Home Malware Programs Adware 'Antivirus Coupons' Tech Support Scam

'Antivirus Coupons' Tech Support Scam

Posted: March 7, 2017

The 'Antivirus Coupons' tech support scam is a new clever scheme that con artists may use to trick people out of their money. The elaborate tactic works by redirecting users to a phishing page that tells them that they've won a free anti-virus program and they can claim it immediately to enhance their computer's security. The 'Antivirus Coupons' tech support scam then asks the users to enter some personal information such as their name, address, and phone number. However, after submitting this information, the website fails to deliver them the 'anti-virus coupon' and, instead, displays an error code stating that the operation failed and the users need to call 858-429-6057 for immediate support. If you are familiar with technical support tactics, then you can probably already see where this is going – users who opt to call 858-429-6057 may end up talking to experienced con artists who'll convince them that there's something wrong with their computers. Judging by the scheme that the 858-429-6057 promotes, the con artists are likely to ask users to download a piece of remote desktop software that will allow the con artist to access their computers remotely. This is where the con artists may lie to the users by telling them that their computers are infected with threats, and the only way out of the situation is to pay a $400 technical support fee in exchange for the services of certified support agents.

If the user asks what happened to the free anti-virus coupon, the con artists may reply that the threat infection is way too severe, and automated software can't deal with that. This is a simple trick that aims to trick the user into thinking that the only way out of the situation is to pay the $400 fee and hire the services of a support agent that will clean their computer remotely.

Another worrying thing about 858-429-6057 and the 'Antivirus Coupons' tech support scam is the method they use to collect payments. Instead of relying on direct bank transfer, the con artists refer users to a payment portal, which asks them to enter sensitive details such as their credit card number and security code. This may end up costing users a lot more, since the data may end up being used to empty their account balance completely.

You should never trust Web browser pop-ups or toll-free hotlines claiming that your computer is infected with threats and you need to pay a staggering amount of money to get help immediately. Modern anti-malware software excels at removing all sorts of parasites, and if you encounter such an issue, you should use a reputable cyber security product to check for problems.

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