How to identify an invoice scam or phishing email

Identifying fake invoice scams

It is common for scammers to send emails that look like official invoices for software renewals or subscriptions. These "phishing" emails are designed to trick you into calling a fake support number or clicking a malicious link.

How to tell if an invoice is fake

Never call a number or click on a link from the email. Go to your web browser, type in pcmatic.com and contact us from there.

• The "From" address: Official PC Matic emails only come from domains ending in @pcmatic.com. If the sender has a Gmail, Outlook, or a random string of letters, it is a scam.

  
  

• The "Urgency" trap: Scammers often use high dollar amounts (like $399.99 or $499.00) and say the charge has "already been processed" to make you panic and call them immediately.

  
  

• The phone number: PC Matic does not include a phone number on invoices for "refunds" or "cancellations." If there is a large, bold phone number at the bottom of the email, do not call it.

  
  

What to do if you receive a suspicious invoice

1. Do not click any links: Clicking buttons like "Unsubscribe" or "View Invoice" can lead to dangerous websites.

   
   

2. Do not call the number: Scammers on the other end of these calls will try to gain remote access to your computer.

   
   

3. Check your real account status: To see your actual billing history, go directly to  pcmatic.com/account and log in. If you don't see the charge there or your subscription is not due for renewal, the email is fake.

   
   
4. Delete the email: Once you have confirmed it isn't in your official account, you can safely delete the message.