Avoid getting scammed by "Your Phone May Be Receiving Many Spam Texts" sites

What is "Norton - Your Phone May Be Receiving Many Spam Texts"?

While investigating suspicious websites, our researchers found one running the "Norton - Your Phone May Be Receiving Many Spam Texts" scam. It is presented as an alert from the Norton anti-virus. The fake notification warns that the visitor's phone may be receiving spam and all data might be lost from their computer - if they do not take action.

It must be emphasized that this scam is in no way associated with either the Norton AntiVirus or its developer - NortonLifeLock.

"Norton - Your Phone May Be Receiving Many Spam Texts" scam overview

At the time of research, this scam greeted the promoting website's visitor as a "Norton User". It stated that the user's mobile device might be receiving spam text messages (SMSes). The scheme also warned that the visitor might lose all the information stored on their computer if they do not take appropriate action. This scam recommended installing an anti-virus to clean the user's inbox.

As mentioned in the introduction, this deceptive content is not associated with Norton, and the small print on the initial page confirms it. The text at the bottom of the page states that - "this website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Norton" and goes into detail on this matter. The small print indicates that "products offered on the last page require shipping and handling fees", but it may vary depending on the product's terms/offers.

When we pressed the "START CLEAN" button, the scam ran a fake system scan that kept detecting nonexistent issues. It must be mentioned that no website can scan devices or find threats on them - hence, all that proclaim such are scams.

Once the "scan" concluded, the scheme displayed a threat report stating the visitor's phone was infected with five viruses. Another claim was that the Norton subscription had expired and must be renewed to keep the device protected.

In most cases, scams of this kind are used to endorse untrustworthy and harmful software, e.g., fake anti-virus tools, adware, browser hijackers, and various PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications). However, this scam model can also be used to push other dubious products or services. To an extent, this is covered by the small print on the first page, which implies that the promoted content may vary and require payment.

We have observed instances of these schemes being used to distribute trojans, ransomware, and other malware - under the guise of various "helpful" and "advantageous" tools.

Scammers also employ this model to obtain illegitimate commissions by abusing the affiliate programs of genuine products/services. In these cases, the schemes redirect to official websites, and scammers receive commissions for it, although the endorsement goes against the affiliate terms set by the legitimate developers/creators.

However, even if a scam promotes genuine content - there are no guarantees that it will continue to do so. Furthermore, malicious sites often appear identical to those they mimic. Therefore, we strongly advise using only official and verified sources to obtain software or other products.

To summarize, via scams like "Norton - Your Phone May Be Receiving Many Spam Texts" - users can experience system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	"Norton - Your Phone May Be Receiving Many Spam Texts" pop-up
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	User's mobile device might be receiving spam, the data stored on their computer might get erased, and their phone is infected with five viruses.
Disguise	Norton anti-virus
Related Domains	feidokal[.]com
Detection Names (feidokal[.]com)	Webroot (Malicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (feidokal[.]com)	162.255.116.141
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.

Similar scam examples

We have analyzed thousands of online scams; "Update Windows Defender", "Surfshark - Your PC Is Infected With 5 Viruses!", and "Avira - Your System Was Corrupted" are merely a few examples of ones similar to "Norton - Your Phone May Be Receiving Many Spam Texts".

The Internet is rife with misleading, deceptive, and malicious material. Phishing, social engineering, and scare tactics are commonly used to obtain and subsequently abuse victims' trust. Regardless of what scams offer, promise, or warn: the end-goal is the same - to generate revenue at victims' expense.

How did I open a scam website?

Scam websites can be entered through others that use rogue advertising networks. The redirect can occur the moment the initial webpage is accessed or when hosted content is interacted with (e.g., clicking text input fields, links, buttons, ads, etc.). Intrusive advertisements and spam browser notifications push online scams as well.

Additionally, misspelling a website's URL can result in a redirect (or a redirection chain leading) to a deceptive site. Adware can also display scam-promoting adverts or force-open pages that host this content.

How to avoid visiting scam websites?

Deceptive sites are accessed primarily through redirects caused by websites using rogue advertising networks, mistyped URLs, spam browser notifications, intrusive ads, or installed adware.

Hence, we advise against using sites offering pirated programs/media or other questionable services (e.g., Torrenting, illegal streaming, etc.) since they are usually monetized via rogue advertising networks. It is important to be cautious when entering URLs and pay attention to them.

To avoid receiving undesirable browser notifications, do not permit suspect sites to deliver them (i.e., do not click "Allow", "Allow Notifications", etc.). Instead, ignore or deny notification delivery requests displayed by such pages (i.e., press "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.).

Another recommendation is to download only from official/verified channels and be vigilant when installing content - to prevent bundled/harmful software from infiltrating the device. If your computer is already infected, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate all threats.

Text presented on the initial page of the "Norton - Your Phone May Be Receiving Many Spam Texts" scam:

Attention Norton User

We have reported that your phone may be receiving many spam texts.
You may loose all the info from the computer if action isn't taken.
We recommend Antivirus installation to clean your your inbox.

START CLEAN

Screenshot of the page displayed after "Norton - Your Phone May Be Receiving Many Spam Texts" runs a fake system scan:

Text presented on this page:

Norton

Your mobile is infected with 5 viruses!

ACTION REQUIRED!

Your Norton Subscription Has Expired!

Renew now to keep your mobile protected.

If your mobile is unprotected, it is at risk for viruses and other malware.
Please wait while we redirect you shortly..

The appearance of "Norton - Your Phone May Be Receiving Many Spam Texts" pop-up scam (GIF):

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 "Norton - Your Phone May Be Receiving Many Spam Texts" pop-up?
• 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?

Pop-up scams are deceptive messages intended to entice/scare users into performing specific actions. For example, victims can be tricked into calling fake support lines, downloading/installing software, purchasing products/services, revealing private information, making monetary transactions, etc.

What is the purpose of a pop-up scam?

Pop-up scams are used to generate revenue. The scammers can profit by obtaining funds via deception, promoting software, proliferating malware, abusing or selling vulnerable data, and so forth.

Why do I encounter fake pop-ups?

Pop-up scams are promoted on deceptive websites, which users rarely access intentionally. Most enter these sites through redirects caused by sites using rogue advertising networks, mistyped URLs, spam browser notifications, intrusive ads, or installed adware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams?

Combo Cleaner is designed to scan visited websites, and it can detect rogue, scam, and malicious ones. Hence, if you enter such a webpage - you will be warned immediately, and further access will be blocked.

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