Avoid falling prey to "HTML/Fraud" content

What is "HTML/Fraud"?

HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is a content language for Internet browser display. Hence, "HTML/Fraud" refers to HTML-based content used for fraudulent purposes. Additionally, "HTML/Fraud" or similar variations are used by some anti-virus programs as detection names.

This term encompasses a wide variety of deceptive material, the purpose of which is to gain and subsequently abuse users' trust. "HTML/Fraud" is often used in phishing and other assorted online scams. It can be encountered through rogue websites and spam emails.

"HTML/Fraud" overview

"HTML/Fraud" can be used as an umbrella term to describe online scams. There are millions of deceptive websites on the Internet, which employ hundreds of scam models for nefarious purposes (primarily, to generate revenue at victims' expense).

The most popular scam models include (but are not limited to) fake: tech support, virus and error warnings, outdated/missing software alerts, log-in webpages, lotteries, raffles, giveaways, and surveys. This fraudulent content often incorporates the names, logos, and other information related to legitimate entities - such as tech giants, software developers, e-commerce platforms, service providers, brand names, and so on.

To elaborate, technical support scams include fake warnings concerning computer safety that urge users to call the provided helplines. They are typically presented as alerts issued by the Operating System/ its developers (e.g., Windows or Microsoft Corporation, macOS/iOS or Apple Inc., Android or Open Handset Alliance/ Google, etc.), or by security software (e.g., McAfee, Norton, Kaspersky, etc.).

Tech support scams aim to trick users into allowing the scammers remote access into their devices - from which point they can ask for exorbitant fees for "services" or "products", uninstall/install software, steal data, infect the system with malware (e.g., trojans, ransomware, etc.), and so forth.

Online scams that warn of threats or issues (viruses, outdated/missing software, etc.) are commonly used to promote untrustworthy software (e.g., fake anti-virus tools, adware, browser hijackers, various PUAs, etc.) - through claims that the product will eliminate the nonexistent problems.

It is noteworthy that no website can detect the problems present on a visitor's device; therefore, any that make such claims are scams.

Phishing websites also fall within the "HTML/Fraud" category. These pages are designed to record the information provided to them. For example, sites disguised as log-in webpages collect account credentials (e.g., email addresses, usernames, passwords, passphrases, etc.) entered into them.

Other phishing scams may target personally identifiable details (e.g., names, addresses, occupations, telephone numbers, email addresses, etc.) and/or financial data (e.g., baking account details, credit card numbers, etc.).

These schemes often entail imaginary gifts and prizes - to receive which users must provide said information. In some cases, the fake raffle/giveaway scams also request users to pay various fees.

Sometimes, the scam hinges on users making a monetary transaction - with the promise that a larger sum will be returned (standard for cryptocurrency giveaways).

However, "HTML/Fraud" is not limited to deceptive websites - it also includes fraudulent HTML files. The latter is usually spread through spam emails as attachments (although these letters can also contain links to scam websites). "HTML/Fraud" promoting email disguises include account/service related warnings (e.g., blocked emails/messages, security updates, suspicious/unauthorized activity, etc.) and finance-centered ones (e.g., prizes, donations, payouts, inheritances, etc.).

To summarize, by trusting "HTML/Fraud" content, users can experience system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	HTML/Fraud scam
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Detection Names	Avast (Other:SNH-gen [Phish]), Combo Cleaner (JS:Trojan.Cryxos.6369), ESET-NOD32 (HTML/Fraud.GO), McAfee (HTML/Phishing.nm), Microsoft (Trojan:Win32/Vigorf.A), 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.

"HTML/Fraud" examples

We have analyzed thousands of "HTML/Fraud" instances. To provide some examples of the tech support scams we have recently inspected - "Access to this PC has been blocked for due to illegal activities", "Pornography Warning Error", and "Your computer is disabled. Please call Microsoft.".

Threat alerts - "McAfee Total Protection - Your PC might be infected with viruses!", "McAfee Total Protection - Your PC might be infected with viruses!", "Kaspersky - Your PC is infected with 5 viruses!"; and outdated/missing software notifications - "Your antivirus protection has expired", "You need to update your browser to view the content", "Update your Chrome browser extension", and "Microsoft Edge Update Scam".

"WalletConnect scam", "Enter Your Best Valid Email to Confirm That You're Not a Robot", and "Coinbase scam" are some phishing sites.

"SpaceX BTC and ETH giveaway", "Official Solana NFT Launch", and "PROT Giveaway" are fake cryptocurrency giveaways, while "Chrome Search Contest 2022", "iPhone 12 Mini Giveaway", "BLACK WEEK Lottery" - are prize-related scams.

As previously mentioned, "HTML/Fraud" content is frequently promoted in the form of attachments in spam emails; "DHL Shipment Details", "Covid-19 stimulus payment", and "cPanel email scam" are a couple examples of such letters.

It is pertinent to mention that HTML-based content used specifically for phishing is classified as "HTML/Phishing".

How did I encounter "HTML/Fraud" content?

"HTML/Fraud" can be encountered on untrustworthy websites, which are seldom accessed intentionally. These sites can be entered directly through a mistyped URL or when misspelling an address causes a redirection chain that lands on a scam page. Intrusive ads and spam browser notifications are known to promote deceptive websites.

Pages that use rogue advertising networks can cause redirects to scam sites - when they are accessed or when hosted content (e.g., ads, buttons, links, etc.) is clicked on. Adware can display advertisements that endorse online scams or force-open deceptive webpages.

Scam websites can also be linked in spam emails. Additionally, these letters can contain "HTML/Fraud" files as attachments or download links.

How to avoid encountering "HTML/Fraud" content?

We strongly recommend exercising caution when browsing - since "HTML/Fraud" and other malicious content usually looks legitimate. We advise against using sites that offer pirated material or questionable services (e.g., Torrenting, illegal streaming and downloading, etc.). Furthermore, pages that make offers that are too good to be true - must not be trusted.

To avoid receiving scam-promoting browser notifications, do not click "Allow", "Allow Notifications", or similar options presented by suspicious websites. Instead, ignore notification delivery or deny it (i.e., press "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.).

Adware can promote "HTML/Fraud" content; therefore, it is important to download only from official/verified sources and exercise caution with installation processes - to prevent this software from infiltrating your device.

Additionally, we advise being vigilant with incoming emails and messages. Spam mail can include "HTML/Fraud" and malware - hence, the attachments and links found in these letters must not be opened.

It is paramount to computer safety to have a dependable anti-virus installed and updated. Security software must be used to run regular system scans and to remove detected threats. If your computer is already infected, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate all threats.

Example of "HTML/Fraud" content promoted by an email spam campaign:

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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 HTML/Fraud 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.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is "HTML/Fraud"?

"HTML/Fraud" refers to fraudulent content based on the HTML language, which is designed to be displayed on Web browsers. The "HTML/Fraud" term encompasses various scam-promoting websites and deceptive HTML format files.

What is the purpose of "HTML/Fraud"?

The primary purpose of "HTML/Fraud" is the same as all scams, regardless of their platforms - to generate revenue at victims' expense. In the case of "HTML/Fraud" profit can be made through funds obtained by deception, abuse or sale of sensitive information, (likely untrustworthy or harmful) software promotion, malware proliferation, and so on.

I have provided my personal information when tricked by "HTML/Fraud", what should I do?

If you have disclosed account credentials - immediately change the passwords of all potentially exposed accounts and inform their official support. And if you have disclosed other private data (e.g., ID card details, credit card numbers, etc.) - contact the corresponding authorities without delay.

Why do I encounter "HTML/Fraud"?

"HTML/Fraud" is most commonly encountered on rogue sites or through spam emails. The former can be entered via mistyped URLs or redirects caused by webpages using rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads, spam browser notifications, or installed adware. While "HTML/Fraud" promoted by spam mail - is accessed by opening the attachments or clicking the links found in these letters/messages.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from "HTML/Fraud" related content?

Combo Cleaner can scan visited websites and detect rogue, deceptive, and malicious ones. It is also capable of restricting access to such webpages. Combo Cleaner is designed to check downloaded files for harmful content (including "HTML/Fraud") - hence, you will be warned if such is detected.

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