Views:

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

In this guide, you will learn:

What is a Fake Warning?

This type of technical support scam is the act of taking advantage of concerns about viruses and other threats to scare users into thinking that their computers have become infected with malware to get users to download and install a fake/rogue application.

Why am I receiving these messages?

Users may encounter this threat when clicking on advertisements or via pop-up ads on infected websites informing about some malware detection. These pop-ups often resemble error messages/fake warnings such as “Your system is infected with 3 viruses”.

Fake Warning sample

How to identify a fake warning scam?

They might look legitimate and can be trusted but they all have the same characteristics:

  • Offers online tools/services to clean up computer. The malicious page will try to run a fake scan on the device and will show detected issues which will try to fool the customer that the device has malware on it and will offer tools/services to clean up the computer.

  • Creating panic to encourage the user to contact support due to a malware attack. It will ask you to contact immediately the tech support number on the screen to remove the viruses or else they will spread to the whole system.

  • Grammatical and Spelling Mistakes. This is a very obvious symptom of a pop-up ads/warnings scam which includes poorly made images as well.

  • Suspicious URL or website address. Link, where the message appears often, shows different characters compare to the original site. For example, If the message came from Microsoft it would show www.microsoft.com instead of xxx.microsot.com.err.

How to prevent this pop-up scam?

  • Don’t click on suspicious advertisements and links.

    Refrain from clicking advertisements and questionable links as it may redirect the user to the scam site. Try to hover the mouse to check if it will show the website where it will be redirected to verify if it is malicious or not.

  • Do not install application being shown on fake warning.

    Make sure to check the reputation of the application before installing them to avoid other types of malware from attacking the device.

  • Enable pop-up blocker on the browser.

    Most browsers have a built-in pop-up blocker that you will need to enable if it was accidentally disabled or not properly configured. Trend Micro Toolbar for Edge includes an AdBlock function that is helpful to users using Edge for everyday use.

  • Install Trend Micro Toolbar.

    This feature of the Trend Micro program will help the user determine if the site that user is visiting is safe or malicious because it is showing the website rating.
    1. For Windows web browsers.
    2. For Mac web browsers.

  • Make sure to install updates for antivirus programs.

    It is very important to download the updates of your security software to make sure that components are up-to-date and it will be able to detect threats that will attack your device. Make sure to run a scan as well on the antivirus program.

  • Make sure that the operating system is up-to-date.

    It is always important to install updates and patches to prevent attackers from getting into the device.

I am not yet a Trend Micro user

I have Trend Micro Security installed

Enable the best Trend Micro settings to protect you from online scams. Follow these guides:

I clicked on a Fake Warning message

Here are the steps you can do if you accidentally clicked on the fake warning message:

▼ 1. Close Your Browser Immediately

What to do: Close your browser and do NOT call the number shown.
Scam pop-ups often pretend to be from companies like Microsoft or Apple.

How to do it:

Windows:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keybord to open Task Manager
  2. Select your browser (Chrome, Edge, or Firefox)
  3. Click End Task (or press Alt + F4)

Mac:

  1. Press Command + Option + Esc to open the Force Quit Application menu.
  2. Select the browser (Safari, Chrome, or Firefox)
  3. Click Force Quit

If the fake warning still persists, perform Power Cycle:

  1. Shut down the computer completely.
  2. Unplug power (desktop) OR hold power button 10–15 seconds (laptop).
  3. Wait 30–60 seconds.
  4. Turn it back on.
  5. When reopening your browser, DO NOT click “Restore Pages.”
▼ 2. Remove Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUA):

What to do: Remove any suspicious software or Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs) installed on your computer.

How to do it:

  • Windows:
    1. Open the Control Panel.
    2. Click on Programs and then Programs and Features.
    3. Look for any unfamiliar or suspicious software.
    4. Right-click on the unwanted software and select Uninstall.
  • Mac:
    1. Open Finder.
    2. Go to the Applications folder.
    3. Drag any suspicious or unknown apps to the Trash.
    4. Empty the Trash by right-clicking on it and selecting Empty Trash.
▼ 3. Reset Browser Settings or Clear Browsing History

What to do: Reset your browser settings or clear your browsing history to remove any lingering traces of the scam.

How to do it:

  • Google Chrome:
    1. Click the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner.
    2. Go to Settings > Reset and clean up.
    3. Select Restore settings to their original defaults and click Reset settings.
    4. Alternatively, go to Privacy and security and click Clear browsing data to delete your history.
  • Mozilla Firefox:
    1. Click the three horizontal lines in the upper-right corner.
    2. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
    3. Scroll down to Cookies and Site Data and click Clear Data.
    4. Alternatively, go to Settings > General > Restore Defaults.
  • Microsoft Edge:
    1. Click the three horizontal dots in the upper-right corner.
    2. Go to Settings > Reset settings.
    3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
    4. Alternatively, clear browsing history by going to Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data.
  • Safari (Mac):
    1. Open Safari, and click Safari in the top-left menu.
    2. Select Clear History.
    3. Choose All history and click Clear History.
▼ 4. Verify if the Issue is Resolved

What to do:

  • Open your browser.
  • Visit any trusted websites.
  • If the scam message appears again, close the browser immediately.

If the issue persists:

▼ 5. Report the Website

What to do: Report the malicious site to Trend Micro Site Safety

How to do it:

Visit the Cybersecurity Learning Center!

GUARD YOURSELF AGAINST SCAMS!

Discover how to protect yourself from scams, online fraud, and dive into essential topics to protect your digital identity, and care for your devices.

Visit our 👉 Cybersecurity Learning Center! 👈

Keywords: Fake Warning, Spot and Avoid, Fraud, Deception, Hoax, Swindle, Con, Sham, Phishing, Ponzi scheme, Pyramid scheme, Identity theft, Cybercrime, Counterfeit, Scammer, Fake, Dishonesty, Trickery, Cheating, Rip-off, Confidence trick, Unscrupulous practices
Add a comment