HELP CENTER
A little help,
right here.
If you think you’re being scammed, you’re not alone, and it’s not your fault. Here’s what to do.
What to do right now
- Hang up the phone, or stop replying to the message. You do not need to be polite to a scammer.
- Do not pay anyone with gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or cash. Real companies and government offices never ask for these.
- If you gave out a bank or card number, call your bank using the number printed on the back of your card.
- If someone connected to your computer, turn it off, then ask someone you trust to check it.
- Change any password you shared, starting with your email.
Free help from real people
- AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline877-908-3360Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Eastern
Free for anyone, member or not. Trained specialists help you work out what happened and what to do next.
aarp.org - National Elder Fraud Hotline833-372-8311(833-FRAUD-11)Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Eastern
Run by the U.S. Department of Justice for people 60 and older. A case manager helps you report the crime.
ovc.ojp.gov - Report it to the FTC
The Federal Trade Commission shares reports with law enforcement. It only takes a few minutes online.
reportfraud.ftc.gov
Signs of a scam
- Someone calls, texts, or pops up saying your computer has a virus or your account is locked.
- They want you to act right now, and to keep it secret — even from family.
- They ask you to install a program so they can “fix” your computer.
- They want payment in gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or cash.
- They say they are from the government, your bank, Microsoft, or Apple — and they called you.
- The website’s address looks almost right, but a letter or word is off.
Using Defend HQ
How do I add Defend HQ to my computer?
Follow our step-by-step guide. It takes about 3 minutes, in Google Chrome on a Windows, Mac or Chromebook computer.
Where is the green shield?
Click the puzzle piece next to Chrome’s address bar, then the pin next to Defend HQ. The green shield then stays in view. Click it any time to see your protection, check a message, or leave a frightening page with “Get me out of here”.
How do I check a link or a message?
Click the green shield, then “Unsure about a message? Check it”, and paste the message. Or right-click a link and choose “Check this link with Defend HQ”. Selected text works too: right-click it and choose “Is this a scam? Check this text with Defend HQ”.
Defend HQ paused a website I trust. What now?
On a caution page for a website you know well, like your work’s system or your own server, open “More information and other options”, choose “I understand the risk — continue anyway”, then “Always trust this website”. Known scams, look-alike websites and fake alarms can’t be trusted this way. That’s on purpose.
How do I make the text bigger?
Click the green shield, then “Open my dashboard”. Choose Settings, and under Text size pick Large or Larger. It changes Defend HQ’s own pages, its menu and its warnings.
How do I connect a computer to my family account?
Create your family account at app.defendhq.app. On the computer, open Defend HQ, choose Family, then “Connect this computer”. It shows a 6-character code. On the family website, choose Computers, then “Add a computer”, and type the code.
How do I turn Defend HQ off or remove it?
Type chrome://extensions in Chrome’s address bar. Use the switch on Defend HQ to turn it off, or Remove to take it off this computer. If someone on the phone is asking you to do this, it’s a scam: hang up.
Something isn’t working right.
Open your dashboard, choose Get help, and press “Run a self-check now”. It fixes what it can. “Copy support details” makes a short report, with no passwords and no list of the websites you visit, to send to whoever helps you, or to us.
Still need help?
Write to us at support@defendhq.app. We will never ask for your passwords, ask you to pay, or ask to connect to your computer.