Coinbase Verification Code Scam Texts: The Fake “Support Number” Trap
Written by: Thomas Orsolya
Published on:
It usually starts with one short text message that punches straight through your calm.
“Your Coinbase verification code is 847291. If you did not request this, call Support at (###) ###-####.”
If you have ever used Coinbase, even once, your stomach drops. A verification code is what you get when someone is trying to log in, reset a password, or change security settings. It feels like proof that something is happening right now.
That emotional reaction is exactly what scammers are counting on.
The Coinbase verification code scam texts are not real security alerts. They are bait. The text is designed to get you to call a phone number that has nothing to do with Coinbase. When you call, you reach a fake tech support operation. They will claim your account is being hacked, your device is infected, or your identity is compromised.
Then they offer an urgent “fix.”
That “fix” usually involves remote access to your phone or computer through apps like AnyDesk or similar tools. Once they can see your screen, the scam shifts from scary story to real theft. They try to capture bank details, move money, take over accounts, and pressure you into irreversible payments. Gift cards are a common endgame because once the codes are shared, the funds are extremely hard to recover.
This article breaks down how these Coinbase verification code scam texts work, why they feel so convincing, the variants you might see, and what to do if you already interacted with the scammers.
Scam Overview
Coinbase is a well-known name in crypto. That brand recognition is exactly why scammers love to impersonate it.
A random text from “Coinbase” feels believable for a lot of people, including those who do not actively trade. Maybe you created an account years ago. Maybe you downloaded the app to check prices. Maybe a friend mentioned Coinbase and you explored it. Scammers rely on that loose familiarity.
They also rely on something more powerful than branding: fear.
A verification code is not a marketing message. It is not a newsletter. It is a warning signal. When you see one you did not request, your brain jumps to the worst conclusion, fast.
This scam is built around that moment.
What these scam texts look like
The wording changes, but the structure is almost always the same:
A short line claiming to be a Coinbase verification code or Coinbase security code
A warning such as “If you did not request this…”
A phone number labeled “Support” or “Security”
Sometimes a reference number, case ID, or “ticket” number to look official
Some messages are clean and professional. Others have odd grammar. A few include extra details like “New device detected” or “Password reset requested.”
But the core trick is consistent: the text gives you a scary trigger and then hands you a quick action.
Call this number.
That is the trap.
Why scammers use verification codes as bait
A “verification code” creates instant urgency without needing a long explanation. Scammers do not want to educate you. They want you to react.
A verification code text also feels personal. It does not look like spam advertising. It looks like a security system doing its job.
And it works on multiple targets:
People who actually have a Coinbase account
People who think they might have one
People who have heard of Coinbase and worry about identity theft
People who do not use Coinbase at all but are scared by the idea of “account compromise”
Because the message is simple, scammers can send it to huge numbers of phone lines and still get results.
This is a phone-based tech support scam
Many crypto scams try to steal your login with a fake website.
This one often takes a different route: it pushes you into a phone call.
That matters, because phone scams have advantages for criminals:
They can pressure you in real time.
They can answer your questions without letting you verify anything.
They can keep you busy while they guide you step by step.
They can build trust with a confident voice and a rehearsed script.
They can steer you toward installing remote access tools.
The moment you call, you are no longer evaluating a message. You are inside a conversation designed to control you.
What happens when you call the scam number
The person who answers may introduce themselves as:
Coinbase Support
Coinbase Security
Account Protection Team
Fraud Department
They might use a name and “employee ID.” They might sound calm and professional. You may hear background noise like a call center.
Then they escalate.
They will usually tell you a story that fits your fear:
Someone is trying to log into your Coinbase account.
A withdrawal request has been initiated.
Your account has been accessed from a different state or country.
Your device is infected and “leaking credentials.”
Your identity has been used to create a Coinbase account.
Your phone number has been linked to suspicious activity.
They speak quickly and confidently. They may repeat phrases like “time-sensitive” and “urgent.” They may warn that if you hang up, the “fraudulent transaction will complete.”
This is psychological pressure, not customer support.
The real goal: remote access to your device
At some point, the scammer will say they need to “walk you through security steps.” This is where they pivot from story to action.
Common requests include:
“Download AnyDesk so we can secure the account.”
“Install a support app so we can remove the infection.”
“We need to verify your device settings.”
“We need to help you cancel the unauthorized login.”
They might claim remote access is required to “stop the transfer” or “reverse the transaction.”
But Coinbase does not need remote access to your phone or computer to protect your account.
Scammers want remote access because it gives them three powerful advantages:
They can see everything you do, including logins and codes.
They can guide you into sending money while making it feel like a safety step.
They can capture sensitive information and lock you out later.
Remote access turns your device into their tool.
Why gift cards show up in a “Coinbase” scam
Gift cards are one of the most common payment methods in tech support scams because they are fast, hard to trace, and difficult to reverse.
Once scammers have you convinced there is an emergency, they may claim you must complete a “verification payment” or “security deposit.”
They might say:
The gift card purchase is used to “validate identity.”
It is a “temporary hold” that will be refunded.
It is required to “unlock” your account.
It is needed to “activate protection” or “complete the case.”
None of that is real.
The moment you read the gift card codes to a scammer, the money can be redeemed and moved quickly.
If the scammers can’t get you to send crypto, gift cards become the fallback. If they can’t get gift cards, they may push bank transfers or other payment methods.
What scammers can steal once they have remote access
Even if you do not keep money on Coinbase, remote access is still dangerous.
Scammers can go after:
Your email account, which often controls password resets for everything
Banking apps or card portals
PayPal or payment services
Saved passwords and autofill entries
Photos of ID documents
Crypto wallets or seed phrases if you have them stored anywhere
Authentication codes if you type them while they watch
They can also manipulate you into performing actions yourself, which makes some transactions harder to dispute later.
That is why this scam is more than a “Coinbase problem.” It is a device access and account takeover problem.
Why the texts sometimes mention things you never did
Many victims say: “I did not request a code, and I was not even trying to log in.”
That is normal.
Scammers are not reporting a real event. They are creating a fake one.
In some cases, scammers may attempt to trigger a real code by entering your phone number in a login flow, especially if they already have your email from another breach. But even when no real login attempt exists, the scam text still works because the victim cannot easily tell if it is real.
That uncertainty drives action.
Who this scam targets
This scam can hit anyone, but it is especially effective against:
People who have a Coinbase account and worry about crypto theft
People who are new to crypto and not sure what real support looks like
People who have heard of Coinbase and fear identity fraud
People who already had other accounts compromised in the past
People who are busy, distracted, or stressed and want a quick solution
Scammers do not need every target to bite. They need a small percentage to call, and from there, a smaller percentage to follow instructions.
The biggest tell that it is a scam
The most reliable red flag is also the simplest:
A verification code text that tells you to call a phone number is almost always malicious.
Real security guidance from major platforms generally pushes you to verify inside the app or the official website. Scammers push you to a phone number they control, where they can apply pressure and steer your decisions.
If the message tries to pull you away from official channels, it is not trying to protect you.
Common variants of the Coinbase verification code scam texts
Scammers rotate wording to bypass spam filters and to match what people fear most. Here are common variants:
“Your Coinbase verification code is ######” Followed by “If this wasn’t you, call support at…”
“Coinbase: new login attempt detected” Often includes a location or device claim.
“Coinbase withdrawal pending” Designed to spark panic with a dollar amount like $1,900 or $4,250.
“Coinbase account locked” or “security hold” Pushes urgency and insists you contact “support.”
“Password reset requested” Claims someone is trying to reset your account.
“2FA disabled” or “Authenticator changed” A high-stakes variant meant to trigger immediate action.
The details may shift, but the funnel stays the same: fear, call, remote access, money extraction.
How The Scam Works
Below is the typical step-by-step path scammers use in the Coinbase verification code scam texts. Not every victim experiences every step, but the structure is consistent across campaigns.
Step 1: The scam text arrives with an urgent trigger
You receive an SMS that claims Coinbase sent a verification code.
The message is short and direct. It often includes a warning that implies fraud.
This is deliberate.
A short message is harder to analyze and easier to react to. It also resembles real automated verification texts, which makes it feel authentic.
Step 2: The message offers a “support” number as the solution
The scam text usually includes a phone number and instructions to call if you did not request the code.
This is the pivot point.
Instead of letting you verify safely inside Coinbase, the scam pushes you into a channel controlled by criminals.
Many victims call because it feels like the fastest way to stop a hack.
Step 3: The fake support agent builds authority immediately
When you call, the scammer answers with confidence.
They may:
Use a scripted greeting that sounds professional
Ask for your name and phone number
Claim they can “see suspicious activity” on your account
Mention a “case number” or “security ticket”
Say the call is “recorded for your protection”
These are authority signals. They are meant to replace your skepticism with compliance.
Step 4: They escalate urgency and create a countdown
Next, the scammer introduces time pressure.
They might say:
A withdrawal is “processing.”
The hacker is “still connected.”
Your account will be “drained within minutes.”
Your identity is “being used right now.”
They may also warn you not to hang up and not to contact anyone else.
This is a control tactic. It keeps you isolated and reactive.
Step 5: They collect small details to personalize the scam
Scammers often ask for information that seems harmless, such as:
Your email address
Whether you use Coinbase on phone or desktop
What bank you use
Whether you have a crypto wallet
Whether you have funds on Coinbase
They are mapping your value and your vulnerability.
Even if you refuse, they will keep moving. Their script is flexible.
Step 6: They push you toward remote access software
This is the critical transition.
The scammer claims they must “secure” your device or “verify” your system.
They instruct you to install a remote access app such as AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or another tool.
They may describe it as:
A secure support app
A verification tool
A scanning tool
A way to block the hacker
If you install it and share the access code, they can see your screen and sometimes control it.
From that point, the scam becomes far more dangerous.
Step 7: They guide you into logging in, while they watch
Once connected, the scammer will often ask you to log into accounts to “check” things.
They may start with Coinbase, but quickly expand to:
Email, to “confirm alerts”
Bank portals, to “verify unauthorized charges”
Payment apps, to “secure linked accounts”
They might ask you to type slowly, “so we can confirm it is you.”
What they are actually doing is observing:
Your email address and bank name
Your balances
Your account navigation
Your security settings
Any codes you enter
Even if they cannot directly steal passwords, they can manipulate you into actions that move money.
Step 8: They introduce the “safe account” or “secure wallet” story
This is where many victims lose money.
The scammer claims your funds must be moved “temporarily” to protect them.
They may say:
Coinbase requires a “secure holding wallet”
Your bank needs a “verification transfer”
Your funds must be “relocated” to stop fraud
A “secure vault” will hold the money until the case closes
Then they provide an address, a payment destination, or a process that routes money to the scammer.
If crypto is involved, they may have you send to a wallet they control. If banking is involved, they may guide you through a transfer, sometimes while pretending it is a reversal.
They often use confusing language on purpose. Confusion reduces resistance.
Step 9: They pivot to gift cards if transfers do not work
Banks and exchanges sometimes block suspicious transfers. Victims also hesitate when asked to send crypto.
That is when scammers pivot.
They may say the fastest way to “verify identity” is to buy gift cards.
They will often specify:
Which stores to visit
How much to spend, such as $200, $500, or $1,000
How to pay, sometimes pushing cash or debit
How to send the codes, usually by reading them aloud
They frame it as a temporary requirement.
It is not.
Gift cards are the scammer’s version of cash.
Step 10: They attempt account takeover and persistence
If scammers gain enough access, they may try to lock you out.
They can do this by:
Changing passwords
Changing recovery emails or phone numbers
Adding new devices or authentication methods
Creating email forwarding rules so they can intercept resets
Deleting security alerts or message evidence
They may also keep the victim on the phone to capture new verification codes in real time.
That is why it is dangerous to stay on a call while you “check your email” or “log in to confirm.”
Step 11: They use intimidation to keep control
If you get suspicious, scammers often escalate emotionally.
They may:
Claim you will lose everything if you disconnect
Say they are the fraud department
Pretend they are working with law enforcement
Accuse you of “refusing security compliance”
Pressure you to act immediately
This is not about logic. It is about keeping you moving forward until money leaves your control.
Step 12: They follow up with repeat calls and new texts
Once scammers know you are responsive, they often continue.
You may receive:
More “verification code” texts
Calls from different “agents”
Claims that a previous step failed
Requests to “finish securing” your account
Threats that your account is now “frozen” until you comply
The follow-up is part of the scam. It is designed to wear you down.
How to spot the scam in real time
If you are unsure whether a Coinbase verification code text is real, look for these tells:
The SMS urges you to call a phone number for “support.”
The caller asks for your verification code or password.
The caller pushes remote access software like AnyDesk.
The caller claims your device is infected and needs “cleaning.”
The caller demands gift cards, crypto transfers, or “verification payments.”
The caller pressures you to stay on the line while you log in.
Any one of these is enough to treat it as a scam. Together, they are a complete signature.
What To Do If You Have Fallen Victim to This Scam
If you called the number, shared a code, installed remote access software, logged into accounts while they watched, or sent money, take a breath.
You can still reduce damage, and you can do it step by step.
Here is a practical, calm checklist. Start at the top and work down.
End all contact immediately Hang up. Do not argue. Do not negotiate. Do not respond to follow-up calls or texts.
Disconnect your device from the internet Turn on airplane mode or disable WiFi and mobile data. This can interrupt an active remote session and stop live screen monitoring.
Uninstall any remote access tools you installed Remove AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or similar apps. Then check for other unfamiliar apps installed around the same time and remove them too.
Revoke risky permissions on your device On phones, check settings for Accessibility permissions, Device Admin permissions, and screen sharing permissions. Remove anything you do not recognize or anything you enabled during the call.
Change your email password first, from a clean device Your email is the reset key for most accounts. Use a different device if possible, one you did not share remotely.
Secure your Coinbase account using official access only Open the official Coinbase app or type the official website address yourself. Then:
Change your Coinbase password
Review logged-in devices and sessions
Check security settings and 2FA methods
Review recent activity and withdrawal settings
Reset your authentication methods if you suspect exposure If the scammer saw your SMS codes, email codes, or authenticator codes, treat them as compromised. Update 2FA settings and remove unknown devices.
Change passwords for other high-value accounts Prioritize:
Banking apps and card portals
Payment services
Your Apple ID or Google account
Password managers
Any other crypto exchanges or wallets you use
Call your bank or card issuer immediately Explain that you were targeted by a remote access tech support scam. Ask them to:
Monitor or freeze accounts if needed
Block suspicious transfers
Replace cards if details may have been exposed
Open a fraud investigation for unauthorized transactions
If you sent crypto, document everything and contact Coinbase support through official channels Save screenshots, transaction IDs, phone numbers, and message content. Crypto transfers can be difficult to reverse, but reporting quickly improves the chance of intervention on related accounts.
If you paid with gift cards, contact the issuer right away Provide receipts and explain that you were scammed. If the codes have not been redeemed, there may be a chance to freeze remaining value. Time matters.
Check your email for forwarding rules and security changes Look for:
New forwarding addresses
Filters that delete or archive security alerts
New recovery emails or phone numbers Undo anything suspicious.
Scan your device and consider a full reset if remote access was active Update the operating system and run a reputable security scan. If you want maximum certainty, back up essential files and do a factory reset. Remote access sessions can leave you unsure what was changed.
Watch for follow-up scams and impersonation attempts Once scammers know you are responsive, they may return pretending to be:
Coinbase again
Your bank
A “recovery agent” offering to get money back Be cautious. Recovery scams target people who were already victimized.
Report the scam text and phone number Report the message through your carrier’s spam reporting options and through consumer protection channels in your region. Reporting helps build patterns even when scammers rotate phone numbers.
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:
Coinbase verification code scam texts are designed to hijack your instincts.
They look like a security alert, but the real goal is to get you to call a fake support number. From there, scammers use a tech support script to create urgency, push remote access software like AnyDesk, and steer victims toward money loss through transfers or gift cards.
If you get one of these texts, do not call the number and do not share any code. Instead, check your account through official Coinbase channels you open yourself, and tighten security if needed.
If you already interacted with the scammers, act quickly and calmly. Cut off access, secure email and financial accounts first, and contact your bank and official support channels right away. The faster you take control back, the more you can limit the damage.
FAQ: Coinbase Verification Code Scam Texts
Are Coinbase verification code texts always a scam?
No. Coinbase can send real verification codes when you log in, reset a password, or change security settings. The scam version usually adds a phone number and urges you to call “support.” That combination is the red flag.
I got a Coinbase verification code but I did not request it. What does it mean?
It can mean a few things:
Someone is trying to log into your Coinbase account
Someone entered your phone number by mistake
Scammers are sending bait texts in bulk to trigger panic The safest move is to open the official Coinbase app or type the official Coinbase website yourself and check your security activity.
Should I call the support number in the text to stop the login attempt?
No. Scammers want you to call because they can pressure you on the phone and steer you into a tech support scam. Never use phone numbers or links from unexpected security texts. Verify through official channels instead.
What is the goal of the scam if I call?
Usually it is a tech support style scam. The scammer will claim your device is hacked or infected and push you to install remote access software like AnyDesk. Once connected, they try to steal sensitive data or manipulate you into sending money.
Why would “Coinbase support” need remote access to my phone or computer?
They would not. Legitimate Coinbase support does not need remote control of your device to secure your account. Remote access is a common scam tactic because it lets criminals see your screen, capture codes, and guide you into transfers.
Can they steal money even if I never give them my password?
Yes. If they can see your screen or keep you on the phone, they can:
Trick you into approving transfers
Capture one-time codes while you enter them
Take over email accounts used for resets
Steer you into sending crypto to their wallet The scam often relies on social engineering, not just passwords.
If they ask for the verification code I received, should I give it to them?
No. A verification code is often the last step needed to complete a login or security change. A real support agent will not ask you to read codes from your phone. If someone asks, treat it as a scam.
I do not have a Coinbase account. Why did I get this text?
Scammers send these messages to huge lists of numbers. They do not care if every person is a Coinbase user. They only need a small percentage to call and follow instructions.
The text looked real and included a reference number. Does that mean it is legitimate?
No. Reference numbers and “case IDs” are easy for scammers to invent. They are meant to make the message feel official and to stop you from questioning it.
What is the biggest sign that a Coinbase verification text is fake?
A phone number inside the message telling you to call “support,” especially combined with urgent language. Real security processes are handled inside your account, not by calling a random number from an SMS.
I called and installed AnyDesk. What should I do right now?
Act quickly:
Disconnect the device from the internet
Uninstall AnyDesk or any remote access app
Change your email and Coinbase passwords from a clean device
Review Coinbase security settings and logged-in devices
Contact your bank if you entered banking details or made transfers
They told me to buy gift cards to “verify” or “secure” my account. Is that real?
No. Any request for gift cards is a scam. Coinbase does not use gift cards for verification, refunds, or security holds.
Can I get money back if I sent crypto or gift card codes?
Crypto transfers are often irreversible once confirmed. Gift card codes are also difficult to recover once redeemed. Still, you should report it immediately:
Contact Coinbase through official support channels
Contact your bank or card issuer if banking or card payments were involved
Contact the gift card issuer fast if gift cards were purchased Speed matters, especially for gift cards and bank transfers.
How can I verify whether there was a real login attempt?
Do not rely on the SMS. Log into Coinbase through the official app or site you type yourself and check:
Recent activity and login history
Device/session list
Security notifications If the account shows no matching alert, the text was likely bait.
Should I block the number and move on?
Blocking helps reduce repeat messages from that number, but scammers rotate numbers constantly. Blocking is useful, but the best protection is never calling numbers from unexpected security texts and always verifying directly in the official app.
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.
