Do not trust fake "Verizon" reward giveaways and emails
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is the "Verizon Reward"?
"Verizon Reward Scam" is a scheme run on various deceptive sites. This scam states that users will be rewarded if they complete a survey concerning their mobile experiences.
This prize giveaway is supposedly held by Verizon Communications Inc. - an American multinational telecommunications conglomerate. It must be emphasized that this scheme is in no way associated with Verizon, and all the claims by it - are false.
The goal of the "Verizon Reward" scam is to trick users into visiting/using various unreliable and malicious websites. Typically, deceptive pages are accessed unintentionally; most users enter them via mistyped URLs, redirects caused by intrusive ads, or have them force-opened by installed PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications).
It is noteworthy that the "Verizon Reward" scheme has been observing being promoted through Verizon-themed spam mail (email subject "you are the chosen one! [recipient's email address]"; may vary).
The "Verizon Reward" scam requests users to tell about their mobile experiences by taking a survey. As a "thank you" for completing the questionnaire, the scheme promises that users will receive a "promo reward" worth at least 90 USD.
The scam alleges that it has given out prizes worth 4 million USD in total. After the survey is complete, users are presented with a list of "exclusive rewards".
When they attempt to claim any of the prizes - users are redirected to misleading and harmful sites. This online scheme primarily promotes phishing webpages, designed to record information entered into them - in order to use it for heinous purposes.
Targeted data includes: names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses. The collected information can be sold to third-parties (potentially, cyber criminals) and/or used to create personalized scams.
The endorsed pages also offer products for free or for sale. In the case of the former, users are still asked to make various payments (e.g., shipping, registration, subscription, etc.). Websites of this type usually employ dubious payment gateways, which operate as phishing scams.
Hence, financial information (e.g., bank account details, credit card numbers, etc.) provided to them - is disclosed to the scammers. This data can then be used to make fraudulent transactions and/or online purchases.
Promotional/sale-based sites like those endorsed by the "Verizon Reward" scam - typically do not have the products they offer. Even if they do and users receive them, the items are likely to be cheap, counterfeit, and/or hazardous to use or consume.
To summarize, by trusting the "Verizon Reward" scam, users can experience severe privacy issues, significant financial losses, identity theft, and other serious problems. As mentioned in the introduction, deceptive and other undesirable pages can be force-opened by PUAs.
These apps can have various functionalities, which can be in different combinations. Adware type PUAs deliver intrusive ads.
They diminish the browsing experience and pose a threat to device/user safety. Once clicked on, intrusive advertisements redirect to dangerous websites, and some can stealthily download/install software.
PUAs called browser hijackers operate by making modifications to browser settings and restricting access to them - in order to promote fake search engines. The promoted web searchers usually cannot provide search results, so they redirect to Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other legitimate search engines.
Most PUAs can track data. They monitor browsing activity and collect sensitive information extracted from it (IP addresses/ geolocations, personally identifiable details, etc.). The collected data 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 | Verizon Reward scam website |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
| Fake Claim | Scam claims users will receive a reward for completing a survey. |
| Disguise | Scam is disguised as a prize giveaway held by Verizon Communications Inc. |
| Related Domains | includingfuture[.]com |
| Detection Names (includingfuture[.]com) | Fortinet (Malware), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address (includingfuture[.]com) | 172.67.175.21 |
| 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. |
"Home Improvement Reward", "Mobile Survey Reward", "ONLINE BANK Reward", "Shipping Survey Reward", "Onlinemart Reward", and "PayApp Reward" are some examples of scams that are virtually identical to "Verizon Reward".
The Web is full of misleading, deceptive, and malicious content. Online scams are especially widespread, and they use different tactics to gain and abuse users' trust.
Popular scam models are: fake reward giveaways, hoax lotteries, alerts that an essential piece of software is outdated or missing, warnings that the device is infected or at risk, and so forth.
Regardless of what schemes claim, their sole goal is to generate profit at victims' expense. Due to how prevalent scams are online, it is strongly advised to exercise caution when browsing.
How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?
PUAs can have "official" promotional/download webpages. These applications are also distributed via download/installation setups of other programs.
This false marketing technique of packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions - is called "bundling". Rushed download/installation processes (e.g., ignored terms, used pre-set options, etc.) increase the risk of inadvertently allowing bundled content into the system.
Intrusive advertisements are used to proliferate PUAs as well. When clicked on, the adverts can execute scripts to make downloads/installations without user permission.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
It is important to research software prior to download/installation and/or purchase. Additionally, all downloads must be done 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 - often offer bundled content. Download and installation processes have to be treated with care.
Therefore, it is recommended to read terms, explore all possible options, use the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings, and decline downloading/installing additional apps, tools, functions, etc. Intrusive advertisements appear ordinary and harmless; however, they redirect to various unreliable and questionable sites (e.g., gambling, adult-dating, pornography, and so forth).
In case of encounters with such ads and/or redirects, the system must be checked and all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins detected - immediately removed from it. 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 "Verizon Reward" scam:
Over $4,000,000 in Offers given out so far!
Verizon
May 06, 2021 Flag
Take Survey Today and get a $90 promo reward
Congratulations!
Please tell us about your Mobile experiences, and as a thank you, you can select from several exclusive offer rewards!
This offer is available for today only: May 06, 2021.
Take Survey Now
The appearance of "Verizon Reward" scam (GIF):
Screenshots of websites endorsed through the "Verizon Reward" scam:
Screenshot of the spam email used promote "Verizon Reward" scam:
Text presented in this email:
Subject: you are the chosen one! ********
You have been selected ******** - Verizon.com
CONGRATULATIONS
This email was only to 10 selected customers in your area. In this way, we would like to thank you for being here for us.
You are one of the current customers to win an exclusive Verizon reward.
All your have to do is confirm receipt of this email. Thanks and good luck.
Offer will expire at: -
Confirm Now
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Quick menu:
- What is "Verizon Reward 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 verizon reward 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 verizon reward 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 verizon reward 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 verizon reward 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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Outstanding!
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