Norton antivirus scam email software#

In this case the large figure is designed to shock the recipient into action and let down their guard, leaving them prey to the scammers asking for confirmation of their bank or credit card and account details to process the cancellation. It invites the recipient to contact the billing department if they want to cancel the renewal. The Norton email is a little more creative as it falsely claims the subscription has already automatically renewed at the unlikely price of $542.68 for two years. Of course, it actually links to a bogus page where the scammers take the payment. The McAfee email is more of a classic scam, simply posing as a renewal notice and including a link to supposedly pay for another year of protection.

Norton antivirus scam email software#

Targeting renewals of security software is doubly effective: it plays on people's fear of malware and viruses, and it's an easier sell than trying to get somebody to buy a product in the first place. It's another case of playing the numbers game: while many people will either not use these products or will spot the scam, the popularity means that simply spraying out emails will eventually find customers of the real security software who get taken in. One supposedly comes from McAfee and the other from Norton Antivirus, both claiming a subscription is about to end. The warning came from consumer group 'Which' after it spotted two different fake emails. The attacks appear to target both people's money and their account details. Submission and publication of all letters is subject to our terms and conditions.Scammers are using bogus antivirus renewal demands as their latest money-grabbing tactics. Email us at or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email or write to Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Until MPs start putting pressure on ministers, this ridiculous situation won’t get resolved.

Instead, I would urge readers whose licences are stranded in Swansea to contact their MP. Sadly, I can’t take up every complaint as much as I would like to help.

Last week’s letter on driving licences has predictably prompted a wave of similar ones. Your email system should block or treat them as spam if you ask it to. Instead, they are from scammers posing as McAfee, trying to gain your bank card details. In terms of the emails, the company has confirmed that the messages you are being sent are not from it. The confusion was that your statement showed it as coming from F/Flow Sutherland, rather than the more obvious McAfee. You were adamant that it hadn’t, but after many emails, and much checking of accounts, we were finally able to establish that the money had been paid into your bank. I asked McAfee about your experience and, in fairness, it came back very quickly to explain that it had, in fact, repaid you for the previous year’s overcharge. Unsubscribing doesn’t work and, in fact, seems to generate more.