How to identify scams like "TotalAV - Card Payment Has Failed!"

What kind of scam "TotalAV - Card Payment Has Failed!"?

We have examined the page and discovered that it uses a deceptive method to promote a legitimate software product. On the site, users encounter fake information that encourages them to renew their subscriptions. It is advisable not to trust such sites even if they promote legitimate products or services.

"TotalAV - Card Payment Has Failed!" scam overview

This deceptive page claims that the user's card payment failed and their TotalAV antivirus subscription expired, leaving their device vulnerable to viruses. It urges the visitor to act fast and offers a 50% discount for renewing a subscription, with a timer ticking down. To protect a device, it prompts the user to click the "Renew Subscription" button.

Overall, the deceptive page employs fear tactics, urgency, and the promise of a discount to manipulate users into renewing their antivirus subscription. It is important to note that TotalAV is a legitimate antivirus software product. The company owning this antivirus does not control the deceptive page described in our article.

Typically, deceptive sites promoting legitimate software products are created by affiliates who earn commissions when users purchase a product through their site. During our examination, clicking "Renew Subscription" led to a page that was unavailable. Yet, it is probable that the page's URL includes an affiliate's ID.

Either way, it is recommended not to trust shady websites claiming that your computer is infected or compromised or that your antivirus (or other) subscription has expired. It is worth mentioning that such sites often ask for permission to show notifications. If allowed, they deliver fake warnings and offers, promote various scams, or contain other deceptive content.

Threat Summary:

Name	TotalAV - Card Payment Has Failed! fake warning
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	This deceptive page claims that user's card payment has failed
Disguise	Legitimate notification regarding Total AV antivirus subscription
Related Domain	news-info[.]tech
Detection Names (news-info[.]tech)	alphaMountain.ai (Phishing), Combo Cleaner (Malware), CyRadar (Malicious), Fortinet (Phishing), VIPRE (Malware), 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 Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Conclusion

Pages that employ deceptive methods (like scare tactics) to manipulate individuals into making hasty decisions should be ignored. It is recommended to check the legitimacy of such pages before making purchases or providing information (even if the promoted products are legitimate and trustworthy).

Some examples of deceptive pages similar to the one described in our article are: "McAfee Safety Warning", "Your TotalAV Subscription Has Expired", and "McAfee - Your Computer Is Severely Damaged". Users rarely visit such web pages on purpose.

How did I open a scam website?

It is common for scam websites to be accessed by users via phishing emails or messages containing links to fraudulent websites, deceptive online ads, pop-ups (e.g., fake warnings), or notifications from untrustworthy web pages. Additionally, adware installed on computers can lead to scam pages.

In other cases, users land on scams via pages utilizing rogue advertising networks. These networks are typically utilized by torrent sites, illegal movie streaming pages, and similar pages. Sometimes, scammers fake sites with URLs similar to official websites to lure users into scams.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Exercise caution with emails from unfamiliar senders, particularly those containing links or attachments. Obtain apps exclusively from official sources and app stores, and refrain from engaging with advertisements, pop-ups, or links on dubious websites. Decline requests to show notifications from suspicious sites.

Always check website URLs before downloading anything or sharing personal information. Additionally, routinely scan your computer, check browsers for suspicious apps, and eliminate all threats. If your computer is already infected with unwanted apps, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.

The appearance of "TotalAV - Card Payment Has Failed!" pop-up scam (GIF):

Fake message:

Card payment has failed!
Recurring payment has failed and your antivirus subscription of TotalAV has expired on May 14 . Your antivirus protection has been deactivated.

Mobile device is exposed to viruses and other malware. Please continue to next page and finish your payment.

As a returning customer, you are eligible for a discount:50% OFF

This offer will expire in:

20sec

Renew Subscription

Windows® | macOS® | AndroidTM | iOS®

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is TotalAV - Card Payment Has Failed! fake warning?
• How to identify a pop-up scam?
• How do pop-up scams work?
• How to remove fake pop-ups?
• How to prevent fake pop-ups?
• What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

How to identify a pop-up scam?

Pop-up windows with various fake messages are a common type of lures cybercriminals use. They collect sensitive personal data, trick Internet users into calling fake tech support numbers, subscribe to useless online services, invest in shady cryptocurrency schemes, etc.

While in the majority of cases these pop-ups don't infect users' devices with malware, they can cause direct monetary loss or could result in identity theft.

Cybercriminals strive to create their rogue pop-up windows to look trustworthy, however, scams typically have the following characteristics:

• Spelling mistakes and non-professional images - Closely inspect the information displayed in a pop-up. Spelling mistakes and unprofessional images could be a sign of a scam.
• Sense of urgency - Countdown timer with a couple of minutes on it, asking you to enter your personal information or subscribe to some online service.
• Statements that you won something - If you haven't participated in a lottery, online competition, etc., and you see a pop-up window stating that you won.
• Computer or mobile device scan - A pop-up window that scans your device and informs of detected issues - is undoubtedly a scam; webpages cannot perform such actions.
• Exclusivity - Pop-up windows stating that only you are given secret access to a financial scheme that can quickly make you rich.

Example of a pop-up scam:

How do pop-up scams work?

Cybercriminals and deceptive marketers usually use various advertising networks, search engine poisoning techniques, and shady websites to generate traffic to their pop-ups. Users land on their online lures after clicking on fake download buttons, using a torrent website, or simply clicking on an Internet search engine result.

Based on users' location and device information, they are presented with a scam pop-up. Lures presented in such pop-ups range from get-rich-quick schemes to fake virus scans.

How to remove fake pop-ups?

In most cases, pop-up scams do not infect users' devices with malware. If you encountered a scam pop-up, simply closing it should be enough. In some cases scam, pop-ups may be hard to close; in such cases - close your Internet browser and restart it.

In extremely rare cases, you might need to reset your Internet browser. For this, use our instructions explaining how to reset Internet browser settings.

How to prevent fake pop-ups?

To prevent seeing pop-up scams, you should visit only reputable websites. Torrent, Crack, free online movie streaming, YouTube video download, and other websites of similar reputation commonly redirect Internet users to pop-up scams.

To minimize the risk of encountering pop-up scams, you should keep your Internet browsers up-to-date and use reputable anti-malware application. For this purpose, we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.

What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

This depends on the type of scam that you fell for. Most commonly, pop-up scams try to trick users into sending money, giving away personal information, or giving access to one's device.

• If you sent money to scammers: You should contact your financial institution and explain that you were scammed. If informed promptly, there's a chance to get your money back.
• If you gave away your personal information: You should change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication in all online services that you use. Visit Federal Trade Commission to report identity theft and get personalized recovery steps.
• If you let scammers connect to your device: You should scan your computer with reputable anti-malware (we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows) - cyber criminals could have planted trojans, keyloggers, and other malware, don't use your computer until removing possible threats.
• Help other Internet users: report Internet scams to Federal Trade Commission.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a pop-up scam?

A pop-up scam is a deceptive scheme involving fraudulent pop-up windows or alerts on websites. These pop-ups often mimic legitimate notifications or warnings, claiming that the user's device is infected, payment has failed, personal information has been compromised, etc.

What is the purpose of a pop-up scam?

The goal of a pop-up scam is to trick users into providing personal information, downloading potentially malicious software, contacting scammers, paying for fake or unnecessary products or services, or taking other actions that can lead to financial loss, computer infections, identity theft, or other issues.

Why do I encounter fake pop-ups?

In most cases, users land on scam pages unintentionally. They get tricked into visiting such pages via deceptive advertisements, links distributed through compromised social media accounts, fraudulent emails, adware, notifications from unreliable websites, and pages (e.g., torrent sites) utilizing questionable advertising networks.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams?

Combo Cleaner can scan websites and detect those designed to deliver pop-up scams. This app can also instantly alert you and restrict access to shady sites to prevent potential harm.

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