If a pop-up on a website tells you to call "US Tech Support" at 1-888-XXX-XXXX because your "Windows license has expired," there is a 99.9% chance it is a scam. The Anatomy of the "91101" Tech Support Scam Let’s assume you are currently staring at a flashing red screen that says "System Alert: Virus Detected. Call US Tech Support in Pasadena, CA (91101) immediately."
Real operating systems (Windows 10/11 and macOS) display a phone number to call for support in a pop-up window. Never. Microsoft will send you a notification via the Action Center. Apple will show a notification in System Settings. They will never flash a red screen with a toll-free number.
The page runs a simple JavaScript that scans your local storage. It does not scan your hard drive. It simply looks for common file names (like "Desktop" or "Documents") and claims they are corrupted. It will show you a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) image saved as a .PNG file—not a real system error. ustechsupport 91101
Pasadena, CA (91101) & The Wild West of the Web
You visit a compromised website or click a malicious ad. The site runs a script that locks your browser into full-screen mode (F11). A looping audio file tells you not to shut down your computer. If a pop-up on a website tells you
The Federal Trade Commission’s complaint line (1-877-FTC-HELP). If you see a "US Tech Support 91101" pop-up, report it. You aren't just saving your own computer; you are helping shut down the boiler rooms that prey on the elderly and the technologically anxious.
You call the number. The "technician" (who is actually sitting in a boiler room call center in Delhi or Kolkata) asks for your ZIP code to "verify your service region." You say 91101. They say, "Ah, yes, we have a service center in Pasadena. We are certified by Microsoft." This is a lie. They have a PO Box or a virtual office rented in 91101, if they have anything at all. They will never flash a red screen with a toll-free number
If you have recently typed “USTechSupport 91101” into your search bar, you are likely in one of two situations. Either you are a business owner in the Playhouse District of Pasadena looking for a legitimate on-site hard drive recovery, or—more likely—you have a terrifying pop-up on your computer screen claiming your IP address has been compromised and demanding you call a toll-free number immediately.