How to spot scams like "Error Code:- G-0x80070057"
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of scam is "Error Code:- G-0x80070057"?
While investigating this webpage, we found that it is involved in a technical support scam, showing misleading pop-up messages to make visitors believe their computers have issues (are infected). It is important to steer clear of such sites, as they are meant to trick users, even though users usually land on them accidentally.
"Error Code:- G-0x80070057" technical support scam in detail
On this technical support scam page, there is a message that appears to be from the "Windows Security Center". It claims that viruses have been detected on the user's device and provides an error code (G-0x80070057). The warning mentions the detection of a threat identified as "Trojan Spyware", asserting that the user's personal and financial information is in jeopardy, representing a significant security concern.
The page urges visitors to contact Microsoft Support at the provided phone number (+1-833-492-2413). The primary purpose of this technical support scam is to deceive users into believing that their devices are infected with viruses and malware, creating a sense of urgency and panic.
The scammers aim to exploit users' concerns for their personal and financial information by providing a fake error code and claiming that critical threats have been detected. The scam then prompts users to call the provided Microsoft Support phone number, which is controlled by the scammers themselves.
This serves as a means to extract money from users through fraudulent services or gain access to their systems, potentially leading to data theft, financial loss, computer infections, and other malicious activities. A couple examples of scams where scammers use legitimate tools to trick users into providing remote access to their computers are TeamViewer and UltraViewer scams.
Name | Error Code:- G-0x80070057 technical support scam |
Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
Fake Claim | Threats have been detected on a computer |
Disguise | Legitimate alert from Microsoft |
Tech Support Scammer Phone Number | +1-833-492-2413, +1-888-682-4704 |
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. |
Similar scams in general
Usually, these websites show urgent pop-up messages or fabricated system alerts, asserting that the user's computer is plagued by malware or encountering serious problems. They employ fear tactics to generate an immediate sense of urgency, pressuring users to dial a designated helpline number or perform other actions.
Moreover, these fraudulent websites often utilize well-crafted layouts and logos to give the appearance of legitimacy, complicating the task of differentiating them from authentic tech support services. Examples of similar deceptive schemes are "!!Dridex007!! Malware Detected", "Virus Has Been Detected On Your Device", and "!!Rootkit!! Malware Detected".
How did I open a scam website
Users unintentionally come across fake websites (including technical support scams) when they engage with harmful ads or pop-ups that guide them to such sites, including notifications from untrustworthy pages. Phishing emails might also contain links to these misleading websites, luring users into clicking on them. Moreover, adware might act as a means for spreading scams.
In other situations, users encounter scam websites while browsing pages linked to rogue advertising networks. These networks are often employed b pages like illegal movie streaming sites, torrent platforms, adult content websites, and similar online destinations.
How to avoid visiting scam pages?
Avoid clicking on links in suspicious emails or advertisements on untrustworthy websites. Do not allow questionable pages to send you notifications. Stay away from websites that might have connections to rogue advertising networks. Regularly scan your computer for adware and undesired software.
When downloading applications, stick to official pages and verified stores. 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 "Error Code:- G-0x80070057" pop-up scam (GIF):
Text presented in one of the fake pop-ups:
Windows Security Center
Virus have been detected on your Device
Error Code:- G-0x80070057
Threats Detected: Trojan SpywareYour personal and financial information is at risk major security issue.
Contact Microsoft Support: +1-833-492-2413Microsoft Support [Deny] [Allow]
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Error Code:- G-0x80070057 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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a pop-up scam?
A pop-up scam involves deceitful pop-up messages that unexpectedly appear on a user's screen, frequently asserting that a computer is compromised by malware or encountering problems. Scammers employ these scams to deceive users into taking specific actions.
What is the purpose of a pop-up scam?
The intention of scammers is to deceive users into either dialing the provided phone number or clicking on harmful links, resulting in additional exploitation, potential financial fraud, or the introduction of malware (or other unwanted software) onto their systems.
Why do I encounter fake pop-ups?
Pop-up scams come into users' view when malicious applications are installed on computers or access websites using rogue networks (e.g., illegal movie streaming platforms or torrent sites). Moreover, these scams can be promoted through notifications from untrustworthy websites.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams?
Combo Cleaner is designed to comprehensively scan the websites you browse, even those that might be malicious. It has the ability to identify websites that aim to display pop-up scams. If you happen upon such a site, Combo Cleaner will provide a warning and limit access to safeguard you from falling victim to scams.
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