February 18, 2025 By Mark Computer Techs

Learn how to spot scams that pop-up on your screen – and how to close your browser

This article originally published September 2015 – updated March 2017, February 2025

Malicious advertisements or links can redirect your web browser to webpage designed to look like an official warning from Microsoft or Apple. The fake warnings often have the following characteristics:

  • Tell you that there’s a problem with your computer, it’s been blocked, and you need to call the number presented immediately to prevent harm
  • Tell you NOT to turn off your computer
  • The warnings are often accompanied by scary alert sounds or spoken messages.
  • Your mouse and/or keyboard may become non-responsive.
If you look closely at the “security warning” you will notice that it’s just a webpage designed to scare people into calling the number.

How to “unblock” your computer and get rid of the scare message

NEVER call the number presented on the screen – scammers claiming to be Windows, Apple or tech support representatives will try to gain access to your computer to convince you that you have security problems that you need to pay to have fixed.

Try the following steps in order to close the scare/scam window:

  1. Try closing your browser using the keyboard. Here’s a few a few methods to try:
    • Hold down the [Ctrl] key, then press the [W] key. On a Mac, hold down the [Command ⌘] key, then press the [W] key.
    • Press and HOLD the Esc key (located on the upper-left corner of the keyboard)
    • On a Windows PC, press the Alt + F4 key simultaneously.
    • On a Windows PC, simultaneously press and hold the [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[Del] keys on your keyboard, select Task Manager, select your web browser, then “End Task”. On a Mac use [Command]+[Option]+[Esc], select your web browser, then select “Force Quit”.
  2. If unsuccessful, on your Windows computer try to shut down or restart your computer via the Start button icon along the bottom left taskbar: If the fake warning website covers your full screen where you cannot see the Start button icon, use your keyboard and press the Windows key [  or ] located at the bottom left corner of your keyboard, which should bring the Start menu to the foreground. You should then be able to use your mouse to navigate to Power > Shut Down/Restart.
  3. If none of the above methods work, do the opposite of what the scare page says: Turn off your computer by pressing and HOLDING the power button. After HOLDING down the power button for at least 5 seconds, the computer should shut off.
  4. After your computer is off, leave it off for at least a minute. Then briefly press the power button to turn it back on.
  5. If one of the above steps works to close the scare page and regain control of your browser or computer, you should be good to continue using your computer. However, don’t immediately go back to the website or email that redirected you to the scare page before, and don’t restore your previous browser session if prompted.
  6. If the scare page comes back after powering off your computer, it is likely going to sleep rather than completely powering off when holding down the power button for at least 5 seconds. Try powering it off again. If the message still appears, contact us for assistance. Again, never call the number on the screen.

How does the fake pop-up occur?

On a virus-free computer these pop-ups can occur when you mistype a web address, click a search link which redirects you to the malicious website, or a malicious advertisement can redirect you. If your computer already has adware or malware these pop-ups may occur when you visit any website whether or not the site is malicious or not. If you see pop-ups similar to those pictured while logged into your financial websites, contact Computer Techs right away for computer service. We also advise you to have an alternative web browser installed on your computer in case you are unable to use your primary browser.

Browsers now including scareware protection

In late 2024, Microsoft announced the intention to include scareware protection in their Edge browser. Other browsers such as Chrome, Firefox and Safari will likely follow with protections of their own. Read: Stand up to scareware with scareware blocker, now available in Microsoft Edge.

To view a larger version of the screenshots below, click the picture then press your browser’s “Back” button to return to this article.

Alert Scam
This web page at collects information about your internet address to personalize the message for your location and Internet Service Provider. Unfortunately it’s difficult to close out of this message unless you quit the browser via the task manger, or by shutting down the computer. However next time you open the Microsoft Edge browser it will go back to the same malicious website.
"This site says" browser warning scam
This is yet another official looking warning in which “this site says” that you may have a virus or leaked personal information. For added authenticity the pop-up includes error numbers and scares you into making an “immediate response”.
iOS Safari warning scam
This is a pop-up in the Safari Browser on an iPad. Since Safari re-opens the last tabs when you launch it again, it makes this difficult to get rid of. To clear it out you must disconnect your iDevice from the internet, clear Safari’s history and website data, then open Safari again before reconnecting to the internet.
Chat Scam
Don’t let this friendly looking face and helpful chat message fool you. It’s just another attempt from a rogue website to get you to call and allow them to remotely control your computer and persuade you to pay for made-up computer problems.
Fake Wells Fargo email scam
This official-looking email includes bank logos and it appears to come from a bank email address. Yet if you carefully read the message in the email, grammatical and capitalization errors give a clue that this email did not come from a billion-dollar corporation. This email is attempting to get you to enter banking information into a form and opening an attachment to install a virus.
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