Be aware of anti-virus renewal scams

If you have McAfee antivirus software installed on your computer and receive a notification claiming your subscription is about to expire, take a moment before you act. It could be a scam.

McAfee is one of the brands most commonly used by scammers, but it’s not the only one. Criminals regularly impersonate well-known antivirus companies such as Norton, Avast, and others, in an attempt to trick people into handing over personal and financial information.

A common tactic is to send an email warning that your protection is about to expire. The message will often create a sense of urgency and may offer a large renewal discount, sometimes as much as 89% off, but only if you pay immediately or on the same day.

These messages are designed to pressure you into acting quickly without checking whether they are genuine.

Although the email may appear to come from a legitimate company, it’s sent by criminals. To make the message look authentic, it may even contain links to the real company's website.

But it will typically also include malicious links that direct you to fake websites designed to steal your personal information, login credentials, or payment details.

Even an ‘unsubscribe’ link can be dangerous. In some cases, clicking it may take you to a fraudulent website where you are encouraged to enter personal or financial information.

How can you tell if an email is fake?

There are several warning signs to look out for:

• the email creates a strong sense of urgency and pressures you to act immediately
• it offers unusually large discounts or deals that seem too good to be true
• the sender's email address looks strange, unfamiliar, or unrelated to the company it claims to represent
• the message contains spelling mistakes, poor grammar, or inconsistent punctuation
• it asks you to call a telephone number provided in the email
• it encourages you to click links or download attachments unexpectedly

McAfee states that it will never ask you to call a phone number provided in an email or text message.

If you receive a subscription or renewal notice, the safest approach is to visit the company's website directly by typing the address into your browser yourself.

Log in to your account and check your subscription status there. Cybercriminals frequently use fake renewal notices to target unsuspecting customers.

McAfee also maintains a list of valid email addresses used for official communications, which can help you verify whether a message is genuine.

Similarly, Norton advises that if you receive a suspicious email using Norton branding, you shouldn’t reply, download attachments, or click on any links contained within the message.

Protect yourself

Whenever you receive an unexpected email about an expiring subscription, stop and think before taking any action.

Ask yourself:

• was I expecting this email?
• does the sender's address look genuine?
• am I being pressured to act immediately?
• can I verify this information directly through my account?

Taking a few moments to check could save you from becoming a victim of fraud.

If you receive a fraudulent email using the branding of a legitimate company, report it to the company concerned and use your email provider's built-in spam and phishing reporting tools.

What should you do if you've been scammed?

If you believe you have fallen victim to a scam:

• contact your bank or card provider immediately and explain what has happened
• change any passwords that may have been compromised
• monitor your accounts for suspicious activity
• report the incident to Action Fraud
• run a security scan on your device and ensure your software is up to date

The sooner you act, the better your chances of limiting any financial loss and protecting your personal information.