Fake Tech Support Scams on YouTube
How fake tech support operators use YouTube comment sections, pinned links under tech help videos, and fake tutorial channels to direct viewers to fraudulent phone numbers and remote-access sessions.
Part of: Fake Tech Support Calls
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
When people search YouTube for help with a technical problem — a Windows error, a printer that won't connect, an account they're locked out of — they often find themselves in comment sections filled with support numbers posted by fake agents. YouTube's open comment system and its role as the world's largest how-to resource make it a natural hunting ground for fake support scammers, who post phone numbers and links under genuine tech help videos and sometimes create entire fake tutorial channels.
This guide covers how fake support fraud operates specifically through YouTube — the comment-section tactics, the fake tutorial channel format, and the remote-access session that typically follows — and how to find legitimate tech help without being redirected to a fraudulent number.
How this scam works on YouTube
The most common YouTube-based fake support tactic is comment flooding: scammers post phone numbers in the comment sections of popular tech help videos, formatted to look like official support contacts. A user who is already frustrated with a problem and seeking help may call the first number they see without verifying it. These comments are often upvoted by bot accounts to appear at the top of the section.
A second variant involves fake tutorial channels that produce helpful-seeming content (screen-recorded Windows troubleshooting, for example) but include a support number in the video description, on-screen text, or pinned comment. The channel may have thousands of views accumulated through advertising.
In both cases, calling the number reaches a scammer who poses as a certified technician from Microsoft, Apple, or a telecom company. The caller creates urgency — a detected virus, a compromised account, an expiring licence — and directs the victim to install remote access software (AnyDesk, TeamViewer). Once remote access is established, the scammer accesses banking sites, claims to see 'infections,' and demands payment, often via gift cards or bank transfer.
Common red flags
- Phone number posted in a YouTube comment section for tech support — official companies do not post support numbers in comments
- Tutorial video description or pinned comment containing a support phone number
- Support number in a video from a recently created channel with high view counts but few subscribers
- A support call that quickly moves to installing remote access software
- Technician who claims to see severe infections or account breaches and demands immediate payment to fix them
- Payment requested via gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency for a technical repair
How to protect yourself
- Find tech support numbers only through the company's official website — type the URL directly, not via a YouTube comment
- Microsoft, Apple, and Google publish their genuine support contacts at microsoft.com/support, apple.com/support, and support.google.com respectively
- Never install remote access software at the direction of someone who contacted you or whose number appeared in a comment section
- If a tech caller says your computer has a severe problem and demands payment to fix it, hang up
- Report suspicious support numbers in YouTube comments using the flag/report icon on the comment
How to report it
- Report the YouTube comment using the flag icon → Spam or misleading → Scams
- Report fake tutorial channels: tap the channel name → three-dot menu → Report Channel
- Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov (US) or Action Fraud (UK)
- If remote access was granted, disconnect immediately, change all passwords from a clean device, and contact your bank if financial accounts were accessed
Frequently asked questions
Why does YouTube allow fake support numbers in comment sections?
YouTube relies on a combination of automated detection and user reporting to identify scam comments. The volume of content and the fact that phone numbers alone don't trigger automated filters means some scam comments remain visible before being reported and removed. Reporting every suspicious comment helps the detection system.
Is it safe to call a support number I found in a YouTube video description?
Only if you independently verified that the number matches the official contact listed on the company's own website. Creators can be deceived into posting fraudulent numbers, and channels can be hijacked. Always cross-reference any contact number with the company's official site before calling.