The Internet is full of opportunities for you to enter into a drawing for a prize or complete a survey for a reward. While many times these are a chance for you to get something of value in exchange for the sponsor company to get something of value (either your contact information to add to their mailing list or valuable data regarding your thoughts on their company or products), often it is a scam that may pose a threat to your computer or even your personal data.
Recently we have received reports of users receiving a pop-up that asks them to take a survey regarding their experiences with Home Telephone. In exchange for taking the survey, the pop-up claims that you will be eligible for rewards valuing at least $70. While this survey and others like it may look official, they are anything but. Clicking on the links in the pop-up or filling in the form can have consequences that range from mild annoyances to those that are very serious. The scammers can make your computer vulnerable to viruses and deliver unwanted or inappropriate ads. They also may install malware, which can cause your device to crash and can be used to monitor and control your online activity. Criminals use malware to steal personal information, send spam, and commit fraud.
So what should you do if one of these pops up on your screen? Your best bet is to exit out of the window without clicking anything within the pop-up. For an extra level of security, you should close the tab by clicking Control-Alt-Delete and then close your browser by using the Task Manager. If you did click on the Home Telephone survey or one similar to it, you should verify that your computer did not get infected by running a complete virus scan. As a Home Telecom Internet subscriber, you can download Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Security software for FREE on up to eight computers.
Follow these instructions to access the Trend Micro Titanium Maximum
Security software:
- Go to apps.HomeSC.com and log into the App Portal.
- Select New Apps at the bottom of the page.
- Click the Trend Micro icon; this will open the Get Trend Micro page.
- Click Sign Up.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the download.
Screenshot of actual survey scam
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