Error Code XLMR01F7985 POP-UP Scam

What is "Error Code XLMR01F7985"?

Scammers use "Error Code # XLMR01F7985" to deceive people into believing that an error has occurred on the Windows Operating System and they should contact Microsoft technical support. This is simply a scam, a fake error message that is displayed on an untrustworthy, deceptive website.

Typically, people do not visit websites of this type intentionally - they are redirected to them by potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) that are installed on computers or web browsers.

Many users install these apps inadvertently without their knowledge. As well as unwanted redirects, PUAs record data (relating to browsing activity and other details) and serve users with various intrusive advertisements.

The "Error Code # XLMR01F7985" fake alert is displayed on a deceptive website that opens a pop-up window within it. According to the pop-up, the user's computer was disabled due to the error. It also contains a warning that this error should not remain unfixed, since it might cause further complications.

The deceptive website contains a telephone number [(833) 430-6138] to contact technicians (supposedly from Microsoft) to fix the error. The website also warns visitors that it also detected a malware infection, and thus Facebook details, email accounts, and other sensitive information is in danger.

Note that neither Microsoft company nor its support team has anything to do with this fake error. This is a common scam used to trick people into contacting cyber criminals (scammers) who use these websites to extort money from everyday users.

Generally, when contacted these criminals urge people to purchase software to fix errors/eliminate other problems or purchase 'technical guidance'. Websites of this type should never be trusted. The best option is to ignore the message and close them.

If the site cannot be closed in the normal way, use Task Manager and terminate the entire browser process, or restart the computer. Do not restore the closed browsing session, since this will return you to the deceptive website.

As mentioned in our introduction, PUAs cause redirects to deceptive, scam websites. These apps also serve users with intrusive advertisements and record browsing-related data. They deliver ads such as coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups, and others that are displayed via tools that enable placement of third party graphical content on any site.

The ads conceal underlying content and can be very annoying. Clicking ads of this type might lead to dubious (potentially, malicious) websites or run scripts that download/install potentially malicious applications. Additionally, most PUAs gather browsing-related data, including, for example, URLs of visited websites, IP addresses, geo-locations, search queries, and so on.

They also gather personal/sensitive data. PUAs developers share the details with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse them to generate revenue. Thus, having data tracking applications installed can lead to online privacy issues, problems with browsing safety, or even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	"Error Code XLMR01F7985" virus
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Symptoms	Unauthorized online purchases, changed online account passwords, identity theft, illegal access of one's computer.
Distribution methods	Deceptive emails, rogue online pop-up ads, search engine poisoning techniques, misspelled domains.
Damage	Loss of sensitive private information, monetary loss, identity theft.
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.

Many deceptive websites display fake errors, viruses, and other messages, however, most are designed to extort money from users by tricking them into purchasing unnecessary apps or paying for services that are not required.

Examples of other websites that contain deceptive content are Windows Is Not Activated, Activate Your Windows Now, and This Computer Is Blocked.

Most potentially unwanted apps are very similar - developers promote them as providing useful features, tools, and so on. In fact, they only trick people into downloading and installing other unwanted software. Once installed, PUAs only cause problems and provide none of the functionality promised.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

Some of PUAs can be downloaded from their websites, however, they are usually installed through the aforementioned intrusive ads or a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Bundling is used by software developers who aim to trick people into installing unwanted apps together with regular software.

Developers do not disclose information about PUAs bundled within installation (or download) set-ups. They often hide them in "Custom", "Advanced" sections (and other similar settings/options). Furthermore, many users skip installation steps without checking the settings, thus allowing download/installation of PUAs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Do not to use third party software downloaders/installers or download software from untrustworthy websites, using peer-to-peer networks, and other dubious tools. Download software using official and trustworthy websites (sources) only. Install software carefully - do not skip download/installation steps without first checking "Custom", "Advanced", and other settings.

Deselect unwanted offers and only then finish the download or installation process. Avoid clicking intrusive ads, especially if they are displayed on dubious websites. Bear in mind that even if they seem legitimate, many redirect to potentially malicious websites such as gambling, pornography, adult dating, and so on.

If you encounter these redirects, check installed extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons on your browser. Also check programs on your computer. Eliminate any unknown/unwanted entries immediately. 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 on "Error Code XLMR01F7985" deceptive website and its associated pop-up:

Security Warning:

** YOUR COMPUTER WAS DISABLED **

Error Code # XLMR01F7985

Call MS Technical Support: (833) 430-6138

Try not to ignore this important warning.

In the event that you leave this without fixing this issue, access to your PC will be expelled to anticipate further obliteration to our system.

Your PC has alerted us that it was contaminated with malware. The following information is in threat:

1. Facebook Details
2. Credit Card Information
3. Email Credentials
4. Browsing History and Information

You should get in touch with us quickly so our specialists can direct you through the rebuilding procedure by telephone. If it's not too much trouble call us in the next 3 minutes to avert severe damage/loss data of your PC.

Contact MS Expert: (833) 430-6138 (Toll-Free) 

The appearance of "Error Code XLMR01F7985" pop-up (GIF):

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▼ 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 "Error Code XLMR01F7985" virus?
• 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.

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