Holden's Computers

01/22/2026

Our lead tech, Peter, had a chance to speak to Sky-Hi News recently about the influx of a new calendar scam that has affected several Grand County locals.

Digital siege: How a dinner invitation cost one Grand County resident her identity — and $4,000. Link in comments.

09/16/2025

🚨 Windows 10 Support Ends in less than 30 Days! 🚨

Microsoft will officially end support for Windows 10 on October 14th. That means:
❌ No more security updates
❌ No more bug fixes
❌ No more protection from the latest threats

If your computer is still running Windows 10, now is the time to act. At Holden’s Computers, we can help you:
✔️ Upgrade your system to Windows 11
✔️ Explore reliable new and refurbished business-grade desktops and laptops
✔️ Transfer your data and set everything up seamlessly

We’re already starting to get busier as the deadline approaches, and we encourage customers not to wait until the last minute to upgrade... service times may take longer the closer we get. Plan ahead, beat the rush, and give yourself peace of mind by stopping in today!

📍 Fraser, CO (Located right behind Wendy's)
📞 970-363-7114
🌐 www.holdenscomputers.com

09/03/2025

🚨 Scam Awareness: The Fake Virus Pop-Up 🚨

One of the most common scams we see at Holden's Computers is this scenario: a big pop-up appears on your computer screen saying “Your computer is infected! Call Microsoft/Apple/etc. immediately!”

Here’s the how the scam happens:
📞 You call the number, thinking you’re getting tech support.
🖥️ The “technician” says your computer has a virus and asks to connect remotely.
💀 Once connected, they install back doors, keyloggers, ransomware, or viruses to steal your data and money.

How to stay safe:
⚠️ Don’t call the number. Microsoft, Apple, and other legit companies will never put a phone number in a pop-up warning.
⚠️ Don’t let strangers connect to your computer. If someone you didn’t contact asks for remote access, hang up immediately.
⚠️ Don’t fall for urgency. Pop-ups screaming “Your computer is infected! Act now!” are designed to scare you into acting without thinking.
⚠️ Verify before you trust. If you’re worried, shut down the computer and call a trusted local shop (like us 😉), not the number on the screen.

Scammers are very good at what they do. They use social engineering tactics (persuasion, fear, urgency, and even fake politeness) to trick people into making quick decisions. They know how to push emotional buttons, which is why it’s so important to slow down, double-check, and never let panic drive your response.

If you think you’ve been scammed:
✅ If you’re on the phone with them, simply hang up. Don’t answer if they call back. Don’t call them back to seek “vengeance” because scammers often use spoofed numbers.
✅ If you’ve let someone remote into your computer, immediately shut the computer down. Do not turn it on until you call us and we can discuss what happened.
✅ If you gave out financial info (credit card, bank, gift card numbers), contact your bank or card issuer right away. The faster you alert them, the better chance you have to block charges or freeze accounts.
✅ If you clicked on a suspicious link and entered passwords, change those passwords immediately from a different computer, especially if you use the same one for multiple accounts (and enable 2FA where possible).

If you’re worried about your security or suspect you’ve been caught in a tech support scam, call Holden’s Computers. We’ll help untangle the situation, secure your system, and get you back in control with peace of mind.

08/27/2025

Scammers are getting better and better at making their messages look legit. They copy logos, fake email addresses, and even spoof phone numbers. But here’s one huge tell that should immediately raise a red flag: they use the word “kindly.”

🚩 “Kindly verify your account.”
🚩 “Kindly provide your information.”
🚩 “Kindly send payment immediately.”

It might sound polite, but it’s actually a giant red flag. Real businesses and organizations almost never phrase things this way. Scammers use it to sound “professional” while trying to trick you into giving up personal info or money.

But “kindly” isn’t the only warning sign. Watch out for these classic scam red flags:

🚩 Urgency: “Act now or your account will be shut down!” They want you to panic so you don’t think.

🚩 Weird Payment Requests: No legitimate business will ever ask you to pay with gift cards (Amazon, iTunes, or Visa cards). If they do, hang up, delete, or walk away.

🚩 Links from Strangers: If the link looks strange, don’t click it. Hover first, check the address, and when in doubt… don’t.

✅ Don’t click the link.
✅ Don’t reply.
✅ Don’t give personal or financial info.

If something feels off, it probably is. Stay cautious, and remember: protecting yourself is better than apologizing later.

And if you ever have questions about suspicious messages or security concerns, call Holden’s Computers! We’re happy to help you stay safe!

08/01/2025

We are truly honored that Grand County has voted Holden’s Computers as Best of Grand in the Shopping>Electronics category for the past four years. Serving this amazing community is a privilege, and we couldn’t do what we do without your trust and support. Voting for Best of Grand 2025 ends this Friday, and if you feel we’ve earned it again this year, we’d be grateful for your vote. Thank you for letting us keep your tech running smoothly for 20 years! -Rick, Peter, and Jeremy

Best of Grand 2025

06/18/2025

At Holden’s Computers, our top priority has always been serving our computer customers — and that will never change. In order to stay focused on what we do best, we’ll soon be phasing out our role as a UPS Access Point.
We will continue to offer UPS package pickups and drop-offs until a new location in Winter Park officially launches their drop-off services for both UPS and FedEx. Once that service is up and running, we’ll begin a short transition period before discontinuing UPS Access Point at our shop. We're tentatively looking at ending the service by 4th of July weekend.
We appreciate your understanding as we realign our time and resources toward what we do best: helping Grand County residents and businesses with dependable, expert computer service.

Send a message to learn more

11/08/2024

Happy Friday, Grand County! We're a few weeks late in posting this, but we just want to thank you all for selecting Holden's Computers as the "2024 Best of Grand" winner in the Electronics division for another year!! Serving our amazing community is a privilege, and we're incredibly grateful for the continued support from our customers, friends, and neighbors for almost 20 years now. We also want to thank the other businesses in our category for their dedication to our community. We want to recognize Steve, Michael, Holly, and their respective employees, who continue to provide excellence in our community, and deserve to be applauded, too! -Jeremy

10/16/2024

WINDOWS 10 USERS: This is your official notice. If you're on Windows 10, you have less than a year to upgrade to Windows 11 or purchase a new computer. Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10 on Oct 14, 2025, so users will no longer receive security updates. We expect to be slammed around this time next year, so we advise against waiting until the last minute. If your computer doesn't support Windows 11, stop by the shop and check out our new/refurbished-by-us business-grade laptops and desktops. All systems come with a one-year warranty through us, and come with a complimentary data backup and transfer from your old computer to the replacement computer!

Windows 10 Home and Pro follows the Modern Lifecycle Policy.

10/28/2022

Thanks for voting for us as the best electronics store in Grand County!

Sky-Hi News announced the winners of its Best of Grand 2022 contest Oct. 25 at a celebratory event in Granby. Watch the video played at the event to announce the winners below and read the...

06/28/2022

FYI---

A credit card skimmer has been found on an ATM in the Granby 7/11. If you used this device recently please contact your financial institution and be on the lookout for fraudulent charges.

We would advise everyone to look out for these types of devices before using your card at a business or ATM.
Here are some links and a few tips on how to spot these devices:

Although skimmers can be hard to spot, it’s possible to identify a skimming device by doing a visual and physical inspection.

Before using an ATM or gas pump, check for alignment issues between the card reader and the panel underneath it. Skimmers are often placed on top of the actual card reader making it stick out at an odd angle or cover arrows in a panel. Compare the card reader to others at a neighboring ATM or gas pump and look out for any differences.

Gas pumps should have a security tape or sticker over the cabinet panel. If the tape looks ripped or broken, avoid using the card reader because a thief may have tampered with it. Try looking inside the card reader to see if anything is already inserted—if there is, it may be a thin plastic circuit board that can steal card information.

A physical inspection of a card reader and keypad can often reveal fraudulent devices. Feel around the reader and try to wiggle it to see if it can easily come out of place.

For more info on gas pump skimmers:
https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2018/08/watch-out-card-skimming-gas-pump

For more info on ATM skimmers:
https://www.nwcu.com/learn/how-spot-atm-skimmer