Receiving an email stating you owe money for a McAfee subscription can be jarring, especially if you don’t recall signing up for one. Unfortunately, these “Payment for McAfee Subscription” emails are part of an elaborate scam designed to extort money and personal information from unsuspecting victims.
This scam has been circulating for years and continues to dupe internet users worldwide. The emails appear credible, often using official McAfee branding and logos. But they are sent by scammers operating fake support centers to access devices and steal financial information.
This guide will uncover everything you need to know about this prevalent tech support scam. We’ll outline how the scam works, provide examples of the emails, and most importantly, equip you with the knowledge to protect yourself. Forewarned is forearmed against this insidious cyberthreat.
Scam Overview
The “Payment for McAfee Subscription” scam involves emails sent to victims stating they owe money for a McAfee subscription purchase. The emails appear to come from McAfee and contain fake invoices with various threats if victims don’t pay.
Scammers use two main strategies with this scam:
Demanding payment for a nonexistent subscription purchase. The emails claim you bought McAfee AntiVirus or another product and must pay an outstanding invoice.
Threatening to cancel your current McAfee subscription if you don’t update your billing details. These emails say there’s an issue processing your McAfee renewal payment.
In both versions, the emails contain a customer support phone number or link to call about the supposed subscription. But the numbers connect to elaborate overseas scam call centers instead of legitimate McAfee support.
Once scammers get victims on the phone, they pivot to more sophisticated social engineering tactics. Using clever psychlogical tricks, they manipulate targets into handing over remote access to their devices. From there, scammers can install malware, steal personal data, and gain access to financial accounts.
Some key facts about the “Payment for McAfee Subscription” scam:
Long running scam – Has been active since at least 2016, with newer iterations each year. Scammers constantly shift their tactics.
Preys on the elderly – Senior citizens are disproportionately targeted by tech support scams like this. Their lack of tech knowledge makes them more vulnerable.
Overseas criminal gangs – Large cybercrime rings in India are behind most of these scams. They operate extensive fake call center networks.
Heavy financial losses – The Internet Crime Complaint Center reported $56 million lost to tech support fraud in 2020. Average individual victim loss was $1,200.
Difficult to prosecute – Foreign locations of most scam centers make legal action extremely difficult. Some arrests have been made in the U.S. and India though.
Black market trade – Email and contact lists of potential victims are traded on black market sites to fuel these scams.
This convoluted scam starts with a simple email but quickly escalates through social engineering tactics. Awareness of their devious methods is crucial to avoid becoming a victim.
How the Scam Works
The “Payment for McAfee Subscription” scam begins with an email designed to trick recipients into believing they owe money to McAfee. Let’s break down the deceptive tactics used in these emails step-by-step:
1. You Receive an Email About Owing McAfee Money
The scam starts with an email arriving in your inbox that claims you owe money to McAfee for an unpaid subscription. The messages can take various forms:
Fake invoice for a McAfee purchase you never made
Notice your McAfee subscription is expiring
Alert there is an issue processing your McAfee renewal payment
Some examples:
“Your McAfee subscription expired yesterday. Update your billing details immediately to renew and avoid service interruption.”
“Our records indicate you have an outstanding payment of $499.99 for McAfee AntiVirus. Settle this invoice within 48 hours to avoid subscription cancellation.”
“We were unable to process your annual McAfee renewal payment of $299.99. Kindly update your billing details to continue your subscription uninterrupted.”
The emails appear credible, featuring official McAfee branding and logos. But they are sent from spoofed email addresses and really originate from scammers.
2. Threats of Service Cancellation or Legal Action
To create urgency, the scam emails contain threats of negative consequences if you don’t pay immediately. Common intimidation tactics include:
Cancelling your McAfee subscription resulting in loss of protection
Permanently deleting your McAfee user account
Turning unpaid invoices over to collections agencies
Pursuing legal action and lawsuits over unpaid balances
Example threat language:
“If the outstanding payment is not settled within 24 hours, we will have no choice but to cancel your McAfee subscription permanently.”
“Failure to update your billing details will result in your account being closed. This may also affect your credit score.”
“Unless this invoice is paid promptly, we will turn over your account to collections and pursue legal action.”
By scaring recipients with threats of service cancellation, account closure, and legal action, the scammers create a sense of urgency to contact them right away.
3. Phone Number or Link Provided to Resolve Issue
The scam emails include customer support phone numbers or payment links, seemingly allowing you to easily clear up the subscription issues.
Examples:
“If you did not authorize this charge, please contact our billing department immediately at 1-855-123-4567”
“Click here to update your payment details and renew your McAfee subscription”
“Call our customer service at +91-912-345-6789 to continue your McAfee protection uninterrupted”
But in reality, the phone numbers and links connect directly to elaborate overseas scam call centers rather than genuine McAfee support. This brings victims one step closer into the scammers’ trap.
4. Fake Call Center Scare Tactics to Access Devices
When victims contact the provided phone numbers or links, they are connected to elaborate fake call centers. Operated out of India, these centers run highly sophisticated social engineering scams.
Once on the phone, scammers pivot from the fake subscription issue that lured victims in. Their new goal is gaining remote access to the target’s computer and other devices.
Common manipulation tactics include:
Pretending to run diagnostic tests that show nonexistent viruses, malware or other system issues.
Warning victims that hackers are actively trying to steal their identity and access financial accounts.
Claiming only immediate remote access to devices can protect and fix the problems.
Citing urgent fake emergencies that require account and personal info to keep safe.
These lies frighten and confuse victims into granting scammers remote access and control of their devices. With this access, scammers can steal personal data, install malware like keyloggers, and infiltrate financial accounts.
5. Demands for Money Through Various Means
With access to a victim’s computer and accounts, scammers leverage multiple ways to demand payments, including:
Fake services or software – Charging exorbitant fees for unnecessary “security” software, antivirus, and tech support services to fix nonexistent issues.
Credit card payments – Overtly stealing credit card numbers entered on compromised devices to make fraudulent purchases.
Wire transfers – Tricking victims into making wire transfers from their bank account directly to scammer accounts.
Gift cards – Demanding victims purchase iTunes, Google Play, or other gift cards to pay alleged “fees” and then providing gift card codes.
Clicking ads – Installing malware that clicks online ads in the background, generating illicit ad revenue.
Persuading victims they require services, software, or must pay non-existent fees is the end goal. Scammers receive payments while providing nothing of value in return.
This scam can result in thousands of dollars lost by a single victim. And downloaded malware provides scammers with backdoor access even after the initial call ends.
What To Do If You Are Targeted by This Scam
If you receive a suspicious “Payment for McAfee Subscription” email, here are important steps to protect yourself:
Do not call – Never call the phone number or click any links in the email. Realize they all lead to overseas scam call centers.
Forward the email – Forward the scam email to spoof@mcafee.com. This allows McAee to review new iterations of the scam.
Report the email – Report the scam email as phishing to your email provider. This helps block the scam from spreading.
Contact your bank – If you did provide financial information, immediately contact your bank and monitor for unauthorized charges. Cancel any compromised cards.
Scan devices – Run a full system scan using Malwarebytes to check for any malware installed during a scam call. Also change all account passwords accessed from compromised devices.
Close accounts – If scammers gained access to any financial or email accounts, close them immediately. Open new secure accounts to avoid continued access.
Investigate payments – If you paid scammers with wire transfers or gift cards, work with those companies to investigate options for blocking or reversing the transactions.
Report the scam – File a complaint with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and IC3 at ic3.gov. These help authorities track and prosecute scammers.
Spread awareness – Educate family and friends about this scam so they don’t fall victim. Share news articles and FTC scam alerts.
Being vigilant against scams and using caution when contacted about supposed subscription issues are your best defenses. Avoid becoming another victim by following security best practices. Don’t give scammers the opportunity to manipulate you.
Is Your Device Infected? Scan for Malware
If your computer or phone is slow, showing unwanted pop-ups, or acting strangely, malware could be the cause. Running a scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is one of the most reliable ways to detect and remove harmful software. The free version can identify and clean common infections such as adware, browser hijackers, trojans, and other unwanted programs.
Malwarebytes works on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Choose your operating system below and follow the steps to scan your device and remove any malware that might be slowing it down.
Malwarebytes for WindowsMalwarebytes for MacMalwarebytes for Android
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Windows
Malwarebytes stands out as one of the leading and widely-used anti-malware solutions for Windows, and for good reason. It effectively eradicates various types of malware that other programs often overlook, all at no cost to you. When it comes to disinfecting an infected device, Malwarebytes has consistently been a free and indispensable tool in the battle against malware. We highly recommend it for maintaining a clean and secure system.
Download Malwarebytes
Download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows using the official link below. Malwarebytes will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software for free.
(The above link will open a new page from where you can download Malwarebytes)
Install Malwarebytes
After the download is complete, locate the MBSetup file, typically found in your Downloads folder. Double-click on the MBSetup file to begin the installation of Malwarebytes on your computer. If a User Account Control pop-up appears, click “Yes” to continue the Malwarebytes installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, the setup wizard will guide you through the process.
You’ll first be prompted to choose the type of computer you’re installing the program on—select either “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” as appropriate, then click on Next.
Malwarebytes will now begin the installation process on your device.
When the Malwarebytes installation is complete, the program will automatically open to the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen.
On the final screen, simply click on the Open Malwarebytes option to start the program.
Enable “Rootkit scanning”.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start, and you will see the main screen as shown below. To maximize Malwarebytes’ ability to detect malware and unwanted programs, we need to enable rootkit scanning. Click on the “Settings” gear icon located on the left of the screen to access the general settings section.
In the settings menu, enable the “Scan for rootkits” option by clicking the toggle switch until it turns blue.
Now that you have enabled rootkit scanning, click on the “Dashboard” button in the left pane to get back to the main screen.
Perform a Scan with Malwarebytes.
To start a scan, click the Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its antivirus database and begin scanning your computer for malicious programs.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now scan your computer for browser hijackers and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Quarantine detected malware
Once the Malwarebytes scan is complete, it will display a list of detected malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. To effectively remove these threats, click the “Quarantine” button.
Malwarebytes will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the program’s quarantine.
Restart your computer.
When removing files, Malwarebytes may require a reboot to fully eliminate some threats. If you see a message indicating that a reboot is needed, please allow it. Once your computer has restarted and you are logged back in, you can continue with the remaining steps.
Once the scan completes, remove all detected threats. Your Windows computer should now be clean and running smoothly again, free of trojans, adware, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed this malicious program on your computer, you may want to consider purchasing Malwarebytes Premium to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Malwarebytes for Mac is an on-demand scanner that can destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss without costing you absolutely anything. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free, and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.
Download Malwarebytes for Mac.
You can download Malwarebytes for Mac by clicking the link below.
When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install Malwarebytes on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes for Mac Installer which will guide you through the installation process. Click “Continue“, then keep following the prompts to continue with the installation process.
When your Malwarebytes installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click the “Get started” button.
Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”.
The Malwarebytes Welcome screen will first ask you what type of computer are you installing this program, click either Personal Computer or Work Computer.
Click on “Scan”.
To scan your computer with Malwarebytes, click on the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes for Mac will automatically update the antivirus database and start scanning your computer for malware.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will scan your computer for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Quarantine”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes has detected. To remove the malware that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine” button.
Restart computer.
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer.
After scanning, delete any detected threats. Your Mac should now be free from adware, unwanted extensions, and other potentially harmful software.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious program on your computer, you might want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Android
Malwarebytes for Android automatically detects and removes dangerous threats like malware and ransomware so you don’t have to worry about your most-used device being compromised. Aggressive detection of adware and potentially unwanted programs keeps your Android phone or tablet running smooth.
Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.
When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When Malwarebytes will open, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through a series of permissions and other setup options. This is the first of two screens that explain the difference between the Premium and Free versions. Swipe this screen to continue. Tap on “Got it” to proceed to the next step. Malwarebytes for Android will now ask for a set of permissions that are required to scan your device and protect it from malware. Tap on “Give permission” to continue. Tap on “Allow” to permit Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
Update database and run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
You will now be prompted to update the Malwarebytes database and run a full system scan.
Click on “Update database” to update the Malwarebytes for Android definitions to the latest version, then click on “Run full scan” to perform a system scan.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Remove Selected”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. To remove the malicious apps that Malwarebytes has found, tap on the “Remove Selected” button.
Restart your phone.
Malwarebytes for Android will now remove all the malicious apps that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your device.
When the scan is finished, remove all detected threats. Your Android phone should now be free of malicious apps, adware, and unwanted browser redirects.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious app on your phone, you may want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Restore your phone to factory settings by going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
After cleaning your device, it’s important to protect it from future infections and annoying pop-ups. We recommend installing an ad blocker such as AdGuard. AdGuard blocks malicious ads, prevents phishing attempts, and stops dangerous redirects, helping you stay safe while browsing online.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Payment For McAfee Subscription Scam
1. How do I know if an email about owing McAfee money is a scam?
Legitimate messages from McAfee will never threaten you, demand immediate payment by unusual methods like gift cards, or use high-pressure scare tactics. Verify any payment notices directly through McAfee’s official website before taking any action. Emails with poor grammar/spelling, or not addressed with your name are red flags.
2. I called the phone number in a McAfee invoice email. What should I do?
Immediately hang up and do not provide any personal or financial information. Run anti-malware scans on any device used to call the number. Change account passwords and enable two-factor authentication where possible. Monitor financial accounts closely for fraudulent charges.
3. Can McAfee really cancel my subscription or delete my account if I don’t pay?
No, McAfee will never threaten account cancellation or legal action through unsolicited emails. Verify any payment or renewal notices through your official McAfee account. If emails contain these threats, it is certainly a scam attempt.
4. What’s the goal behind the fake McAfee subscription scam?
The scammers aim to trick you into allowing remote access to your computer and other devices. From there, they can steal personal information, install malware, take over accounts, and demand fraudulent payments through various means.
5. If I paid a scam call center with gift cards, can I get my money back?
Unfortunately gift cards allow anonymous transfers making reimbursement very difficult. But immediately report the scam to the FTC and gift card provider. Supply gift card numbers, transaction details, and information on the scammer. They may be able to block usage.
6. How can I spot a fake call center scamming people with the McAfee subscription scam?
Warning signs of a scam call center include upfront fees, threats about your devices, high-pressure sales tactics, unusual payment methods, avoiding direct questions, remote access requests, and refusal to provide company identification.
7. What information should I never provide to someone calling about a McAfee subscription?
Never give out your social security number, login credentials, bank account/routing details, or credit card numbers. Also never provide remote access to your devices or approve software installations.
8. Is there a way to get the stolen money back if I wired it to scammers?
Contact your bank immediately and report the fraudulent wire transfer. Provide the transfer details and scam call center information. The bank may be able to recall the wire depending on the circumstances.
9. What can I do to protect my elderly parents from the McAfee scam?
Educate them on the scam tactics and urge them to hang up on any suspicious calls. Set up call blocking, monitor their accounts, and ensure robust security software is installed. Check in regularly to help spot any signs of fraud.
10. Where can I report the McAfee subscription scam to help warn others?
Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and FBI IC3 at ic3.gov. Share your experience through scam reporting sites like 800notes.com. The more reports received, the higher the visibility.
The Bottom Line
The “Payment for McAfee Subscription” scam is a prevalent threat impacting unsuspecting internet users worldwide. These fraudulent emails lure victims with claims of unpaid McAfee invoices, expiring subscriptions, and other stories.
But the phone numbers and links provided connect to sophisticated overseas fake call centers instead of legitimate McAfee support. Using social engineering and scare tactics, scammers then gain remote access to devices to steal financial information and install malware.
If targeted by this scam, never call the provided numbers or click included links. Report the phishing emails to your provider and McAfee. Monitor accounts closely for fraud and scan all devices used to contact scammers.
Being aware of the deceptive tactics used in this prevalent scam is key. No legitimate company will demand immediate payment via unusual means like gift cards. Verify any supposed subscription issues directly through the company’s official website only.
Stay vigilant against tech support scams to keep your devices, identity, and finances protected. Carefully scrutinize any unsolicited calls, emails, or messages about your accounts. Don’t let scammers fool you with social engineering meant to exploit fear and confusion.
Thomas is an expert at uncovering scams and providing in-depth reporting on cyber threats and online fraud. As an editor, he is dedicated to keeping readers informed on the latest developments in cybersecurity and tech.
