text says your Geek Squad or Best Buy protection plan renews today for a few hundred dollars, and to call a number within 24 hours to cancel. The FTC warns about exactly this message. The number goes to the scammer, not to Best Buy.

Not sure about yours? Forward it to Penpal with "Is this real?" on top, and an answer comes back by email.

Forward it to hi+gsq@askpenpal.com

or open in Gmail · Outlook. In your mail app, open the email, choose Forward, and send it to hi+gsq@askpenpal.com.

Signs it is fake

• A charge of a few hundred dollars for a plan you do not remember buying.
• A deadline, often 24 hours, to call and cancel.
• A phone number to call, instead of a link to your own Best Buy account.
• Sent from a free email address, or one that is not Best Buy's.

Check it yourself

• Look for the charge on your card statement. If it is not there, the email is the scam.
• To ask Best Buy, type bestbuy.com yourself and sign in, or use the number on their website. Never the number in the email.

If you already called, paid or let them in

Call your bank or card company on the number printed on your card, and tell them. If they connected to your computer, stop using it for banking until it has been checked, and change your passwords from another device. If they ask you to send money back for a refund that was "too much", that is the scam continuing. Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov (US).

You can also forward the email to Penpal and say what already happened. It answers the question you ask, so "I already called them, what now?" works.

Other emails you are not sure about

About Penpal

Penpal is an AI assistant you use by email. 3 free replies a day, no account. It is an AI and it can be wrong, so treat its answer as a second opinion, not a guarantee. Penpal never asks for a password, a code or card details in a reply. See the privacy and terms pages, or write to support@askpenpal.com to reach a person.