

Difficult-to-trace payment methods are usually used (e.g., cryptocurrencies, pre-paid vouchers, gift cards, cash hidden in packages and shipped, etc.) to avoid persecution and prevent victims from recovering their funds. The " services" of tech support scammers are typically exorbitantly priced. Alternatively, data-stealing malware can be used for this purpose. Cyber criminals can obtain data by tricking victims into disclosing it over the phone, entering it where it is supposedly invisible to others, or typing it into phishing sites/files.

Information of interest may include personally identifiable details, usernames/passwords (e.g., emails, social networking, online banking, e-commerce, digital wallets, etc.), credit card numbers, and so forth. To elaborate, scammers may disable/uninstall genuine security software, install fake anti-virus tools, steal content/data, and infect the system with actual malware (e.g., trojans, ransomware, cryptominers, etc.). While acting out bogus technical services, the cyber criminals can cause a wide variety of damage. The scammers usually ask to remotely access users' devices (e.g., using TeamViewer, UltraViewer, AnyDesk, etc.). They instruct victims to call provided telephone numbers to contact " support", " expect technicians", " Microsoft-certified technicians", or other professionals to remove the threats or unblock the device. Tech support scams falsely claim that users' devices are infected, hacked, or otherwise at risk. This content is often disguised as in some manner relating to Windows/Microsoft or various legitimate anti-viruses. These types of schemes typically consist of multiple pop-ups, some of which can imitate system scans.

For example, it is included in " Windows Firewall Protection Alert", " Pornography Warning Error", " Firewall Error: #ST43400X", " Pornographic Spyware Alert", " Microsoft Windows Virus Alert", and many others. Typically, these scams then progress to scammers requesting remote access to users' devices.Īs previously mentioned, the "Ads.financetrack(1).exe" fake error/ virus title is commonly used by technical support scams. Schemes of this kind make false claims regarding system infections in order to trick victims into calling fake helplines. It is pertinent to mention that many different types of tech scams use this fake error/malware name. While inspecting deceptive websites, our research team discovered the "Ads.financetrack(1).exe" technical support scam. What kind of scam is "Ads.financetrack(1).exe"?
