You’re trying to fix your computer, right? You Google a solution, find a tutorial that promises to help, and start following the easy steps. Finally, relief! Or not. It turns out that you’ve just walked into a “scam-yourself” attack, where cybercriminals trick you into wrecking your own tech. They don’t even need to do the dirty work—they let you do it for them.

How bad is it? Pretty bad. “Scam-yourself” attacks skyrocketed by 614% in just one quarter. The top malware, Lumma Stealer, spiked by an alarming 1,154%. It’s a mess.

So why are these scams so effective? When something breaks, we just want to fix it as quickly as possible. Add to that the feeling of control when you’re the one following the steps it’s easy to get hooked. Scammers use professional-looking websites and tutorials to make their scams seem legit, so it’s easy to get tricked. Frustration and impatience don’t help, either.

How do they get you? It starts with a fake CAPTCHA—confirm you’re not a robot, and then download a file with instructions. Surprise: it’s malware. Or maybe you click a link in a YouTube description that promises a fix.

There is also the “ClickFix” scam, a step-by-step guide asking you to copy and paste commands into your computer. Those commands give hackers control. And don’t get me started on the fake update pop-ups. They seem urgent, but they’re just malware pretending to be your app or system.

To protect yourself from becoming the next fool, avoid trusting any tutorial that suggests turning off your antivirus or downloading random files. If something seems suspicious, it probably is. Stick with the big dogs—Google, Apple, or Microsoft—unless you’re really into the idea of your computer becoming a hacker’s playground. And for the love of your tech, double-check those URLs. Scammers are pros at making fake sites look like the real deal. A little extra effort could save you a whole lot of regret. If something feels off, close it. And whatever you do, don’t copy-paste commands from unknown sources into your computer. It’s malware bait. Also, never click random pop-ups for updates. Always go through your device’s settings or the app store.

If you fall for it, don’t panic—act fast. Run a virus scan with reliable software, change your passwords (especially for email and banking), and watch your accounts for suspicious activity. Set up alerts, and check your accounts for strange logins. Finally, if things go south, reinstall your system—but back up your data first.

These scams are getting slicker, but with some caution, you can stay one step ahead.