Avoid being scammed by "Congratulations Samsung user!"
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
(updated)
"Congratulations Samsung user!" removal instructions
What is "Congratulations Samsung user!"?
"Congratulations Samsung user!" is a scam run on deceptive web pages. It claims that, due to visitors' support of "Samsung" services, the company is offering the chance to win an "exclusive reward". Note that this dubious scheme has no connection with Samsung. Additionally, any prizes offered are bogus. At the time of research, the scam simply redirected to a website stating "Thank You", however, in most cases, these scams steal users' personal information (e.g. names, email addresses, banking details, etc.) and/or to trick them into making monetary transactions (e.g. paying shipping fees for the bogus prize, etc.). Typically, visits to deceptive/scam web pages occur via redirects caused by intrusive ads or by Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs) already infiltrated into the system.
When the site running the "Congratulations Samsung user!" scam is entered, it displays a pop-up window, which congratulates users for being chosen as candidates to receive an exclusive reward - this as a "thank you" for supporting "Samsung". When the "OK" button is clicked, the pop-up is closed. The page contains an already-spinning wheel-of-fortune prize draw. When the wheel stops on a prize, the page shows another pop-up window, which instructs users to click the "Claim Your Prize" button and verify the information in the next page. This window also contains a countdown, which gives the time remaining until the prize becomes unavailable. In fact, this button does not redirect to any site with instructions - users are redirected to a website simply containing the words "Thank You". Studying the design of this scam, it is highly likely that it was created to steal users' personal information and/or mislead them into transferring money to the scammers. Trusting "Congratulations Samsung user!" and other, similar schemes can lead to serious issues including privacy concerns, financial loss and even identity theft.
As well as force-opening various dubious (e.g. sale-oriented, rogue, compromised, scam and malicious) web pages, PUAs have other capabilities. These applications can also deliver intrusive advertisements (e.g. banners, pop-ups, coupons, etc.). These ads are more than just a nuisance - when clicked, they redirect to untrusted/malicious web pages and can even stealthily download/install rogue content (e.g. PUAs). Other PUAs hijack browsers by restricting/denying access to settings in order to promote fake search engines. PUAs commonly monitor and record data including users' browsing habits (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and personal information (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). This data can then be shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) seeking to misuse it for profit. To summarize, PUAs can cause browser/system infiltration and infections, and endanger users' privacy, identity and finances. To protect device integrity and user safety, remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins without delay.
| Name | Congratulations Samsung user! pop-up |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud. |
| Fake Claim | Scam claims that visitors can win an exclusive reward. |
| Related Domains | rewardsawesome[.]com |
| Serving IP Address (rewardsawesome[.]com) | 91.224.58.27 |
| Detection Names (rewardsawesome[.]com) | Fortinet (Phishing), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Symptoms | Fake error messages, fake system warnings, pop-up errors, hoax computer scan. |
| Distribution methods | Compromised websites, rogue online pop-up ads, potentially unwanted applications. |
| Damage | Loss of sensitive private information, monetary loss, identity theft, possible malware infections. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Malwarebytes. |
"YOU ARE THE CHOSEN!", "Congratulations Walmart shopper!", and "SPECIAL AWARD FROM OUR SPONSORS" are examples of scams using an identical model to "Congratulations Samsung user!". Other popular models include warnings that the visitors' devices are infected and/or at risk, alerts that crucial software is missing and/or outdated, etc. The goal of these scams is to generate revenue for their designers at users' expense. This is achieved by encouraging them to reveal their personal details, making monetary transactions, downloading/installing and/or purchasing nonoperational, untrusted or malicious content.
How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?
PUAs often proliferate through the download/install set-ups of other programs. "Bundling" is the term used to define this deceptive marketing technique of pre-packing normal applications with unwanted or malicious software. Rushing download/installation processes (e.g. skipping steps and sections) increases the risk of potential system infiltration and infections. Some of these apps have "official" download sites. When clicked, intrusive ads can execute scripts to download/install PUAs without users' permission.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
It is important to research all products to verify their legitimacy, prior to download/installation and/or purchase. Use only official and verified download channels. Sources including P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.), free file-hosting websites and other third party downloaders are untrusted and offer likewise dubious content. Treat download/Installation processes with caution. Read the terms, study all available options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and decline download/installation of supplementary apps, tools, features and so on. Intrusive ads usually seem legitimate and harmless, however, they can redirect to highly dubious pages (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating and others). If you experience ads/redirects of this type, eliminate all suspect applications and/or browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Malwarebytes for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
Text presented in the initial pop-up:
Congratulations Samsung user!
We would like to thank you for your continuing support for our services - so we are offering you a chance to receive an exclusive rewardClick "OK" to claim your special prize
Good Luck!
Screenshot of the wheel-of-fortune for drawing the bogus prize:
Text presented in this page:
User Loyalty Program 2019
Congratulations!Every Monday we select 7 lucky Samsung users to receive a special reward. Spin the wheel to claim your special prize.
Screenshot of the pop-up displayed, after the bogus prize is won:
Text presented in this pop-up:
Congratulations!
(1) Samsung Galaxy S9 is reserved for you!To claim your prize, click the button bellow and verify your information on the next page.
Claim Your Prize
Your prize will expire in 5:07
The appearance of "Congratulations Samsung user!" scam (GIF):
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced computer skills. Malwarebytes is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:
- What is "Congratulations Samsung user!"?
- STEP 1. Uninstall deceptive applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove rogue extensions from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove potentially unwanted plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue extensions from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Removal of potentially unwanted applications:
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
Windows XP users:
Click Start, choose Settings and click Control Panel. Locate and click Add or Remove Programs.
Windows 10 and Windows 8 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Mac OSX users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window, look for any suspicious/recently-installed applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove rogue extensions from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the congratulations samsung user! pop-up, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and remove them.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the congratulations samsung user! pop-up, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions", in the opened window remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with congratulations samsung user! pop-up removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....
In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon 
(at the upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the congratulations samsung user! pop-up, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.
Removal assistance:
If you are experiencing problems while trying to remove congratulations samsung user! pop-up from your computer, please ask for assistance in our malware support forum.
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Outstanding!