Have you ever opened your email to find a confusing message claiming that you’ve been billed hundreds of dollars for a Norton LifeLock renewal you never authorized? You’re not alone. Millions of people are targeted yearly by scammers sending fake Norton LifeLock renewal emails. These emails create panic, prompting victims to call a fake customer service number, ultimately leading to financial loss, stolen identities, and compromised personal information.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll thoroughly examine the Norton LifeLock Renewal Email Scam, explaining exactly how it works, and offering practical advice on what you should do if you’ve fallen victim to it. Keep reading to learn everything you need to protect yourself and your family from this dangerous form of cybercrime.
Scam Overview: What is the Norton LifeLock Renewal Email Scam?
The Norton LifeLock Renewal Email Scam is a sophisticated phishing tactic designed to trick unsuspecting victims into believing their subscription to Norton LifeLock security software has been automatically renewed. These fraudulent emails are carefully crafted to appear authentic, complete with logos, invoice numbers, fake renewal keys, and customer support numbers. The scammers prey upon fear and confusion, hoping to trigger a quick reaction from recipients who receive an unexpected charge.
How the Scam Begins
Victims typically receive an email that appears to be authentic communication from Norton. These messages are convincingly designed, using the Norton logo, official-looking support numbers, and detailed billing information. The email usually states that the recipient’s subscription to Norton LifeLock has been successfully renewed at a high price—often hundreds of dollars. The email includes a fake invoice and provides a customer support number to call if the recipient disagrees with the charge or believes it’s fraudulent.
Here is how one of these scam email might look:
Norton by Symantec
PRZ 1457 6527 3255 4123 is Your Renewal Key!
Invoice Number: ZVOW145WZ
Support: [scam phone number]
Dear User!
We appreciate your Norton LifeLock renewal for $639.99, safeguarding youronline presence, personal information, and financial details from digital dangers.
If you believe there was an issue with this payment, please contact us within 12 hours. The correction will be visible on your statement within 24 hours.
:Product Description:
Product Name Amount
Norton LifeLock For Home and Office
639.99 USD
Payment Method
Auto-debit
Date
March 17, 2025
Order ID
ZVOW145WZ
Notes: Refunds are available within 12 hours of payment, so please notify us if you do not authorize this transaction.
Customer Service: [scam phone number]
Why This Scam is Effective
The Norton LifeLock Renewal Email Scam is particularly effective for several reasons:
Convincing Appearance: Scammers spend considerable effort making emails look authentic, including Norton logos, recognizable brand colors, and realistic invoice details.
Fear and Urgency: The scam relies on creating panic. Victims, worried they’ve been wrongly charged, instinctively call the provided number without verifying its legitimacy.
False Customer Service Numbers: The fake support number provided in the email connects victims to scammers posing as legitimate Norton customer service representatives. Scammers then exploit victims’ concerns, deceiving them into handing over sensitive personal information or money.
Lack of Awareness: Many users aren’t aware of such scams, making them easy targets. Victims often act quickly without verifying the email’s authenticity, giving scammers the advantage.
Who are the Targets?
The Norton LifeLock Renewal Email Scam doesn’t discriminate. Scammers target people of all ages, backgrounds, and technological proficiency levels. However, older adults and individuals less familiar with technology are often most vulnerable. Scammers assume that these users will be less skeptical and more likely to panic when confronted with unexpected charges.
The Goal of the Scam
The ultimate goal of the Norton LifeLock Renewal Email Scam is financial exploitation. Scammers hope to manipulate victims into providing them access to their computers remotely, allowing scammers to gather banking information, credit cards, personal identification, and other sensitive data. Additionally, scammers often push victims to buy gift cards and provide the codes, making it nearly impossible to recover lost money.
Signs of a Fake Norton LifeLock Renewal Email
To help you stay safe, here are common signs of a fake Norton LifeLock renewal email:
Unexpected charges for a Norton subscription you never purchased.
Misspellings, grammatical errors, and awkward phrasing.
Email addresses that don’t match Norton’s official website domain.
A sense of urgency, pressuring you to act quickly.
Request to call customer service immediately via the number provided.
Recognizing these signs can prevent you from falling victim to this scam. Always verify suspicious emails by contacting Norton through their official website, not through phone numbers or links provided in suspicious emails.
How The Scam Works
Understanding exactly how this scam unfolds will help you recognize and avoid it. Here is a detailed breakdown of the Norton LifeLock Renewal Email Scam process:
Step 1: Receiving the Scam Email
Victims receive an email claiming to be from Norton LifeLock, thanking them for renewing their subscription. The email includes a fake invoice showing a renewal charge of several hundred dollars, often around $600 to $1000, and a supposed renewal key.
Step 2: Panic and Confusion
The victim, realizing they never authorized this renewal, panics. The email states that if they believe the renewal was made in error, they should call customer support immediately (a fake number provided prominently in the email).
Step 3: Calling the Fake Customer Support Number
The victim calls the provided number and connects with scammers posing as Norton customer support representatives. These scammers convincingly act helpful, professional, and understanding, assuring victims they will resolve the issue immediately.
Step 4: Remote Connection Request
The scammer instructs the victim to download remote access software (such as AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or similar tools) to their computer or smartphone. They explain this is necessary to reverse the charge, issue a refund, or secure their device from supposed hackers.
Step 5: Scammer Takes Control
Once the remote access software is installed and connected, scammers gain complete control over the victim’s device. They pretend to perform diagnostic checks, claiming the victim’s device is infected with viruses or hacked.
Step 6: Extracting Sensitive Information
With control of the device, scammers search for sensitive files, banking information, passwords, and personal data. They may ask victims to log into their bank accounts, claiming it’s necessary to initiate the refund process.
Step 7: Manipulating Bank Transactions
Once scammers gain banking access, they can swiftly transfer funds, drain accounts, or set up unauthorized transactions. They claim these transfers are mistakenly large refunds and ask victims to return the excess funds through gift cards or wire transfers.
Step 8: Requesting Gift Cards
Scammers commonly instruct victims to purchase gift cards, such as Google Play, Apple iTunes, Amazon, or similar. Victims are then asked to provide the gift card codes, allowing scammers to quickly launder the stolen funds.
Step 9: Ending Communication
Once scammers achieve their goal—stealing money or sensitive information—they abruptly end communication, leaving victims financially and emotionally devastated.
What to Do if You Have Fallen Victim to This Scam
If you’ve realized you’ve fallen victim to the Norton LifeLock Renewal Email Scam, take immediate action. Here’s what you should do:
Disconnect Remote Access Immediately Close any remote access software (AnyDesk, TeamViewer, etc.) and uninstall it immediately.
Contact Your Bank Call your bank immediately to freeze your account, cancel compromised cards, and report unauthorized transactions.
Contact Gift Card Companies If you’ve provided gift card codes, immediately contact the gift card company to report the fraud. Provide receipts and details to help trace or block cards.
Report the Scam Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ftc.gov/complaint and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov. These agencies track scammers and help recover stolen funds.
Change Passwords Immediately change passwords on your email, bank accounts, social media, and other sensitive online services.
Run Security Scans Conduct thorough scans with trusted security software to remove malware scammers might have installed.
Monitor Your Credit Regularly check credit reports from major bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) for unusual activity or new accounts opened in your name.
Notify Norton LifeLock Contact Norton directly (official website or verified customer service number) to alert them about the scam.
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.
The Bottom Line
The Norton LifeLock Renewal Key Email Scam cleverly exploits fear and confusion to steal money and sensitive data from unsuspecting victims. Staying informed and vigilant is your best defense against these harmful schemes. Always verify emails carefully, avoid calling numbers provided in suspicious communications, and immediately report any scams you encounter. By understanding how these scams operate, you can confidently safeguard yourself and your family from cyber threats, ensuring your financial security and personal information remain protected.
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.
