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)
- Account access (Amazon login, email access, verification codes)
- 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:
- 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 find and remove it.
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.
Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware from Windows-
Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware from Mac
Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware from Android-
Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware from iPhone and iPad
Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware from Windows
- STEP 1: Uninstall malicious programs from Windows
- STEP 2: Reset browsers back to default settings
- STEP 3: Use Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to remove malware and unwanted programs
- STEP 4: Use HitmanPro to scan your computer for badware
- STEP 5: Use AdwCleaner to remove adware and malicious browser policies
STEP 1: Uninstall malicious programs from Windows
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.
-
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 “Installed apps”
In the Settings window, click “Apps” in the sidebar, then select “Installed apps“.

-
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 “Date installed“. 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.

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 a Chrome or Edge reset turns off all your extensions, and a Firefox refresh removes them. Your bookmarks and favorites stay 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.
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
Open Google Chrome and click the three-dot (⋮) icon in the top-right corner.

Open Chrome Settings
Select Settings from the Chrome menu.

Select “Reset settings”
Look at the menu on the left side of the Settings page. Scroll down and click Reset settings.

Restore Chrome’s original settings
Click Restore settings to their original defaults.

Confirm the Chrome reset
A confirmation window will appear. Click Reset settings.
This will:
- Restore the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page
- Reset startup pages and pinned tabs
- Reset site permissions, such as notifications and pop-ups
- Disable installed extensions
- Clear temporary cookies and website data
Don’t worry: Chrome will not delete your bookmarks, browsing history, or saved passwords. If you’re signed in to Chrome, the reset applies on all devices where you’re signed in.
Restart Chrome and perform a test search. If your searches now open normally in Google, you can stop here.
If searches are still redirected through shady domains complete the additional step below.

Remove persistent search hijacker data
Only complete this step if the redirect continues after resetting Chrome.
Some browser hijackers hide inside Chrome’s local search-engine database. A standard Chrome reset may not remove this database, which is why searches can continue to pass through shady sites.
The following procedure creates a backup of the affected database and allows Chrome to build a new, clean version. This is safer and less disruptive than deleting the entire Chrome profile.
First, prevent Chrome Sync from restoring the hijacked settings:
- Open a new Chrome tab.
- Copy the following address, paste it into Chrome’s address bar, and press Enter:
chrome://settings/syncSetup/advanced - Under Manage what you sync, select Customize sync.
- Turn off Settings and Extensions.
- You can leave Bookmarks and Passwords enabled so your important data remains synchronized.
Note: Some newer Chrome versions may automatically redirect this address to the Google Account settings page. If that happens, locate the list of synchronized Chrome data and turn off Settings and Extensions there.

Now save anything you are working on and close every Chrome window.
Run the cleanup command:
- Press the Windows key on your keyboard.
- Type PowerShell.
- Open Windows PowerShell. Administrator access is not required.
- Copy the entire command shown below.
- Right-click inside the PowerShell window to paste the command, then press Enter.
- If Windows warns you about pasting multiple lines, select the option to continue.
$stamp = Get-Date -Format "yyyyMMdd-HHmmss"
Get-Process chrome -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
Stop-Process -Force
$root = "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Google\Chrome\User Data"
if (Test-Path $root) {
$profiles = Get-ChildItem $root -Directory |
Where-Object {
$_.Name -eq "Default" -or
$_.Name -match "^Profile \d+$"
}
foreach ($profile in $profiles) {
foreach ($name in @(
"Web Data",
"Web Data-journal",
"Web Data-wal",
"Web Data-shm"
)) {
$file = Join-Path $profile.FullName $name
if (Test-Path $file) {
$backup = "$file.search-hijacker-backup-$stamp"
Move-Item -LiteralPath $file -Destination $backup
Write-Host "Backup created: $backup"
}
}
}
}
Write-Host ""
Write-Host "Chrome search data has been cleaned."
Write-Host "You can now reopen Chrome."Wait until PowerShell displays the following message:
Chrome search data has been cleaned.
You can now reopen Chrome.
Close PowerShell and reopen Google Chrome. Chrome will automatically create a clean search database for every local profile.
Next, copy the following address, paste it into Chrome’s address bar, and press Enter:
chrome://settings/searchEngines
Make sure Google is selected as the default search engine. Test several searches from the address bar and confirm that they no longer pass through shady search engines.
Your important Chrome data is protected: the PowerShell cleanup does not remove bookmarks, saved passwords, browsing history, cookies, or installed extensions. However, it may reset locally stored Autofill addresses, payment cards saved only on this computer, and form suggestions.
The original search database is not deleted. PowerShell renames it and adds
search-hijacker-backupto its filename so it can be recovered if necessary.Keep Settings and Extensions synchronization disabled while testing Chrome. Do not enable every extension at once. Enable only the extensions you recognize, one at a time, and test Chrome after each one.

If the redirect returns after enabling a particular extension, remove that extension immediately.
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.
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Open the Firefox menu and click “Help and Report”
Click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner of Firefox to open the main menu, then select “Help and Report“.

-
Click “More troubleshooting information”
In the Help and Report menu, click “More troubleshooting information“.

-
Click “Refresh Firefox”
On the “Troubleshooting Information” page, click the “Refresh Firefox” button in the “Give Firefox a tune up” box 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“. Then test Firefox before you add back any extensions.
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.
Updated for Microsoft Edge on Windows 10 and Windows 11 — July 2026.
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Open the Edge menu and click “Settings”
Open Microsoft Edge. In the top-right corner, click the three-dot (…) icon, then click Settings.

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Prevent the unwanted settings from returning through Edge Sync
If you are signed in to Microsoft Edge, a bad setting or extension may be stored in your Microsoft account and return after the reset.
Copy the following address, paste it into the Edge address bar, and press Enter:
edge://settings/profiles/syncOn the Sync page, turn off these two options:
- Settings
- Extensions
You can leave Favorites and Passwords turned on.
If Edge says that sync is already off, simply continue to the next step.
Important: Edge Sync settings are separate for each profile. If you use more than one Edge profile, switch to each affected profile and repeat this step.
You do not need to sign out of your Microsoft account or delete the Edge profile.
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Open “Reset settings”
In the left sidebar, click Reset settings.
You can also open the reset page directly. Copy the following address, paste it into the Edge address bar, and press Enter:
edge://settings/reset
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Click “Restore settings to their default values”
Click Restore settings to their default values.

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Confirm the reset
In the confirmation dialog, click Reset.
This resets the startup page, new tab page, search engine, and pinned tabs. It also disables all extensions and clears temporary site data, such as cookies.
Don’t worry: your favorites, browsing history, and saved passwords will not be deleted.

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Check your extensions before turning them back on
Copy the following address, paste it into the Edge address bar, and press Enter:
edge://extensionsRemove any extension you do not recognize or no longer use. Pay particular attention to extensions related to search, coupons, shopping, PDF conversion, browser protection, new tabs, or video downloading.
Do not turn all extensions back on at the same time. Enable only the extensions you recognize and trust.

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Select a trusted search engine
Copy the following address, paste it into the Edge address bar, and press Enter:
edge://settings/searchEnginesSelect Bing, Google, DuckDuckGo, or another search provider you trust and make it the default. This address opens the list of search engines; the default is set one page back, on Address bar and search, under Search engine used in the address bar.
Remove any unknown search engines from the list, especially providers with strange names or addresses that you did not add yourself: click More actions (…) next to the engine and remove it.
Restart Edge and perform a search from the address bar. If searches are no longer redirected, you can stop here.

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If the redirect remains, clean the corrupted search data without deleting the Edge profile
Use this additional step only if Edge continues to redirect searches after the normal reset.
This command cleans the search-engine database from every local Edge profile while keeping your favorites, saved passwords, browsing history, cookies, and profiles.
Before continuing: save anything you are working on because the command will close Microsoft Edge.
- Open the Windows Start menu.
- Type PowerShell.
- Open Windows PowerShell. Administrator access is not required.
- Copy the entire command below.
- Paste it into PowerShell and press Enter.
$stamp = Get-Date -Format "yyyyMMdd-HHmmss" $root = Join-Path $env:LOCALAPPDATA "Microsoft\Edge\User Data" Get-Process -Name msedge -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Stop-Process -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue Start-Sleep -Seconds 2 if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $root)) { Write-Host "The Microsoft Edge profile folder was not found:" Write-Host $root return } $profiles = Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath $root -Directory | Where-Object { $_.Name -eq "Default" -or $_.Name -match "^Profile \d+$" } $movedFiles = 0 foreach ($profile in $profiles) { foreach ($name in @( "Web Data", "Web Data-journal", "Web Data-wal", "Web Data-shm" )) { $file = Join-Path $profile.FullName $name if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $file) { $backup = "$file.search-reset-backup-$stamp" try { Move-Item -LiteralPath $file -Destination $backup -ErrorAction Stop Write-Host "Cleaned: $($profile.Name)\$name" $movedFiles++ } catch { Write-Warning "Could not clean: $file" } } } } Write-Host "" if ($movedFiles -gt 0) { Write-Host "Microsoft Edge search data has been cleaned." -ForegroundColor Green Write-Host "You can now reopen Microsoft Edge." } else { Write-Host "No Edge search database files were found." -ForegroundColor Yellow }The command does not permanently delete the original files. It renames them as backup files, and Edge creates a clean search database when it starts again.
Note: this additional cleanup may also reset saved form-fill suggestions, saved addresses, payment cards saved only on this computer, and manually added search engines. It does not delete favorites, passwords, or browsing history.
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Reopen Edge and test the browser
Open Microsoft Edge again, visit edge://settings/searchEngines, and select your preferred search engine (one page back, on Address bar and search, under Search engine used in the address bar).
Perform several searches from the address bar to confirm that the redirect is gone.
Keep synchronization for Settings and Extensions turned off until you are certain that the computer and extensions are clean. If you enable them again, turn them on one at a time and test Edge after each change.

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If Edge still redirects your searches
Open edge://policy. If this is your personal computer and Edge displays unknown policies such as ExtensionInstallForcelist or DefaultSearchProvider, the hijacker may be installed outside the browser profile.
In that situation, continue with the next malware-removal steps and run a complete antivirus scan. If the computer belongs to a company or school, contact its IT administrator before changing any policies.

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 your PC and remove what Malwarebytes finds.
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.
Download MalwarebytesOfficial installer for Windows 11 and 10. Your download starts right away.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium
Malwarebytes Free for WindowsScans and removes malware at no cost-
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:
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Choose where you’re installing the program — “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” — then click Next.
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Malwarebytes will now install on your device. This usually takes under a minute.
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When installation is complete, the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen will open automatically.
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On the final screen, click Open Malwarebytes to launch the program.
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Optional: Check for rootkits with a Custom Scan
You don’t need to change any settings for a normal scan. The standard Threat Scan in the next step is enough for most problems, so you can go straight to it.
If you also want to check for rootkits, use a Custom Scan. In current versions of Malwarebytes, rootkit scanning is only available there:
- On the Scanner tile, click the three-dot menu and select Advanced Scan.
- Choose Custom Scan. In its options, check Scan for rootkits.
- Select your system drive (usually C:\) as the location to scan, then start the scan. It takes longer than a Threat Scan.
- When it finishes, review and quarantine the results as described in the steps below.
Rootkit scanning isn’t available on Windows devices with ARM processors.
Start the Scan
Click the blue Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its virus database and start checking your computer for malware.

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Wait for the Scan to Finish
The scan checks your entire system for browser hijackers and other malicious programs, so it can take 5 to 20 minutes depending on your computer. Feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.

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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.

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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, Malwarebytes has finished removing the threats it found.

STEP 4: Use HitmanPro to scan your computer for badware
In this next step, we will scan the computer with HitmanPro to check for any other malicious programs that may be 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 is checked online, where it’s analyzed by several antivirus engines in HitmanPro’s Scan Cloud.
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 remove what it finds at no cost. The trial works once per computer. After that, removal needs a paid license, and the purchase screen shows the current price.
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Download HitmanPro
Click the button below to download HitmanPro. Remember — the scan is free, so you have nothing to lose by checking your PC.
Download HitmanProFree scan. Removing threats needs the free 30-day trial. Opens the official HitmanPro page in a new tab.
HitmanProSecond-opinion malware scanner from Sophos -
Install HitmanPro
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the file “hitmanpro_x64.exe”. (On 32-bit Windows 10, the file is named “hitmanpro.exe”.)

If a User Account Control pop-up asks whether HitmanPro can make changes to your device, click “Yes” to continue.

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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.


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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.

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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.

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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, click Close. Then check whether the problems you noticed have stopped. If they come back, save the HitmanPro log and ask for help in our forum.
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.
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Download AdwCleaner
Click the button below to download AdwCleaner — it’s free, portable, and requires no installation.
Download AdwCleanerOpens the official download page in a new tab.
Malwarebytes AdwCleanerRemoves adware and unwanted programs at no cost -
Run AdwCleaner
Open your Downloads folder and double-click the file named “adwcleaner.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.

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Leave “Reset Chrome policies” off unless you need it
AdwCleaner can reset Chrome policies, the settings that malware sometimes uses to lock your browser so you can’t change it back. This option removes every Chrome policy, including legitimate ones set by an employer, a school, or parental-control software, so leave it off for a normal scan.
AdwCleaner applies this option only if you run Basic Repair at the end of the cleanup. Malwarebytes advises running Basic Repair only when a support agent asks you to, and it also runs every other repair action that is turned on in the same list. If this is your own personal PC and chrome://policy in Chrome lists policies you didn’t set, ask for help in our forum instead. On a work or school computer, ask the IT administrator.
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Start the Scan
Click “Dashboard” on the left side of the window, then click the “Scan Now” button.

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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.

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Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan finishes, AdwCleaner lists everything it found. Review the list and uncheck any program you installed on purpose and want to keep, then click Next. If AdwCleaner also found preinstalled software, it shows that list next. Review it the same way, then click “Quarantine“. Older versions show the Quarantine button on the first list, as in the image below.

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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 move the selected items to quarantine. If it asks you to restart your PC, allow it. When you’re back in Windows, AdwCleaner may offer a Basic Repair. Click Skip Basic Repair. Malwarebytes recommends running Basic Repair only when a support agent asks you to. Then check whether the problems you noticed have stopped.
When you’ve finished these steps, check whether the problems you noticed have stopped. If they continue, see the options below.
If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
- Run a computer scan with ESET Online Scanner
- Ask for help in our Windows Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware from Mac
- STEP 1: Remove malicious profiles
- STEP 2: Delete malicious apps
- STEP 3: Reset browsers back to default settings
- STEP 4: Run a scan with Malwarebytes for Mac to remove malware
STEP 1: Remove malicious profiles
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:
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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.)

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Look for “Profiles”
Where you find configuration profiles depends on your version of macOS:
macOS Sequoia (15) and later: click General in the sidebar, then click Device Management. You may need to scroll down.

macOS Ventura (13) and Sonoma (14): click Privacy & Security in the sidebar, then click Profiles near the bottom.
macOS Monterey (12) and earlier: in System Preferences, click Profiles.
You can also type “Profiles” in the search box.
No profiles listed, or no Profiles section at all? That means no configuration 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.
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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.
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Open “Finder”
Click the Finder icon in your dock.

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Click on “Applications”
In the Finder sidebar, click “Applications“.

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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.

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Empty the Trash
Before you empty the Trash, check that it doesn’t hold anything else you want to keep, because emptying it permanently deletes everything in it. Then right-click the Trash icon in your dock and select “Empty Trash“.

Check login items and background apps
Malware often sets itself to start automatically. Open the Apple menu > System Settings, click General, then click Login Items & Extensions (called Login Items in macOS Ventura and Sonoma). Look for apps you don’t recognize in the list of items that open at login and in the list of apps allowed to run in the background. Select an unwanted item and click the Remove (−) button, or turn off its switch.

This check doesn’t delete any files. Note the names you find, because they help you spot related files in the next step.
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, then double-click the matching folder that appears:
- /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. Examples seen in past infections include “installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist”, and “com.myppes.net-preferences.plist”. A name alone is not proof. For example, “com.adobe.fpsaud.plist” belongs to Adobe’s own Flash Player updater. 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 leave it in place and continue with the Malwarebytes scan later in this guide.
- Click the desktop to make sure you’re in Finder, then open the “Go” menu and click “Go to Folder“.
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.
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.
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Go to Safari’s “Settings”.
On the menu bar, click the “Safari” menu and select “Settings”. In older versions of Safari, this menu item is called “Preferences”.

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Check Homepage.
This will open a new window with your Safari settings, 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.

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Click “Extensions”
Next, click on the “Extensions” tab.

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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

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Remove spam notifications ads
In Safari’s settings, click Websites, then click Notifications. Find the website that sends the spam notifications, then choose Deny from the menu next to it.
To stop other websites from asking, you can also deselect “Allow websites to ask for permission to send notifications“. This only blocks new requests. It doesn’t turn off websites you already allowed, so deny those websites as well.
You can also turn off a website’s notifications in System Settings > Notifications. Under Application Notifications, click the website and turn off Allow Notifications.


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Remove the data stored by the unwanted website.
In the Safari menu, choose “Settings…”, select “Privacy” at the top of the new window that appears, and then click the “Manage Website Data” button.

In the next dialog box, search for or select the website that showed the spam or redirects, then click “Remove“. Click Done when you’re finished.

Avoid “Remove All” unless you really need it. It deletes the data of every website and can sign you out of all of them.
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Empty Safari Caches.
From your Safari menu bar, click Safari and select Settings, then select the Advanced tab. Enable the checkbox “Show features for web developers“. In older versions of Safari, this checkbox is called “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 defaults. This restores the default search engine, homepage, new tab page, and pinned tabs. It also resets site permissions, clears cookies and site data, and turns off your extensions and themes. Your bookmarks and saved passwords are not deleted. If you’re signed in to Chrome, the reset applies on all devices where you’re signed in.
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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, which will open the basic settings screen, as shown by the numbered box in the picture below.
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In the left sidebar, click on the “Reset settings” option.
In the left sidebar, click on “Reset settings“.
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Click “Restore settings to their original defaults”.
Now click on “Restore settings to their original defaults” as shown in the image below.
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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.
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(Optional) Stop sync from bringing the problem back.
If a malicious extension or setting comes back after the reset, Chrome sync may be restoring it from your Google Account. Open Chrome Settings > You and Google. If you see Sync and Google services > Manage what you sync, choose Customize sync and turn off Settings and Extensions. In newer versions of Chrome, click your account name, then Choose what to save in your Google Account, and turn off the same two items. Then remove the unwanted extension again.Don’t use the “Delete data” or “Clear data” option on your Google Account’s Chrome data page to fix this. It deletes the Chrome data saved in your Google Account, such as synced bookmarks, passwords, and history, and you don’t need it to remove an extension.
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.
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Go to the “Help and Report” menu.
Click on Firefox’s main menu button, represented by three horizontal lines. When the drop-down menu appears, select the option labeled “Help and Report“.

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Click “More troubleshooting information”.
Next click on the “More troubleshooting information” option. This opens the Troubleshooting Information page, as shown by the numbered box in the image below. You can also open it by typing about:support in the address bar.

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Click on “Refresh Firefox”
Click the “Refresh Firefox” button in the “Give Firefox a tune up” box in the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page.

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Confirm.
To continue, click on the “Refresh Firefox” button in the new confirmation window that opens.

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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“.
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 your Mac and remove what Malwarebytes finds.
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Download Malwarebytes for Mac
Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Mac.
Download MalwarebytesOfficial installer for macOS. Your download starts right away.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium
Malwarebytes Free for MacScans and removes malware at no cost -
Open the Malwarebytes setup file
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the setup file to begin the installation.

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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“.
Malwarebytes needs Full Disk Access to check your whole Mac. When it asks, open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access, turn on Malwarebytes (it may be listed as Malwarebytes Protection), and confirm with your password or Touch ID. Then return to Malwarebytes. On macOS Monterey and earlier, this setting is in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy.
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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.

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Start the Scan
Click the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its detection database and begin checking your Mac for malware.

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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.

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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.

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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, check whether the problems you noticed have stopped. If they come back, save the scan report and ask for help in our forum.

When you’ve finished these steps, check whether the problems you noticed have stopped. If they continue, see the options below.
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
- STEP 1: Uninstall malicious apps
- STEP 2: Stop spam notifications and redirects in your browser
- STEP 3: Use Malwarebytes for Android to remove malicious apps
STEP 1: Uninstall malicious apps
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.
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Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.

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Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” to see all the installed applications on your phone. On Pixel and some other phones, tap “See all apps” next.

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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.
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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: Stop spam notifications and redirects in your browser
In this second step, we will stop spam notifications in your browser. If unwanted pages or redirects still appear after that, we will reset the browser by clearing its app storage. That is a last resort, because it can delete data that isn’t synced.
Android browsers don’t have a single “reset settings” button like browsers on a computer, but they do let you control what each website is allowed to do. Start with the least disruptive fix: block the spam site’s notifications in the browser’s settings. In Chrome, you can also delete cookies and site data: tap More (three dots) > Delete browsing data.
Clear the browser’s app storage only if unwanted pages or redirects keep coming back. It works like a full reset, but it also deletes data that isn’t synced, so treat it as a last resort.
Remove malware from Chrome for Android
First, block the spam site’s notifications:
- Open Chrome, tap the More button (three dots) in the top-right corner, and tap Settings.

- Tap Site settings, then tap Notifications.

- Find the spam site in the list and turn off the switch next to it, or tap the site and block its notifications. To stop other sites from asking, you can also turn off the switch at the top.

If unwanted pages or redirects keep appearing, clear Chrome’s storage (last resort):
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Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.

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Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” to see all the installed applications on your phone.

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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.

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Tap “Storage”.
When Chrome’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage” (on Pixel phones, “Storage & cache“).

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Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, tap “Manage space” (called “Manage storage” on some phones). Don’t tap “Clear cache”, because it doesn’t reset Chrome.

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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.

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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
First, block the spam site’s notifications:
- Open Firefox, tap the menu button (three dots), and tap Settings.
- Tap Site permissions, then tap Exceptions.
- Tap the spam site, then set Notification to Blocked.
- Optional: to stop other sites from asking, go back to Site permissions, tap Notification, and choose Blocked.
If unwanted pages or redirects keep appearing, clear Firefox’s storage (last resort):
-
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” 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.

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Tap “Storage”.
When Firefox’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage” (on Pixel phones, “Storage & cache“).

-
Tap “Clear storage” or “Clear data”.
Tap “Clear storage” (called “Clear data” on Samsung phones). If you see “Manage space” or “Manage storage” instead, tap it, then tap “Clear all data“. Don’t use “Clear cache” for this step, because it doesn’t reset the browser.

-
Confirm by tapping “OK”.
A confirmation dialog will appear. Tap “OK” or “Delete” to finish. When you open Firefox again, sign back in and turn sync back on if you use it.

Remove malware from the Opera browser
First, block the spam site’s notifications:
- Open Opera, open the Opera menu, and tap Settings.
- Tap Site settings, then tap Notifications.
- Find the spam site and block it. Don’t just remove it from the list, because a removed site can ask again.
If unwanted pages or redirects keep appearing, clear Opera’s storage (last resort):
-
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” 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” (on Pixel phones, “Storage & cache“).

-
Tap “Clear storage” or “Clear data”.
Tap “Clear storage” (called “Clear data” on Samsung phones). If you see “Manage space” or “Manage storage” instead, tap it, then tap “Clear all data“. Don’t use “Clear cache” for this step, because it doesn’t reset the browser.

-
Confirm by tapping “OK”.
A confirmation dialog will appear. Tap “OK” or “Delete” to finish. When you open Opera again, sign back in and turn sync back on if you use it.

Remove malware from Samsung Internet
First, block the spam site’s notifications:
- Open your phone’s Settings app and tap Notifications.

- Tap App notifications, then tap Samsung Internet.

- Under Sites, turn off the switch for the spam website.

If unwanted pages or redirects keep appearing, clear Samsung Internet’s storage (last resort):
-
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” to see all the installed applications on your phone.

-
Find and tap on Samsung Internet.
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 app, then tap on it to open the app’s details.

-
Tap “Storage”.
When Samsung Internet’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage” (on Pixel phones, “Storage & cache“).

-
Tap “Clear storage” or “Clear data”.
Tap “Clear storage” (called “Clear data” on Samsung phones). If you see “Manage space” or “Manage storage” instead, tap it, then tap “Clear all data“. Don’t use “Clear cache” for this step, because it doesn’t reset the browser.

-
Confirm by tapping “OK”.
A confirmation dialog will appear. Tap “OK” or “Delete” to finish. When you open Samsung Internet again, sign back in and turn sync back on if you use it.

Remove malware from Microsoft Edge for Android
First, block the spam site’s notifications:
- Open Microsoft Edge, tap the menu button (three dots) at the bottom of the screen, and tap Settings.
- Tap Site permissions, then tap Notifications. In some versions, Site permissions is inside Privacy and security.
- Find the spam site in the list of allowed sites and switch it to Block.
If unwanted pages or redirects keep appearing, clear Microsoft Edge’s storage (last resort):
-
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” 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” (on Pixel phones, “Storage & cache“).

-
Tap “Clear storage” or “Clear data”.
Tap “Clear storage” (called “Clear data” on Samsung phones). If you see “Manage space” or “Manage storage” instead, tap it, then tap “Clear all data“. Don’t use “Clear cache” for this step, because it doesn’t reset the browser.

-
Confirm by tapping “OK”.
A confirmation dialog will appear. Tap “OK” or “Delete” to finish. When you open Microsoft Edge again, sign back in and turn sync back on if you use it.

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 scans your phone or tablet for malware, adware, and potentially unwanted apps. The free version scans only when you start a scan. Real-time protection, which checks apps automatically, is part of the paid Premium version.
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Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
Get Malwarebytes for AndroidOpens Google Play in a new tab.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium for Android
Malwarebytes for AndroidScans your phone and removes malware at no cost -
Install Malwarebytes for Android on your phone.
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.

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Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When Malwarebytes opens, it walks you through a short setup. Tap Get started and follow the prompts. If you see an offer for a trial or a paid plan, read it before you accept. You can skip it and keep using the free scanner.
Malwarebytes will ask for permission to access the files on your phone so it can scan them. Tap Allow, or turn on the permission in the Android screen that opens, then return to Malwarebytes.
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Run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
On the main screen, tap Scan now. In some versions, you open the menu, tap Scanner, and then tap Run a scan.
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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.

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Remove the detected apps.
When the scan has been completed, you will see a list of the threats that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. Next to each detected item, tap the menu icon (three dots), then choose to uninstall the app or delete the file. Android then asks you to confirm. Tap OK or Uninstall to remove the app.
-
Restart your phone.
When the detected apps are removed, restart your phone if Malwarebytes asks you to. Then check whether the problems you noticed have stopped.
When you’ve finished these steps, check whether the problems you noticed have stopped. If they continue, see the options below.
If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
- Ask for help in our Mobile Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
- Only as a last resort, reset your phone to factory settings. Read the warning below first.
- Back up your photos, videos, files, and messages, for example to your Google account or a computer.
- Make sure you know your Google account email and password. The phone asks for them after the reset. If you changed the password recently, Google recommends waiting 24 hours before you reset.
- On a Samsung phone, also make sure you know your Samsung account password.
- If you use an authenticator app for two-step verification, move your accounts to another device or save your backup codes first.
Remove Unwanted Apps and Malware from iPhone and iPad
STEP 1: Clean your browser
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, but it will sign you out of websites. To keep other sites signed in, you can remove only the scam site’s data instead: go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced > Website Data, swipe left on the site, and tap Delete.
- 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 Apps, then tap Safari. On iOS 17 and earlier, Safari is listed directly in Settings.

- Tap Clear History and Website Data.

- If you’re asked to choose a timeframe, choose All history, then tap Clear History. On older iOS versions, tap “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.
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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”.)
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Confirm by tapping “Delete“.
Now reopen Safari and check whether the pop-ups have stopped.
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:
- Run a scan with Malwarebytes for iOS
- Ask for help in our free Mobile Malware Removal Help & Support forum — our team will assist you personally.
When you’ve finished these steps, check whether the pop-ups or other problems have stopped.
The Bottom Line
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.
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