Guides / Article
How to recognize an email support scam
A support scam often starts with an ordinary problem: you cannot sign in, an inbox will not load or a message says your account needs attention. The safest first step is to open the service provider’s help site yourself. A familiar company name in a search result does not prove that the person answering the phone works for that company.
Check the provider before you call
Read the business name and any independence disclosure next to the number. Compare a claimed official phone number with the company’s own contact page. An independent provider should explain its identity, scope and charges clearly. Do not assume that a logo, an article about a brand or a well-ranked search result establishes an affiliation.
Keep passwords and codes private
Your account password and one-time recovery codes can give another person access to your email. Enter a code only in the official recovery process you started. If someone asks you to read a code over the phone, stop and verify why it is being requested through the company’s official help channel.
Slow down urgent requests
Unexpected claims that you must pay immediately to prevent account closure deserve a careful check. Open the provider’s website independently and inspect your account notices. Do not use contact details supplied in the alarming message as your only verification.
Be cautious about remote access
Remote access lets another person see or control parts of your device. Do not grant it to an unsolicited caller. Before using any remote assistance, understand the provider, the task, the access involved and how to end the session. Close private documents and unrelated accounts. Never let someone move money or make purchases through your accounts as a troubleshooting step.
If you have already shared access or information
End the remote session and disconnect the tool using its normal controls. From a trusted device, use the account provider’s official security and recovery process. If payment information was exposed or money moved, contact your payment provider through a known official channel. Keep relevant receipts and messages without sending passwords or codes to anyone else.
Find verified AOL resources
For AOL, start at AOL Help. Our contact-options guide explains official support eligibility, and the password guide covers safe recovery steps. Neither an article nor an independent technician can override AOL’s account ownership checks.