Every year, millions of Americans lose money to tech scams — and older adults are disproportionately targeted. Scammers know that many seniors are less familiar with how technology works, more trusting by nature, and more likely to have savings worth stealing.

The good news is that these scams follow predictable patterns. Once you know what to look for, they are much easier to spot and avoid.

Here are five tech scams that are actively circulating in the Baltimore, Howard, Harford, and Carroll County areas right now — and what to do if you or a loved one encounters one.

You are browsing the web and suddenly a large pop-up fills your screen. It says something like:

There may be a loud alarm sound. The screen may appear to be frozen.

This is a scam. Microsoft, Apple, and your internet provider will never send you a pop-up asking you to call a phone number. If you call, the person on the other end will ask for remote access to your computer and eventually ask for payment — often hundreds of dollars — to "fix" a problem that does not exist.

What to do: Do not call the number. Close the browser window. If the screen appears frozen, hold down the power button for five seconds to force the computer off, then turn it back on. The pop-up will be gone.

You receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft, Apple, or your internet provider. They say they have detected a problem with your computer or account and need remote access to fix it.

These calls are completely fabricated. Neither Microsoft nor Apple will ever call you out of the blue about a problem with your computer.

What to do: Hang up. Do not give them any information, do not let them connect to your computer, and do not pay anything. If you are worried there might be a real problem, call the company directly using the number on their official website — not the number the caller gave you.

This one is particularly cruel. You receive a message — sometimes from what appears to be a grandchild's phone number — saying they are in trouble (arrested, in a car accident, stranded) and need money immediately. They ask you not to tell other family members.

Scammers can now use AI to clone voices and make phone calls that sound exactly like a family member. The urgency and secrecy are designed to prevent you from stopping to think.

What to do: Hang up or stop responding. Call your grandchild or family member directly on a number you already have saved. Do not use any number provided in the suspicious message. In almost every case, the family member is perfectly fine and has no idea this is happening.

You receive an email saying your subscription to Norton, McAfee, Amazon Prime, or another service is renewing for a large amount — often $299 or more. The email includes a phone number to call if you want to cancel.

When you call, the scammer will ask for your bank account or credit card information to "process the refund." There is no real charge, and no real refund — they are simply collecting your financial information.

What to do: Do not call the number in the email. Log into your actual account on the company's real website to check your subscription status. If you are unsure, ask a trusted family member or neighbor to help you verify.

You receive a call or message from someone claiming to be from the IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare, or even a local utility company. They say you owe money and will face serious consequences — arrest, account suspension, service shutoff — unless you pay immediately.

They will ask you to pay using gift cards (Google Play, Apple iTunes, Amazon) and read them the card numbers over the phone.

This is always a scam. No government agency, utility company, or legitimate business will ever ask you to pay with gift cards.

What to do: Hang up immediately. If you are worried about a real debt or account issue, call the agency directly using the number on their official website or on your bill.

If you gave someone remote access to your computer, provided financial information, or sent money:

1. Disconnect your computer from the internet (unplug the ethernet cable or turn off Wi-Fi)
2. Call your bank immediately to report the situation and freeze any affected accounts
3. Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the Maryland Attorney General's office
4. Call My Neighbor Tech — we can check your computer for any software the scammer may have installed and make sure your accounts are secure

If you or a family member has encountered one of these scams — or just wants to know how to stay safer online — we are happy to help. My Neighbor Tech provides patient, friendly tech support for seniors across Baltimore, Howard, Harford, and Carroll Counties.

Call or text us at (443) 992-6271, or schedule a visit online. No question is too basic, and no problem is too small.