Amazon iPhone Purchase Phone Call Scam EXPOSED – Full Investigation
Written by: Thomas Orsolya
Published on:
The call sounds official. A calm automated voice thanks you for shopping with Amazon and says an iPhone was just purchased on your account.
Then it hits you with urgency: a large charge is about to go through, the order is shipping soon, and if you did not authorize it you should press 1 to dispute the transaction.
That “press 1” instruction is the trap.
This is the Amazon iPhone purchase phone call scam, a widespread Amazon impersonation robocall that routes you to a live scammer who will try to steal your personal information, take control of your device, or pressure you into sending money.
Scam Overview
The Amazon iPhone purchase phone calls scam is built on a very human reaction: when someone thinks a big charge is about to hit their account, they want to stop it immediately.
Scammers know that. They design these calls to create a moment of panic, then offer a “fast fix” that keeps you from slowing down and verifying anything.
If you remember one thing from this entire article, make it this:
A robocall telling you to press a button to dispute an Amazon iPhone purchase is not customer support. It is a funnel into a scam.
What the Amazon iPhone robocall usually claims
These scam calls show up in a few common formats, but the structure stays consistent.
You may hear lines like:
“Thank you for shopping with Amazon.”
“Your iPhone purchase has been confirmed.”
“A total amount of $1,299 will be charged to your account.”
“If you authorized this transaction, no action is required.”
“If you did not authorize it, press 1 to speak with customer support.”
The wording varies, but the emotional goal is always the same.
They want you thinking about the worst-case scenario, not about verification.
They want you acting fast, not thinking clearly.
The FTC has warned about scams that begin with a call or text claiming a suspicious purchase on Amazon, but it is not really Amazon. The scammer’s entire plan is to pull you into an elaborate story that ends with financial loss.
Why scammers love iPhones for this con
iPhones are one of the best “props” a scammer can pick.
They are widely recognized, easy to imagine being purchased online, and expensive enough to trigger an immediate gut reaction.
Scammers choose products that hit three points at once:
Believable: Amazon sells iPhones and iPhone accessories.
Specific: “iPhone 15 Pro” or “iPhone Pro Max” sounds like a real order, not a generic charge.
High impact: An iPhone price is large enough to create urgency.
An iPhone also solves another problem for scammers: it works on almost everyone.
Even if you have never bought an iPhone, you know what it costs. You know it is a high-ticket purchase. The story feels serious immediately.
The biggest red flag is not the product, it is the process
Legitimate companies do not handle fraud disputes through unsolicited robocalls that instruct you to press buttons.
The FTC has been blunt about this pattern for years:
Do not press 1.
Do not call back a number they provide.
Do not share personal information.
If you think there is a real issue, contact the company using a website or phone number you know is legitimate.
That advice applies perfectly to iPhone purchase calls.
These robocalls are designed to bypass your normal instincts, like checking your account first. Pressing 1 feels like “taking control,” but it actually hands control to the scammer.
Why the phone number on your screen does not matter
Many people get pulled in because the caller ID looks convincing.
The number looks local.
The caller ID might even say “Amazon” or “Customer Support.”
That is not proof.
Caller ID can be faked using spoofing, where the caller deliberately falsifies the caller ID information displayed on your phone. The FCC explains spoofing clearly, including that it is often used to disguise identity and increase the chance that you pick up.
So even if the call appears to come from a real-looking number, you should treat the content of the call as the signal, not the caller ID.
And the content here is classic scam content: urgency, a large charge, and a “press 1” path to an agent.
Why these calls feel “weirdly professional”
People often say something like, “It sounded so real.”
That is not an accident.
These robocalls are written and recorded to sound calm, polite, and procedural. They want you to feel like you are in a legitimate billing workflow.
The script also often repeats itself because repetition increases compliance. When you hear “press 1” two or three times, it starts to feel like the expected next step.
Scammers are not trying to prove anything. They are trying to guide you from fear to action.
Amazon has been tracking a massive wave of impersonation scams
Amazon has published scam trend updates warning that impersonation scams are common, including false messages that alert you about a fraudulent order that does not exist.
One Amazon trend update noted that in August 2024, nearly 50% of impersonation scams reported to Amazon worldwide were false messages alerting people about fraudulent orders that were not real.
That matters because it explains why the “iPhone order” angle is so persistent.
It works as a first step. It reliably gets attention.
The scam can start as a call, but it often spreads across channels
A common escalation is what happens after you pick up.
You might get a follow-up text.
You might get an email.
You might get a “case number.”
You might be told to expect a confirmation message.
This is deliberate. The more channels they use, the more real it feels.
That is why Amazon recommends checking your Message Center to confirm whether a message is actually from Amazon, rather than trusting what you received through a call, text, or email.
A scammer cannot easily fake what appears inside your real Amazon account’s message center.
That is why they try to keep you out of your account and inside their story.
What scammers actually want from you
The call starts with a fake iPhone purchase, but the iPhone is not the goal.
The iPhone is the bait.
The goals are usually one or more of these:
Personal information (name, address, email, date of birth)
Device access (remote control of your computer or phone)
Direct payments (gift cards, bank transfers, crypto, peer-to-peer payments)
Amazon warns that scammers may try to persuade you to provide personal information over the phone, including addresses, payment information, account login credentials, or other financial details.
Once you share a little information, the scammer can tailor the next move, and that is where many victims get trapped.
How “helpful support” becomes pressure and control
If you press 1 and get connected, the scammer usually starts by being helpful.
They will say they can cancel the iPhone order.
They will say they are protecting you.
They will say the charge is pending and must be stopped now.
Then they pivot to “verification” steps. That is where the scam turns from story to extraction.
The FTC describes versions of these suspicious purchase scams that become complicated and end with victims draining bank or retirement accounts under the belief they are protecting themselves.
In other words, the call can begin with an iPhone, but it can end with serious financial damage.
The “refund” angle is one of the most common ways money is stolen
Many people assume a scammer will ask for a credit card number.
Sometimes they do.
More often today, they run a refund storyline because it feels procedural and safe.
Here is the emotional trick:
They say you will get your money back.
They say they will cancel the order.
They say they will help you “secure” your account.
Then they create confusion on purpose, often by involving your bank account, remote access, or a fake refund form.
If they can get you to move money “to fix a mistake,” they win.
Gift cards and “verification cards” are a bright red line
One of the clearest signals of fraud is when the caller asks you to pay using gift cards.
Amazon has explicit guidance warning about gift card scams and advises that you should not share gift card claim codes or send money via cash, wire transfer, or similar methods in response to these kinds of requests.
Amazon’s scam trend guidance also warns that Amazon will not ask you to provide payment information, including gift cards (sometimes framed as “verification cards”), for products or services over the phone.
So if your iPhone purchase call turns into “buy gift cards to verify your identity,” you are not in a gray area. You are in a scam.
Why voicemails are part of the strategy
A lot of these calls leave voicemails.
That is intentional.
A voicemail hits you at a different time, when you might be distracted. It also increases the chance you will call back, because voicemail feels like a “missed message” rather than a live intrusion.
Common voicemail characteristics include:
A calm robotic voice
A big purchase amount
A tight timeline (“shipping today”)
A call to action (“press 1” or “call back immediately”)
If you hear that pattern, treat it as a scam and verify through your own Amazon app.
A fast way to verify without feeding the scam
If the call made you nervous, you can check reality quickly, without interacting with the scammer at all.
Do this:
Open the Amazon app directly (not through a link).
Check Your Orders.
Check Archived Orders.
Review payment methods and delivery addresses.
If you do not see an iPhone order, the call was fake.
If you do see an order you do not recognize, you still do not call the robocall number. You go through official Amazon support channels inside your account.
Amazon provides a “Report a scam” help page that points users to reporting options and reminds users to report suspicious calls and texts to the FTC through official reporting channels.
How The Scam Works
To protect yourself, it helps to see the scam as a sequence, not a single event.
The scammers are not improvising. They are running a playbook, and each step is designed to move you closer to one of their outcomes: information, access, or money.
Below is the typical step-by-step flow of the Amazon iPhone purchase phone call scam, including the most common pivots and pressure points.
Step 1: The robocall is sent at scale to find reactive targets
These scams begin with scale.
Robocalling is cheap, fast, and automated. Scammers can dial thousands of numbers and only need a small number of people to engage.
They are not targeting only Amazon customers.
They are calling everyone and letting the script do the filtering.
If you answer and press 1, you have identified yourself as someone who is reachable and emotionally invested in stopping a charge.
That is why the script is built around a high-value item like an iPhone. It creates a strong “I need to fix this” response.
Step 2: The script creates urgency and a sense of immediate loss
The robocall usually includes:
A high-value product: iPhone
A large dollar amount: often $999, $1,199, or $1,299
A short timeline: shipping today or tomorrow
A threat: money will be charged or “debited”
This combination creates urgency and compresses your decision time.
Urgency is not just a feeling. It is a tool.
When people feel rushed, they verify less. They ask fewer questions. They follow instructions faster.
That is the scammer’s advantage.
Step 3: “Press 1” transfers you to a live scammer
This is the handoff.
The robocall’s job is to push you to press 1.
Once you do, you are connected to a live scammer or a call center queue, and the scam becomes adaptive.
A live scammer can do things a robocall cannot:
Answer your questions in real time
Sound reassuring
Increase pressure when you hesitate
Pivot the story based on your reactions
Keep you on the line while they set up the next step
The FTC warns about this general pattern of fake support calls and specifically calls out “press 1” prompts as something you should not do.
Step 4: The “agent” establishes authority and comfort quickly
Once connected, the scammer will typically introduce themselves as Amazon support, Amazon billing, or Amazon fraud prevention.
They will often use an American-sounding name.
They will sound calm, helpful, and confident.
They may offer a case number or reference ID.
They may claim they can “see the transaction” in their system.
This is credibility theater.
The goal is to get you to stop thinking of them as a stranger and start thinking of them as the solution.
Step 5: “Verification” begins, and information harvesting starts
Next comes identity verification.
They will frame it as security: “Before I can cancel the order, I need to verify the account holder.”
They might ask for:
Your full name
Your billing address
Your email address
Your phone number
Then they often escalate to more sensitive information:
Date of birth
Bank name
Card issuer
Last 4 digits of a card
Security question details
Amazon’s own guidance warns that scammers may try to persuade you to provide personal information over the phone, including payment information and account login credentials.
Even if you never send money, giving these details can fuel future fraud attempts and targeted phishing.
Step 6: The one-time code trap
A major turning point is when the scammer asks for a code.
They may claim:
“I am sending a verification code to your phone.”
“Read it to me so I can cancel the iPhone order.”
“This confirms you are the account owner.”
That is dangerous for a simple reason.
One-time codes are designed to prevent account takeovers. If you read the code to the scammer, you may be giving them the exact thing they need to reset your password, log in, or change account settings.
Amazon scam trend guidance explicitly states that no legitimate Amazon communication will ask for your account password or one-time codes.
So if the call turns into “tell me the code,” the safest response is to hang up immediately.
Step 7: The pivot to your computer or phone for “secure steps”
If the scammer senses you are cooperative, they often move you to a device-based workflow.
They might say:
“We need to complete a secure cancellation form.”
“I need you to open a browser.”
“I will guide you through the cancellation process.”
This step is not for your benefit. It is for theirs.
The reason is simple: the scam is easier to run when they can influence what you are looking at.
Step 8: The remote access pivot, where the real danger escalates
Many versions of these scams include a push to install remote access software.
It might be framed as:
“Amazon secure support tool”
“A verification application”
“A cancellation portal”
“A screen sharing step to confirm identity”
In reality, they want remote control.
Remote access gives scammers the ability to see your screen, control your cursor, and manipulate what you do.
AnyDesk has published abuse-prevention guidance warning that scammers misuse remote access tools to steal data, access codes, and money, and emphasizing that you should never give unknown people access to your device.
Once remote access is in play, the scammer can guide you into logging into your bank, entering credentials, or approving transfers while keeping you emotionally off-balance.
Step 9: The fake refund or cancellation performance
After remote access, the scam often turns into a “refund” story.
Here is how it typically plays:
They claim the iPhone order is canceled.
They claim a refund or reversal is being processed.
They tell you to log into online banking to confirm the refund.
They keep you on the line and narrate what you are seeing.
The narration is not neutral. It is designed to control your interpretation of what happens on the screen.
This is where many victims start to lose money, because the scammer can create a believable “paper trail” in real time.
Step 10: The “overpayment” twist that pushes you into sending money
One of the oldest scam techniques is overpayment, but it adapts well to modern online banking.
The scammer might claim:
“We refunded $2,999 instead of $1,299.”
“You need to return the difference today.”
“If you do not, your account will be flagged.”
“This is a compliance issue.”
Notice what they are doing psychologically.
You started out afraid of losing money.
Now you are afraid of being accused of receiving too much money.
Fear is the engine, and they just switched fuels.
At this point, they pressure you into sending money back quickly.
The “refund” is either fake, manipulated, or misrepresented. The money you send is real.
Step 11: Payment method steering to irreversible channels
When scammers ask for money, they steer toward methods that are difficult to reverse.
Common examples include:
Gift cards
Wire transfers
Money transfer services
Cryptocurrency
Peer-to-peer transfers
Amazon’s help content and scam trend guidance warn about gift card scams and warn that Amazon will not ask you to provide payment information, including gift cards, over the phone.
So if an “Amazon agent” asks you to buy gift cards to fix an iPhone purchase, the scam is confirmed.
Step 12: Secrecy and isolation tactics
A frequent scam move is to isolate you.
They may say:
“Do not call your bank yet.”
“Do not tell anyone while we investigate.”
“Stay on the line or the charge will go through.”
This is about control.
Legitimate fraud departments do not demand secrecy. They do not punish you for verifying independently.
If someone tries to stop you from checking your Amazon app or calling your bank using a real number, treat that as a strong signal you are being manipulated.
Step 13: Follow-up scams after you hang up
If you pressed 1 or shared information, you may get more calls.
Your number may be marked as responsive.
Follow-ups might claim to be:
Amazon supervisors
Bank fraud departments
Refund specialists
“Recovery services” offering to get your money back
Be cautious with recovery offers. Secondary scams often target victims of the first scam.
Step 14: The defense that breaks the entire playbook
There is one simple habit that stops most of this scam’s pathways:
Never continue a fraud conversation on a channel you did not initiate.
If you get an iPhone purchase call, you do this:
Hang up.
Open the Amazon app directly.
Check your orders.
Contact Amazon through official support channels inside your account if needed.
The FTC guidance aligns with this approach: do not press buttons, do not call back the number, and contact the company using information you know is legitimate. (Consumer Advice)
What To Do If You Have Fallen Victim to This Scam
If you interacted with the Amazon iPhone purchase phone call scam, do not panic.
What matters now is containment.
Use the checklist below and follow the steps that match what happened. The sooner you act, the better your odds of preventing financial loss and account takeover.
1) Stop the interaction and cut off access immediately
Hang up right away if you are still on the call.
Do not press any more buttons, and do not call back.
Block the number that called you.
If you installed anything or shared your screen, disconnect your device from the internet until you secure it.
2) If you only answered the call but did not press 1
Block the number.
Enable spam call filtering or call screening on your phone if available.
Open the Amazon app and check Your Orders for reassurance.
Move on and do not engage with follow-up calls.
In most cases, no further action is needed beyond call blocking and basic verification.
3) If you pressed 1 but hung up quickly
Block the number.
Expect more scam calls over the next days or weeks and do not engage.
Check your Amazon account for unusual activity.
Consider changing your Amazon password if you are unsure what you shared.
Pressing 1 can mark your number as responsive, which increases future targeting.
4) If you shared personal information
Change your Amazon password immediately.
Secure your email account first, because email controls password resets.
Turn on two-step verification where possible.
Watch for targeted phishing emails and texts mentioning “iPhone,” “refund,” or “Amazon support.”
Amazon explicitly warns that scammers may try to persuade you to provide personal information, including addresses, payment information, and account login credentials.
5) If you shared a one-time code
Treat this as urgent.
Change your email password immediately.
Change your Amazon password next.
Review your Amazon account settings for unauthorized changes:
New phone numbers
New email addresses
New devices
New delivery addresses
If you cannot log in, use the official Amazon account recovery process through the real Amazon site or app.
Amazon scam trend guidance states that legitimate Amazon communications will not ask for one-time codes.
6) If you installed remote access software or allowed screen sharing
Disconnect from the internet immediately (turn off Wi-Fi or unplug ethernet).
Uninstall the remote access software.
Restart the device.
From a different trusted device, change passwords for:
Email
Amazon
Banking
Any accounts you accessed during the session
Run a reputable security scan.
Contact your bank if you logged in while the scammer had access.
Remote access abuse is a known scam technique, and guidance from remote access providers emphasizes never giving unknown people access to your device.
7) If you logged into your bank during the call
Call your bank using the number on the back of your card or an official statement.
Ask them to review recent activity and check for:
New payees
Pending transfers
Unrecognized transactions
Change your online banking password.
Enable stronger security features if available.
Ask about adding extra verification for outgoing transfers.
Do not wait for a “pending charge” to post. If you suspect exposure, act immediately.
8) If you sent money or purchased gift cards
Contact your bank or payment provider immediately and ask if the transfer can be stopped or reversed.
If gift cards are involved, contact the gift card issuer immediately.
Keep all evidence:
Call logs
Voicemail recordings
Receipts
Transaction IDs
Report the scam to the FTC through its reporting portal.
Report the scam to Amazon using Amazon’s “Report a scam” guidance.
Amazon’s own help content warns about gift card scams and discourages sharing codes or sending money via certain payment methods in response to suspicious communications.
9) Lock down your Amazon account properly
Even if you did not lose money, it is worth tightening security after any interaction.
Change your Amazon password to a unique, strong password.
Enable two-step verification if available.
Review:
Your Orders
Archived Orders
Payment methods
Address book
Devices signed in (if visible)
Check the Amazon Message Center for official messages.
Amazon recommends using its message center to verify whether messages are genuinely from Amazon.
10) Reduce repeat targeting
Enable spam call filtering through your carrier or phone settings.
Use call screening for unknown numbers if possible.
Avoid answering unknown calls for a period if you can.
Be cautious with follow-up “refund recovery” services. Many are scams.
11) Report the incident without engaging further
Reporting helps create data that can lead to enforcement and better blocking.
Report to Amazon through its scam reporting guidance
Report to the FTC via its official fraud reporting portal.
If you have evidence of spoofing, consider reporting spoofing-related issues through FCC guidance and resources.
How to Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware
If a pop-up scam tricked you into downloading an unwanted program — or you suspect your device is infected — follow the free, step-by-step removal guide below to clean it completely.
Before you start: this guide may look long, but that’s only because we’ve broken everything down into clear, detailed steps that anyone can follow — no technical skills needed, and every tool we use is free. Please follow the steps in order. If you get stuck or have doubts at any point, stop and ask for help in our free support forum — our team will guide you personally.
Choose your device to get started. Browser hijackers, unwanted apps, and adware can infect Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices alike — click your operating system below to jump straight to the right instructions.
In this first step, we will manually check if any unknown or malicious programs are installed on the computer. Sometimes adware and browser hijackers can have a usable Uninstall entry that can be used to remove them.
Windows 11Windows 10Windows 8Windows 7
Open the Settings app
Press Windows + I on your keyboard to open Settings. Alternatively, right-click the Start button and select “Settings” from the menu.
Go to “Apps & Features”
In the Settings window, click “Apps” in the sidebar, then select “Apps & Features“.
Find and uninstall the malicious program
Scroll through the list of installed apps and look for anything suspicious — a program you don’t remember installing, or one with a strange or generic name. Quick tip: click “Sort by” and choose “Install date“. Malware is usually one of the most recently installed programs, so it will appear near the top.
When you find the malicious program, click the three dots next to it and select “Uninstall“.
Didn’t find any suspicious programs? That’s fine — not all infections install visible apps. Just continue with the next step in this guide.
Complete the uninstall
Confirm by clicking Uninstall in the message box, then follow the remaining prompts. Read each prompt carefully — some malicious programs use confusing wording or pre-ticked boxes hoping you’ll click through without looking.
Open the Settings app
Press Windows + I on your keyboard to open Settings. Alternatively, click the Start button on the taskbar and select “Settings” (the gear icon).
Click on “Apps”
In the “Windows Settings” window, click “Apps“. The “Apps & Features” section should open by default — if it doesn’t, select it from the list on the left.
Find and uninstall the malicious program
Scroll through the list of installed apps and look for anything suspicious — a program you don’t remember installing, or one with a strange or generic name. Quick tip: click “Sort by” and choose “Install date“. Malware is usually one of the most recently installed programs, so it will appear near the top.
When you find the malicious program, click on it and select “Uninstall“.
Didn’t find any suspicious programs? That’s fine — not all infections install visible apps. Just continue with the next step in this guide.
Complete the uninstall
Confirm by clicking Uninstall in the message box, then follow the remaining prompts. Read each prompt carefully — some malicious programs use confusing wording or pre-ticked boxes hoping you’ll click through without looking.
Open “Programs and Features”
Right-click the Start button in the taskbar, then select “Programs and Features“. This takes you straight to the list of installed programs.
Find and uninstall the malicious program
Scroll through the list of installed programs and look for anything suspicious — a program you don’t remember installing, or one with a strange or generic name. Click to highlight it, then click the “Uninstall” button.
Didn’t find any suspicious programs? That’s fine — not all infections install visible apps. Just continue with the next step in this guide.
Complete the uninstall
Confirm by clicking Yes in the message box, then follow the remaining prompts. Read each prompt carefully — some malicious programs use confusing wording or pre-ticked boxes hoping you’ll click through without looking.
Open the Control Panel
Click the “Start” button, then click “Control Panel“.
Click on “Uninstall a Program”
In the Control Panel, click “Uninstall a Program” under the Programs category.
Find and uninstall the malicious program
Scroll through the list of installed programs and look for anything suspicious — a program you don’t remember installing, or one with a strange or generic name. Click to highlight it, then click the “Uninstall” button.
Didn’t find any suspicious programs? That’s fine — not all infections install visible apps. Just continue with the next step in this guide.
Complete the uninstall
Confirm by clicking Yes in the message box, then follow the remaining prompts. Read each prompt carefully — some malicious programs use confusing wording or pre-ticked boxes hoping you’ll click through without looking.
Is a stubborn program refusing to uninstall? Use Revo Uninstaller to force-remove it completely, including leftover files and registry entries.
With the malicious programs removed, you’re ready for the next step in this guide.
STEP 2: Reset browsers back to default settings
In this step, we will remove spam notifications, malicious extensions, and change to default any settings that might have been changed by malware. Please note that this method will remove all extensions, toolbars, and other customizations but will leave your bookmarks and favorites intact. For each browser that you have installed on your computer, please click on the browsers tab below and follow the displayed steps to reset that browser.
ChromeFirefoxMicrosoft EdgeInternet Explorer
Reset Chrome for Windows to default settings
We will now reset your Chrome browser settings to their original defaults. This will reset your startup page, new tab page, search engine, and pinned tabs. It will also disable all extensions and clear temporary data like cookies. Your favorites, history, and saved passwords will not be cleared.
Open the Chrome menu
In the top-right corner of Chrome, click the three-dot (⋮) icon to open the menu.
Go to Settings
From the menu, select Settings.
Select “Reset settings”
In the left sidebar, scroll down and click Reset settings.
Choose “Restore settings to their original defaults”
Click Restore settings to their original defaults.
Confirm the reset
In the dialog that appears, click Reset settings. This restores your homepage, search engine, new tab page, and pinned tabs to default, disables all extensions, and clears temporary site data — undoing the changes the malware made.
Don’t worry: your bookmarks, history, and saved passwords are safe and will not be deleted.
Reset Firefox for Windows to default settings
We will now reset your Firefox browser settings to their default. The reset feature fixes many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information like bookmarks, passwords, web form auto-fill information, browsing history, and open tabs.
Open the Firefox menu and click “Help”
Click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner of Firefox to open the main menu, then select “Help“.
Click “More troubleshooting information”
In the Help menu, click “More troubleshooting information“.
Click “Refresh Firefox”
On the “Troubleshooting Information” page, click the “Refresh Firefox” button in the top-right area of the page.
Confirm the refresh
In the confirmation window, click “Refresh Firefox” again. This removes extensions, themes, and customized settings — the usual hiding places for browser hijackers — while keeping your bookmarks, history, and saved passwords safe.
Click “Finish”
Firefox will close, reset itself to default settings, and reopen with a window listing the information that was restored. Click “Finish” — your Firefox is now clean.
About the “Old Firefox Data” folder: Firefox saves a copy of your old profile on your desktop. If something you need is missing after the reset, you can recover it from this folder. Otherwise, delete the folder — it contains sensitive data like passwords and cookies, and may also still hold the malicious files you just removed.
Reset Microsoft Edge to default settings
We will now reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings to their default. This will reset your startup page, new tab page, search engine, and pinned tabs. It will also disable all extensions and clear temporary data like cookies. Your favorites, history, and saved passwords will not be cleared.
Open the Edge menu and click “Settings”
Click the three dots (…) in the top-right corner of Microsoft Edge to open the main menu, then click “Settings“.
Click “Reset settings”
In the left sidebar, click “Reset settings“.
Click “Restore settings to their default values”
In the main window, click “Restore settings to their default values“.
Confirm by clicking “Reset”
In the confirmation dialog, click “Reset“. This restores your homepage, search engine, new tab page, and startup pages to default, disables all extensions, and clears temporary data like cookies — undoing the changes the malware made.
Don’t worry: your favorites, browsing history, and saved passwords are safe and will not be deleted.
Reset Internet Explorer to default settings
We will now reset your Internet Explorer browser settings to their default. You can reset Internet Explorer settings to return them to the state they were in when Internet Explorer was first installed on your computer.
Go to “Internet Options”.
Open Internet Explorer, click on the gear icon in the upper-right part of your browser, then select “Internet Options“.
Select the “Advanced” tab, then click “Reset”
In the “Internet Options” dialog box, select the “Advanced” tab, then click on the “Reset” button.
Click on “Reset”.
In the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” section, select the “Delete personal settings” checkbox, then click on the “Reset” button.
Click on “Close”.
When Internet Explorer has completed its task, click on the “Close” button in the confirmation dialogue box. Close your browser and then you can open Internet Explorer again.
STEP 3: Use Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to remove malware and unwanted programs
In this third step, we will install Malwarebytes to scan and remove any infections, adware, or potentially unwanted programs that may be present on your computer.
Malwarebytes is one of the most popular and trusted anti-malware tools for Windows — and it’s completely free for removing infections. It catches threats that many antivirus programs miss, including adware, browser hijackers, and trojans. Follow the steps below to scan and clean your PC in just a few minutes.
Download Malwarebytes
Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows from the official source. The free version is all you need — it will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software at no cost.
(The link opens in a new page where your download will start)
Install Malwarebytes
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the MBSetup file. If Windows shows a User Account Control pop-up, click “Yes” to allow the installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
The setup wizard will walk you through a few quick screens:
Choose where you’re installing the program — “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” — then click Next.
Malwarebytes will now install on your device. This usually takes under a minute.
When installation is complete, the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen will open automatically.
On the final screen, click Open Malwarebytes to launch the program.
Enable “Scan for Rootkits”
Before scanning, turn on rootkit detection so Malwarebytes can find even the most hidden threats. Click the Settings gear icon on the left side of the screen.
In the settings menu, find “Scan for rootkits” and click the toggle so it turns blue.
Done? Click “Dashboard” in the left pane to return to the main screen.
Start the Scan
Click the blue Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its virus database and start checking your computer for malware.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
The scan checks your entire system for browser hijackers and other malicious programs, so it can take several minutes. Feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.
Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found — malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all of them at once.
Malwarebytes will now remove the malicious files and registry entries and move them safely into quarantine.
Restart Your Computer
Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot. If Malwarebytes asks you to restart, click Yes. Once you’re logged back in, your PC is clean and you can continue with the next steps in this guide.
STEP 4: Use HitmanPro to scan your computer for badware
In this next step, we will scan the computer with HitmanPro to ensure that no other malicious programs are installed on your device.
HitmanPro is a second-opinion scanner — it’s designed to catch what your main antivirus might have missed. Instead of relying on a single detection engine, it checks the behavior of files in the locations where malware usually hides. Anything suspicious gets sent to the cloud, where it’s analyzed by two of the best antivirus engines available: Bitdefender and Kaspersky.
Good news: scanning is completely free, with no limits. You only need a license when it’s time to remove what was found — and even then, you can activate a free one-time 30-day trial to clean your PC at no cost. (A full license is $24.95 per year for 1 PC.)
Download HitmanPro
Click the button below to download HitmanPro. Remember — the scan is free, so you have nothing to lose by checking your PC.
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the file: “hitmanpro.exe” on 32-bit Windows, or “hitmanpro_x64.exe” on 64-bit Windows.
If a User Account Control pop-up asks whether HitmanPro can make changes to your device, click “Yes” to continue.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts
On the HitmanPro start screen, click “Next” to begin the system scan. No lengthy setup required — it goes straight to work.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
HitmanPro will now check your computer for malicious programs. This usually takes just a few minutes thanks to its cloud-based scanning.
Review the Results and Click “Next”
When the scan is done, HitmanPro will show you everything it found. Click “Next” to remove the detected threats.
Click “Activate Free License”
To remove the malicious files, click the “Activate free license” button. This starts your free 30-day trial — no payment details needed — and unlocks the full cleanup.
When the removal is complete, HitmanPro will show a summary of everything it cleaned. Click Next, then click Reboot if prompted. If there’s no reboot prompt, just click Close — your PC is clean.
STEP 5: Use AdwCleaner to remove adware and malicious browser policies
In this final step, we will use AdwCleaner to remove the malicious browser policies that were set by browser hijackers on your computer and delete malicious browser extensions.
AdwCleaner is a free on-demand scanner that specializes in adware, browser hijackers, and unwanted toolbars — the exact threats that mainstream antivirus programs often miss. It also includes tools that repair the damage malware leaves behind, like hijacked browser settings and malicious policies. It’s a quick scan that’s well worth running.
Download AdwCleaner
Click the button below to download AdwCleaner — it’s free, portable, and requires no installation.
Open your Downloads folder and double-click the file named “adwcleaner_x.x.x.exe“. There’s no installation — the program starts right away.
If Windows asks whether you want to allow AdwCleaner to run, click “Yes“. When the license agreement appears, click I agree to continue.
Enable “Reset Chrome policies”
This setting removes malicious browser policies — a trick malware uses to lock your browser settings so you can’t change them back. Click “Settings” on the left side of the window, then turn on “Reset Chrome policies“.
Start the Scan
Click “Dashboard” on the left side of the window, then click the “Scan” button.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
AdwCleaner will now check your computer for adware and other malware. This usually takes only a few minutes — it’s one of the fastest scanners around.
Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan finishes, AdwCleaner will list everything it found. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all the malicious items at once.
Click “Continue” to Finish the Cleanup
Save any open work first — AdwCleaner needs to close your open programs before it can clean. When you’re ready, click the “Continue” button.
AdwCleaner will now delete all detected malware from your computer. If it asks you to restart your PC, allow it — your computer will be clean when you log back in.
That’s it — your Windows computer is now clean. The unwanted apps, adware, and any other malware have been removed.
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:
Profiles are used by IT admins in businesses to control the behavior of their Macs. These profiles can configure a Mac to do many different things, some of which are not otherwise possible. When it comes to home users, adware and browser hijackers are using the configuration profile to prevent users from removing malicious programs from the computer. This also prevents the user from changing that behavior in the browser’s settings.
In this first step, we will check your computer to see if any configuration profiles are installed. To do this, follow the below steps:
Open “System Settings”
From the Apple menu () in the top-left corner of the screen, select System Settings. (On macOS Monterey and earlier, this is called System Preferences.)
Look for “Profiles”
In the System Settings window, search for Profiles — on newer macOS versions you’ll find it under Privacy & Security, or you can type “Profiles” in the search box.
No Profiles section? Good news — that means no profiles are installed on your Mac, which is completely normal. Skip ahead to the next step of this guide.
Remove the malicious profiles
Malware uses configuration profiles to lock your browser settings — forcing a fake search engine or homepage on you and preventing you from changing it back. If you see a profile you don’t recognize (and your Mac isn’t managed by your workplace or school), select it, press the − (minus) button, and click Remove to confirm.
STEP 2: Delete malicious apps
In this second step, we will try to identify and remove any malicious apps and files that might be installed on your computer. Sometimes redirects or adware programs can have usable Uninstall entries that can be used to remove these programs.
Quit the malicious programs
Check the Apple menu bar in the top-right corner of your screen. If you see an icon you don’t recognize, click it and select Quit. This stops the malware from running so it can’t interfere while we remove it.
Open “Finder”
Click the Finder icon in your dock.
Click on “Applications”
In the Finder sidebar, click “Applications“.
Find and remove the malicious app
Scroll through the list of installed apps and look for anything suspicious — an app you don’t remember installing, or one with a strange or generic name. When you find it, right-click it and select “Move to Trash“.
Some known malicious programs to look for: SearchMine, TakeFresh, TopResults, FeedBack, ApplicationEvents, GeneralOpen, PowerLog, MessengerNow, ImagePrime, GeneralNetSearch, Reading Cursors, GlobalTechSearch, PDFOnline-express, See Scenic Elf, MatchKnowledge, Easy Speedtest, and WebDiscover. The names change constantly, though — so treat any app you can’t account for as suspect.
Empty the Trash
Right-click the Trash icon in your dock and select “Empty Trash“. This permanently deletes the malicious app you just removed — until you do this, the malware is still on your Mac.
Find and remove the malicious files
Malware on Mac uses launch agents and launch daemons — small files that automatically restart the malware every time you boot your Mac. We’ll check the four folders where they hide:
Click the desktop to make sure you’re in Finder, then open the “Go” menu and click “Go to Folder“.
Copy and paste each of the paths below into the window, one at a time, and click Go after each:
/Library/LaunchAgents
~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/Application Support
/Library/LaunchDaemons
In each folder, look for suspicious .plist files — typically named after the malware or with odd, random-looking names. Some known examples: “com.adobe.fpsaud.plist”, “installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist”, and “com.myppes.net-preferences.plist”. When you find a malicious file, move it to the Trash — then empty the Trash again when you’re done.
Be careful: these folders also contain files belonging to legitimate apps — especially /Library/Application Support, where programs like Adobe, Google, and Microsoft store their data. Only delete files you’re confident are malicious. If you’re unsure about a file, search its exact name online first — or skip it; the Malwarebytes scan in the next step will catch what you miss.
STEP 3: Reset browsers back to default settings
In this third step, we will remove spam push notifications and malicious extensions, and change to default any settings that might have been changed by malware. For each browser that you have installed on your computer, please click on the tab below and follow the displayed steps to reset that browser.
Safari BrowserChrome for Mac BrowserFirefox for Mac Browser
Remove malicious extensions and settings from Safari
To remove malware from Safari we will check if there are any malicious extensions installed on your browser and what settings have been changed by this malicious program.
Go to Safari’s “Preferences”.
On the menu bar, click the “Safari” menu and select “Preferences”.
Check Homepage.
This will open a new window with your Safari preferences, opened to the “General” tab. Some browser hijackers may change your default homepage, so in the Homepage field make sure it’s a web page you want to use as your start-up page.
Click “Extensions”
Next, click on the “Extensions” tab.
Find and uninstall malicious extensions.
The “Extensions” screen will be displayed with a list of all the extensions installed on Safari. Look out for any suspicious browser extension that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine extension. By default, there are no extensions installed on Safari so it’s safe to remove an extension
Remove spam notifications ads
Click Preferences, click Websites, then click Notifications. Deselect “Allow websites to ask for permission to send push notifications”.
Remove all data stored by websites on your computer.
In the Safari menu, choose “Preferences…”, select “Privacy” at the top of the new window that appears, and then click the “Manage Website Data” button.
In the next dialog box, click “Remove All“. It will ask you if you are sure you want to remove all data stored by websites on your computer. Select “Remove Now” to clear data that could be used to track your browsing.
Empty Safari Caches.
From your Safari menu bar, click Safari and select Preferences, then select the Advanced tab. Enable the checkbox to “Show Develop menu in menu bar“.
From the menu bar select Develop, then click on Empty Caches as seen in the image below.
Remove malware from Chrome for Mac
To remove malware from Chrome for Mac we will reset the browser settings to their default. Doing these steps will erase all configuration information from Chrome such as your home page, tab settings, saved form information, browsing history, and cookies. This process will also disable any installed extensions. All of your bookmarks, though, will be preserved.
Click on the three dots at the top right and go to Settings.
Click on Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three dots at the top right corner. Now click on the menu option labeled Settings as shown by the arrow in the picture below, which will open the basic settings screen.
In the left sidebar, click on the “Reset and Cleanup” option.
In the left sidebar, click on “Reset and clean up“.
Click “Reset settings to their original defaults”.
Now click on the “Reset settings to their original defaults”. link as shown in the image below.
Click “Reset Settings” button.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, click on the “Reset Settings” button.
(Optional) Reset Chrome Data Sync.
In case a malicious extension reinstalls itself even after performing a browser reset, you have an additional option to reset the data sync for your browser. To do this, navigate to chrome.google.com/sync and click on the Clear Data button.
Remove malware from Firefox for Mac
To remove malware from Firefox for Mac we will reset the browser settings to its default. The reset feature fixes many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information like bookmarks, passwords, web form auto-fill information, browsing history, and open tabs.
Go to the “Help” menu.
Click on Firefox’s main menu button, represented by three horizontal lines. When the drop-down menu appears, select the option labeled “Help“.
Click “Troubleshooting Information”.
Next click on the “Troubleshooting Information” option as indicated by the arrow in the image below. This will bring you to a Troubleshooting page.
Click on “Refresh Firefox”
Click the “Refresh Firefox” button in the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page.
Confirm.
To continue, click on the “Refresh Firefox” button in the new confirmation window that opens.
Click on “Finish”.
Firefox will close itself and will revert to its default settings. When it’s done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click on the “Finish“.
Your old Firefox profile will be placed on your desktop in a folder named “Old Firefox Data“. If the reset didn’t fix your problem you can restore some of the information not saved by copying files to the new profile that was created. If you don’t need this folder any longer, you should delete it as it contains sensitive information.
STEP 4: Run a scan with Malwarebytes for Mac to remove malware
In this final step, we will scan the computer with Malwarebytes for Mac to find and remove any malicious programs that might be installed on your Mac.
Malwarebytes for Mac is a free on-demand scanner that removes the malware other security software tends to miss — adware, browser hijackers, and unwanted programs included. Cleaning an infected Mac with Malwarebytes has always been completely free, and it’s our go-to recommendation. Follow the steps below to scan and clean your Mac in just a few minutes.
Download Malwarebytes for Mac
Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Mac.
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the setup file to begin the installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
The Malwarebytes for Mac Installer will guide you through a few quick screens. Click “Continue” and keep following the prompts until the installation completes.
When the installation is complete, Malwarebytes opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click “Get started“.
Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”
Malwarebytes will ask what type of computer you’re installing it on. Click either Personal Computer or Work Computer, whichever applies.
Start the Scan
Click the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its detection database and begin checking your Mac for malware.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
Malwarebytes will scan your Mac for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This can take a few minutes, so feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.
Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all the threats at once.
Restart Your Mac
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files it found. Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot — if Malwarebytes asks you to restart, allow it. Once you’re logged back in, your Mac is clean.
That’s it — your Mac is now clean. The unwanted apps, adware, and any other malware have been removed.
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.
Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware from Android
Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware from Android
To remove unwanted apps and malware from your Android phone or tablet, follow these steps:
In this first step, we will check if any malicious apps are installed on your phone. Sometimes browser hijackers or adware apps can have usable Uninstall entries that can be used to remove these apps.
Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find the malicious app.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the applications that are installed on your phone. Scroll through the list and look out for any suspicious app that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program. Most often, cyber criminals hide malware inside video or photo editing apps, weather apps, and camera apps.
Uninstall the malicious app
When you find a suspicious or malicious app, tap on it to uninstall it. This won’t start the app but will open up the app details screen. If the app is currently running press the “Force stop” button, then tap on “Uninstall”.
A confirmation dialog should be displayed to confirm you want to uninstall the app, tap on “OK” to remove the malicious app from your phone.
STEP 2: Reset browsers back to default settings
In this second step, we will reset your browser to its default settings to remove spam notifications, unwated search redirects, and restore its factory settings
Resetting the browser settings to their default it’s an easy task on Windows or Mac computers; however, when it comes to Android, this can’t be done directly because it’s not an option built-in into the browser settings. Restoring the browser settings on Android can be done by clearing the application data. This will remove all the cookies, cache, and other site settings that may have been saved. So let’s see how we can restore your browser to its factory settings.
Chrome for AndroidFirefoxOperaSamsung Internet BrowserMicrosoft Edge
Remove malware from Chrome for Android
To reset Chrome for Android to its default settings, follow the below steps:
Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Chrome.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Chrome app, then tap on it to open the app’s details.
Tap “Storage”.
When Chrome’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Chrome’s data including accounts, bookmarks, and your settings to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.
Remove malware from Firefox for Android
To reset Firefox for Android to its default settings, follow the below steps:
Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Firefox.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Firefox app, then tap on it to open the app’s details.
Tap “Storage”.
When Firefox’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Firefox data including accounts, bookmarks, and your settings to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.
Remove malware from the Opera browser
To reset the Opera browser to its default settings, follow the below steps:
Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Opera.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Opera app, then tap on it to open the app’s details.
Tap “Storage”.
When Opera’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Opera’s data including accounts, bookmarks, and your settings to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.
Remove malware from Samsung Internet Browser
To reset the Samsung Internet Browser to its default settings, follow the below steps:
Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Samsung Internet Browser.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Samsung Internet Browser app, then tap on it to open the app’s details.
Tap “Storage”.
When the Samsung Internet Browser’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Samsung Internet Browser’s data including accounts, bookmarks, and your settings to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.
Remove malware from Microsoft Edge for Android
To reset the Microsoft Edge for Android to its default settings, follow the below steps:
Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Microsoft Edge.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Microsoft Edge app, then tap on it to open the app’s details.
Tap “Storage”.
When the Microsoft Edge’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Microsoft Edge’s data including accounts, bookmarks, and your settings to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.
STEP 3: Use Malwarebytes for Android to remove malicious apps
In this final step, we will install Malwarebytes for Android to scan and remove malicious apps from your phone or tablet.
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.
That’s it — your Android device is now clean. The malicious apps, adware, and browser redirects have been removed.
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.
First, we’ll clean Safari using the built-in “Clear History and Website Data” feature. This removes your browsing history, cookies, and cached data — including the stored data that scam sites use to keep showing you pop-ups and redirects. Don’t worry: this won’t delete your photos, apps, or saved passwords.
Don’t tap anything inside the scam page or pop-up — the buttons are designed to trick you. Instead, tap the tabs icon in the lower-right corner of Safari, as shown below.
Tap the X on the malicious tab (or swipe it up) to close it safely.
Open the Settings app.
Turn on Airplane Mode. This temporarily disconnects your iPhone from the internet, so the scam site can’t load anything while we clean up. We’ll turn it back off at the end.
Scroll down and tap Safari.
Tap Clear History and Website Data.
Confirm by tapping “Clear History and Data” in the pop-up.
While you’re still in Safari settings, turn on Block Pop-ups and Fraudulent Website Warning. These two switches stop most scam pages before they can even load.
Tap Settings in the upper-left corner to return to the main Settings menu.
Turn Airplane Mode back off to reconnect your iPhone to the internet.
STEP 2: Delete unwanted apps
Next, we’ll remove any suspicious apps from your iPhone. If a shady website redirected you to the App Store and you installed an app — or you spot an app you don’t remember downloading — delete it now:
On the home screen, tap and hold the unwanted app’s icon until the icons start to wiggle.
Tap the minus (–) badge in the corner of the app icon, then tap Delete App. (On older iOS versions, this badge appears as an “X”.)
Confirm by tapping “Delete“.
That’s it — your iPhone is now clean and safe to use.
To stop these scam pages from coming back, we recommend installing an ad blocker like AdGuard. It blocks the malicious ads and redirects that cause these pop-ups in the first place.
Still having issues after completing these steps? Try one of the following:
The Amazon iPhone purchase phone calls scam is designed to scare you into acting quickly.
The iPhone purchase is a story. The urgency is manufactured. The “press 1” option is not help, it is the pathway to a scammer.
Hang up. Do not press buttons. Do not call back.
Verify your orders directly in the Amazon app or on the official Amazon website, and use official reporting channels if you received suspicious calls or texts.
FAQ
Is an Amazon iPhone purchase robocall real?
Almost always no. These calls are a common Amazon impersonation scam designed to scare you into pressing 1 or calling back. Verify only by checking your Amazon account directly in the official app or website.
What happens if I press 1?
You are typically connected to a live scammer posing as Amazon support. They may ask for personal details, one-time codes, or try to get you to install remote access software.
Can the phone number on caller ID be fake?
Yes. Scammers often use caller ID spoofing, so the number you see is not proof the call is legitimate.
Should I call the number back or follow the voicemail instructions?
No. Do not call back and do not press any keys. Open the Amazon app or type Amazon’s website address yourself and check Your Orders.
What if I already talked to them?
Stop contact, change your Amazon and email passwords, and contact your bank immediately if you shared codes, installed software, or logged into banking during the call.
10 Rules to Avoid Online Scams
Here are 10 practical safety rules to help you avoid malware, online shopping scams, crypto scams, and other online fraud. Each tip includes a quick “if you already got hit” action.
Stop and verify before you click, log in, download, or pay.
Most scams win by creating urgency. Verify using a trusted method: type the website address yourself, use the official app, or call a known number (not the one in the message).
If you already clicked: close the page, do not enter passwords, and run a malware scan.
Keep your operating system, browser, and apps updated.
Updates patch security holes used by malware and malicious ads. Turn on automatic updates where possible.
If you saw a scary “update now” pop-up: close it and update only through your device settings or the official app store.
Use layered protection: antivirus plus an ad blocker.
Antivirus helps block malware. An ad blocker reduces scam redirects, phishing pages, and malvertising.
If your browser is acting weird: remove unknown extensions, reset the browser, then run a full scan.
Install apps, software, and extensions only from official sources.
Avoid cracked software, “keygens,” and random downloads. During installs, choose Custom/Advanced and decline bundled offers you do not recognize.
If you already installed something suspicious: uninstall it, restart, and scan again.
Treat links and attachments as untrusted by default.
Phishing often impersonates delivery services, banks, and popular brands. If it is unexpected, do not open attachments or log in through the message.
If you entered credentials: change the password immediately and enable 2FA.
Shop safely: research the store, then pay with protection.
Be cautious with brand-new stores, “closing sale” stories, and prices that make no sense. Prefer credit cards or PayPal for dispute options. Avoid wire transfers, gift cards, and crypto payments.
If you already paid: contact your card issuer or PayPal quickly to dispute the transaction.
Crypto rule: never pay a “fee” to withdraw or recover money.
Common patterns include fake profits, then “tax,” “gas,” or “verification” fees. Another is a “recovery agent” who demands upfront crypto.
If you already sent crypto: stop paying, save evidence (wallet addresses, TXIDs, chats), and report the scam to the platform used.
Secure your accounts with unique passwords and 2FA (start with email).
Use a password manager and unique passwords for every account. Enable 2FA using an authenticator app when possible.
If you suspect an account takeover: change passwords, sign out of all devices, and review recent logins and recovery settings.
Back up important files and keep one backup offline.
Backups protect you from ransomware and device failure. Keep at least one backup on an external drive that is not always connected.
If you suspect infection: do not connect backup drives until the system is clean.
If you think you are a victim: stop losses, document evidence, and escalate fast.
Move quickly. Speed matters for disputes, account recovery, and limiting damage.
Stop payments and contact: do not send more money or respond to the scammer.
Call your bank or card issuer: block transactions, replace the card if needed, and start a dispute or chargeback.
Secure your email first: change the email password, enable 2FA, and remove unfamiliar recovery options.
Secure other accounts: change passwords, enable 2FA, and log out of all sessions.
Scan your device: remove suspicious apps or extensions, then run a full malware scan.
Save evidence: screenshots, emails, order pages, tracking pages, wallet addresses, TXIDs, and chat logs.
Report it: to the payment provider, marketplace, social platform, exchange, or wallet service involved.
These rules are intentionally simple. Most online losses happen when decisions are rushed. Slow down, verify independently, and use payment methods and account controls that give you recourse.
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.
Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware from Windows
Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware from Windows
Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware from Mac
Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware from Android
Didn’t find any suspicious programs? That’s fine — not all infections install visible apps. Just continue with the next step in this guide.
Didn’t find any suspicious programs? That’s fine — not all infections install visible apps. Just continue with the next step in this guide.
No Profiles section? Good news — that means no profiles are installed on your Mac, which is completely normal. Skip ahead to the next step of this guide.
