'Your Windows Got Corrupted Due to Virus' Scam
Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a rogue website running a technical support scheme known as the 'Your Windows Got Corrupted Dueto Virus' scam. The page utilizes multiple pop-ups and deceptive messages disguised as security warnings and alerts to scare users into calling a provided phone number. It is important to note that users rarely visit such shady destinations willingly and in most cases are taken there via forced redirects. There are two common causes for such redirects - sites using rogue advertising networks and intrusive PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs) present on the user's device.
The 'Your Windows Got Corrupted Due to Virus' scam displays multiple manipulative messages. It will even display results from a supposed Windows scanner that has detected threats, such as 'Trojan Spyware' and adware capable of collecting sensitive information, such as passwords, financial details and personal data. The fraudsters do not stop there with their scaremongering. The site also claims that the user's device has been disabled while a pop-up presented as a 'Windows Firewall Security Center' notification states that the computer has been locked and the Windows OS has been corrupted. The fake messages will even be voiced.
Like nearly all technical support tactics the 'Your Windows Got Corrupted Due to Virus' scam also attempts to convince its victims that the only way to deal with the supposedly dire situation is to call a phone number (+1-888-385-4577) described as 'technical support.' However, on the other end of the call will be con artists who will try to take advantage of unsuspecting users. The person posing as a technical support operator could try to extract private or confidential information from users, convince them to pay bogus service fees or ask to receive remote access to the device. If successful, these people could then deploy intrusive applications on the user's device or deliver serious malware threats, such as spyware, Trojans, RATs, ransomware and more.
