Scammer or HP Tech

[tboythecat]

I need to know if I should pay the tech that fixed my printer?  The first guy said it was corrupted with virus from Russia.  They fixed my printer which is under warranty but should I pay them the $200.00??  How do I know if they are legit or not.  

[Repairatrooper]

If they are trying to tell you that the printer had a virus, that is highly unlikely. You may have had a computer virus but it is likely that these were not actual HP employees.

[NonSequitur777]

@tboythecat,

Welcome to our HP Community forum!

Let me be blunter than @Repairatrooper: No, absolutely do not pay them.

This is almost certainly a well-known tech support scam, and you are likely dealing with criminals rather than legit technicians.

Printers do not get "corrupted with viruses from Russia".

Balderdash.

Scammers use frightening, highly exaggerated language like this to induce panic so that you will hand over your credit card information without thinking.

Here is how you can verify this situation immediately and protect your money.

1. Why You Should Not Pay:

• The "Russian Virus" Lie: Modern consumer printers do not get infected with viruses that require a technician to manually remove for $200. Are you kidding me? -If a printer has a software glitch, it is fixed by running a free factory reset or updating the free driver from HP's official website.
• Warranty Rules: If your printer is actually under warranty and you went through official HP Support, HP does not charge for warranty repairs. HP will never ask you to pay a random fee via a third-party link, gift cards, or a generic invoice to fix a consumer device.

2. How to Spot a Legit Tech vs. a Scammer:

Ask yourself how you found this technician:

• The Scam Method: Did you search Google for "HP Printer Support phone number" and call a number from an ad? Did a pop-up window suddenly appear on your computer screen telling you your printer was broken and providing a number to call? Did they use software like AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or Zoho to take control of your computer screen? If yes, it is a doggone scam.
• The Legit Method: The only legitimate way to get official HP support is by going directly to ://hp.com and using their official automated virtual assistant or authorized repair channels. HP never uses third-party random billing companies.

3. Immediate Actions You Must Take Right Now:

If you gave them your credit card info or let them onto your computer, take these steps immediately:

1. Call Your Bank: Contact your credit card company or bank right now. Tell them you were targeted by a "Tech Support Scam" and need to dispute the $200 charge and block any future transactions from that company.
2. Disconnect and Scan Your PC: If they remotely controlled your computer, they may have installed malicious software to spy on your passwords or bank accounts. Unplug your internet, go to your Windows settings, and run a full scan using Windows Defender (or a trusted program like the free Malwarebytes). Look through your installed apps and delete any remote access tools they made you download.
3. Change Your Passwords: If you logged into your bank, email, or Amazon account while they were looking at your screen, change those passwords immediately using a different device (like your phone).

Do not answer any follow-up phone calls or messages from these (...) individuals. They may try to threaten you by saying they will "break your printer" or "sue you" if you don't pay. These are empty threats to scare you.

This is very important: Did you give them your credit card details, or did they get you to download a remote control program onto your computer?

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777