Criminals are sending fraudulent emails posing as McAfee antivirus renewal notices, using urgency and steep discounts to trick recipients into handing over personal and financial data. The emails often warn that devices are at risk and offer an 89% discount if payment is made immediately.
McAfee has warned that these scams are becoming more sophisticated, with criminals using AI to enhance their tactics. The company advises that it will never ask customers to call a phone number in an email or text, and recommends logging directly into McAfee.com to verify subscription status.
Fake emails typically come from obscure addresses and contain links to malicious websites designed to harvest data. Some may include legitimate links to McAfee’s site to appear credible, but also contain other malicious links. McAfee urges users to pause and think before acting on any renewal email.
Victims should report fraudulent emails to McAfee and their email provider, and if scammed, contact their bank and report the incident to Action Fraud.
