Do not trust the Code 0x03A10 (0E10) scam website
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Code 0x03A10 (0E10) scam?
Most technical support scam websites are designed to look like official, legitimate pages and display error, virus, or other notifications. The main purpose of these scams is to trick unsuspecting visitors into believing that there is a problem with their computers and calling the provided number to solve it (e.g., to fix errors, remove viruses).
These scams must be ignored. As a rule, users who fall for them lose money, install unwanted or even malicious software on their computers, or encounter other problems.
It is worthwhile to mention that technical support and other scams are promoted through deceptive advertisements, other untrustworthy pages, potentially unwanted applications (PUAs). In other words, users do not visit such pages intentionally.
This technical support website displays a fake error notification claiming that a computer has been blocked due to detected system error "0x03A10 (0E10)". It encourages visitors not to restart a computer or ignore this critical alert and immediately call 09 73 03 56 39 to remove the detected error.
The main purpose of this scam is to trick visitors into believing that credit card details, saved passwords, and files on a hard drive will be lost if they do not call the provided number and fix the problem. It is common that scammers behind technical support scams seek to trick users into purchasing unnecessary or fake software, paying money for technical support, or providing remote access to their computers.
It is important to know that by having access to a computer, scammers could use it to install unwanted, malicious software on the operating system (e.g., ransomware, trojan, cryptocurrency miner), download personal files, and access personal files accounts, and so on. This could lead to monetary loss, identity theft, loss of personal files and access to banking, social media, email, and other accounts, etc.
Another important detail about this technical support scam website is that it downloads a file on a computer. A file that this page is designed to download may be malicious.
This website and a file that it downloads should never be opened/trusted. It is worth mentioning that apps designed to promote technical support scams and other deceptive, potentially malicious pages can be designed to collect browsing data and other information and generate advertisements.
Most of them target Internet Protocol addresses, visited pages, entered search queries, geolocations, and other browsing data. Although, some PUAs can access sensitive information as well.
Either way, it is common that data gathered by PUAs is sold to third parties (potentially cybercriminals), used for marketing purposes, or monetized using other ways. Examples of ads that PUAs display are coupons, banners, surveys, pop-up ads.
Most of those ads are designed to promote questionable sites. Although, those ads can unwanted cause downloads, installations by executing certain scripts as well. Therefore, it is highly advisable not to have any PUAs installed on browsers or computers.
| Name | Code 0x03A10 (0E10) technical support scam |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
| Fake Claim | Computer is blocked due to critical error |
| Disguise | Error notification from Microsoft |
| Tech Support Scammer Phone Number | 09 73 03 56 39 |
| Serving IP Address | 51.68.89.231 |
| 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. |
There are many examples of similar scams, some of them are "Your System Detected Some Unusual Activity", "Error Code: #0x564897", "WIN-8x0007 Error". Most of them are designed to look like official Microsoft pages, display fake virus or error notifications, and encourage visitors to call the provided number (contact scammers).
Quite often, those pages are designed to prevent users from closing them. In such cases, users have to close them via Task Manager (by ending the running browser process).
Also, some of these technical support scams download potentially malicious files. Those files should never be opened/executed.
How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?
The majority of potentially unwanted applications are distributed by bundling them together with other programs (by including those apps in downloaders, installers for other programs). Typically, users can opt out additionally included apps via "Custom", "Advanced", or similar settings, or by unticking ticked checkboxes.
If those settings are left unchanged, bundled applications get permission to be downloaded and installed alongside desired programs. It is worthwhile to mention that most of the times PUAs are bundled with free programs.
Sometimes users cause unexpected downloads, installations through deceptive advertisements. They cause them by clicking ads that can execute certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Applications should never be downloaded via third-party downloaders (or installed via third-party installers), Peer-to-Peer networks like eMule, torrent clients, from unofficial websites, etc. Files and apps downloaded through the aforementioned sources can be malicious.
It is recommended to use only official websites and direct links. Downloaders and installers with "Custom", "Advanced", "Manual" and other similar settings or ticked checkboxes often are bundled with potentially unwanted applications.
It is important to decline unwanted offers before finishing downloads, installations. Ads appearing on shady pages should not be trusted as well - it is common that by clicking those ads users open untrustworthy sites.
Sometimes they cause unwanted downloads, installations of unwanted applications. Unwanted extensions, plug-ins or add-ons installed on a browser and apps of this kind installed on the operating system should be removed as soon as possible.
If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
The appearance of Code 0x03A10 (0E10) scam website (GIF):
Text in the pop-up window:
support.windows.com says:
** VOTRE ORDINATEUR A ÉTÉ BLOQUÉ **
Erreur système 0x03A10 (0E10)
Merci de ne pas éteindre ni redémarrer votre ordinateur.
Contactez la ligne d’assistance Windows pour réactiver votre ordinateur.
Ne pas ignorer cette alerte critique.
Si vous fermez cette page, votre accès à l'ordinateur sera désactivé.
Votre système est piraté ou utilisé depuis un emplacement non défini.
Toutes ces données seront perdues si vous continuez:
* Les informations des cartes bancaires
* Les mots de passe enregistrés
* Les données enregistrées sur le disque dur
Vous devez nous contacter immédiatement afin que nos ingénieurs experts puissent vous guider tout au long du processus de suppression par téléphone afin de protéger votre identité.
Détails de l'erreur : Code 0x03A10 (0E10)
Support Microsoft : 09 73 03 56 39 (Appel gratuit)
Quitter
Text in the background:
Support technique : 09 73 03 56 39 (Appel gratuit)
Bienvenue dans le Support Microsoft
Gérer mon compte
Demander à la communauté
Contacter Answer Desk
Centre de téléchargement
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Quick menu:
- What is Code 0x03A10 (0E10) technical support scam?
- 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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