Do not trust websites promoting the "Shopper Survey" scam
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is "Shopper Survey"?
"Shopper Survey scam" refers to a scheme run on various untrustworthy websites. The scam states that users can claim a prize by completing a short survey.
By offering fake rewards, such schemes aim to promote other deceptive and possibly malicious sites. Therefore, by trusting scams like "Shopper Survey", users can experience a variety of severe issues.
Typically, scam pages are accessed via mistyped URLs, redirects caused by intrusive ads, or force-opened by installed PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications). It is noteworthy that the "Shopper Survey" scam has been promoted through spam campaigns - mass-scale operations during which deceptive emails are sent by the thousand.
The subject of these letters is "Claim your Amazon gift card now", but both the title and the text presented in the emails - may vary.
The "Shopper Survey" scam requests visitors to take a survey concerning their shopping experience. As a show of gratitude for completing the questionnaire, the scheme states that users can choose an exclusive reward.
Once the multi-choice survey is complete, users are lead to a page from which they can select their prize. However, by attempting to claim the reward - users are redirected to a different scam site.
This scam has been observed promoting phishing webpages - designed to record information provided to them. These websites targeted the following information: names, surnames, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses.
The gathered data can be used by scammers to further personalized schemes and/or be sold to third-parties (potentially, cyber criminals). The endorsed pages also offer various products for sale or (in continuation of the original scam) as gifts.
To receive the bogus items, it is likely that users will be asked to pay some relatively minor fees (e.g., shipping, registration, subscription, etc.). The offered content usually does not exist; hence, regardless of whether users pay or not - they will not receive the products.
If the content is available, it can be worth significantly less, be faulty, or even dangerous to user health. Furthermore, sites of this type often use fake payment gateways, which are used for phishing banking information (e.g., bank account details, credit card numbers, log-in credentials, etc.).
To summarize, by trusting the "Shopper Survey" scam, users can experience serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft. As mentioned in the introduction, deceptive websites can be force-opened by PUAs.
However, unwanted apps can have other/additional heinous abilities. Adware-types run intrusive advertisement campaigns. The delivered ads diminish the browsing experience and endanger device/user safety.
Once clicked on, intrusive adverts redirect to unreliable/malicious pages, and some can stealthily download/install software (e.g., PUAs). Browser hijackers are another type of PUAs. They promote (cause redirects to) fake search engines by making modifications to browser settings.
The promoted web searchers rarely can generate search results, so they redirect to Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other legitimate search engines. What is more, most PUAs can track data.
They monitor browsing activity (browsing and search engine histories) and collect vulnerable data extracted from it (IP addresses, geolocations, and personally identifiable details).
The gathered information is then monetized by being shared with and/or sold to third-parties. Therefore, it is crucial to remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately upon detection.
| Name | Shopper Survey scam website |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
| Fake Claim | Scam claims users can select a prize after completing a short survey. |
| Related Domains | nutopshoping[.]com |
| Detection Names (nutopshoping[.]com) | Avira (no cloud) (Phishing), Fortinet (Spam), Spamhaus (Spam), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address (nutopshoping[.]com) | 1.1.1.1 |
| 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 Combo Cleaner. |
"UPS Rewards scam", "Gift Card Giveaway scam", and "$1000 Bank of America Gift Card scam" are a few examples of scams similar to "Shopper Survey". The Internet is full of untrustworthy, deceptive, and hazardous websites.
Scams aim to gain and subsequently abuse users' trust - in order to generate profit at their expense. Aside from offering fake prizes and unbelievable deals, common scheme types are those that warn of system infections or alert about outdated/missing software.
Due to how widespread scam sites are, it is strongly advised to exercise caution when browsing.
How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?
PUAs can have "official" promotional/download pages. These apps can also be downloaded/installed together with other software.
This false marketing method of packing regular programs with unwanted or malicious additions - is termed "bundling". Rushed download/installation processes (e.g., ignored terms, skipped steps and sections, etc.) increase the risk of allowing bundled content into the system.
Intrusive advertisements spread PUAs as well. Upon being clicked, the ads can execute scripts to download/install such applications without user consent.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
It is recommended to research software products prior to download/installation and/or purchase. Additionally, all downloads must be performed from official and verified sources.
Untrustworthy download channels, e.g., unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and other third-party downloaders - commonly offer harmful and bundled content. Download and installation processes must be approached with care.
Therefore, it is important to read terms, study possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and decline downloading/installing supplementary apps, tools, functions, and other additions. Intrusive adverts appear legitimate; however, they redirect to various unreliable and questionable sites (e.g., gambling, adult-dating, pornography, etc.).
In case of encounters with ads and/or redirects of this kind, the system must be checked and all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins detected - removed from it without delay. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
Text presented in the "Shopper Survey" scam:
Over $5,000,000 worth of offers given out in 2020!
Online Survey About
Shopper Survey
img April 16, 2021
Congratulations!
Please tell us about your Shopping experiences and as a thank you, you can select from several exclusive offer rewards!
Supply is extremely limited so act fast today: April 16, 2021
Take Survey Now
The appearance of "Shopper Survey" scam (GIF):
Screenshots of the websites endorsed through "Shopper Survey" scam:
Screenshot of the spam email promoting "Shopper Survey" scam:
Text presented in this email:
Subject: Claim your Amazon gift card now
Hello ******** ,
You are Customer #08376497 of THE ShopperSurvey Gifts and Rewards and we have been waiting for your confirmation since . This delivery is for ********
To activate the delivery, please confirm here !
Best regards,
THE ShopperSurvey Gifts and Rewards
Click here to continue the Delivery
This message was delivered to : ********
*Participation required.
* CONFIRM YOUR MEMBERSHIP *
Click Here
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is "Shopper Survey scam"?
- STEP 1. Uninstall deceptive applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove rogue extensions from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove potentially unwanted plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove rogue extensions from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
- STEP 6. Remove adware from Internet Explorer.
Removal of potentially unwanted applications:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 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.
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.
macOS (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 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 shopper survey scam website, 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 plugins 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 shopper survey scam website 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 shopper survey scam website, 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.
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 shopper survey scam website, 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.
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.
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