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Avast’s February 2023 threat report described three risks seen in its Q4 2022 observations: fake refund and invoice messages, pop-ups impersonating tech support, and adware that could collect information or steer users toward payment requests. The practical response is straightforward: verify charges and invoices independently, don’t call numbers in alarming pop-ups, and never give an unknown caller remote access to your computer. Avast’s figures describe its own historical telemetry—not today’s prevalence or a count of victims.
How fake refund messages can lead to financial fraud
Avast described fake purchase receipts that claim you owe money for an order you did not make. The message provides a phone number to call. A supposed support agent may then offer to process a refund, ask to connect remotely to your computer, and direct you to open a bank account or expose banking access under that pretense. The unexpected receipt is the hook; the call and remote session create an opportunity to take money or obtain sensitive information.
Avast reported that its observed refund and invoice fraud activity rose 14% from October to November 2022, followed by a further 22% increase in December 2022. Those are changes in activity reported by Avast for that period, not percentages of consumers affected, victim counts, or estimates of current fraud levels. Avast’s February 9, 2023 announcement does not provide the underlying methodology or sample details in the release.
Check a receipt or invoice before responding
- Ask whether you actually placed the order and received the goods or service.
- Check your account or payment statement by signing in through the bank or merchant’s official website or app—not through a link or phone number in the message.
- Verify the sender using contact information you find independently. A phone number printed on an unexpected invoice is not independent verification.
- If you did not make the purchase, do not call the number, share account details, install software, or allow remote access to “process” a refund.
What to do about a pop-up virus warning and phone number
Avast described tech-support scams that display a pop-up claiming the computer is infected and urging the user to call a number. A caller may then seek remote access, personal or financial information, access to banking or a crypto wallet, or payment. A warning displayed in a browser is not proof that the caller is legitimate or that the computer is infected.
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Avast Malware Research Director Jakub Kroustek advised people to ignore such pop-ups and close the window with Escape, or restart the computer if it cannot be closed. He also said, “never give remote access to your computer to somebody you don’t know.”
If the warning is on screen
- Do not call the number, click the pop-up’s buttons, or follow instructions to pay or install a tool.
- Try closing the warning with Escape. If that does not work, restart the computer rather than following the pop-up’s directions.
- If you still suspect a real infection, use security software you chose and opened yourself, or contact the device maker or service provider through contact details found independently.
If you already let someone connect
End the remote session and disconnect the device from the internet if the person is still connected. From a different, trusted device, contact your bank or card issuer using its official number if you shared financial information, opened an account at the caller’s direction, or approved a transaction. Change passwords that may have been exposed, especially email and financial-account passwords, and review account activity for unfamiliar transactions. If you installed remote-access software at the caller’s request, remove it only after the session has ended and seek help from a trusted technician if you are unsure whether the computer remains compromised.
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What Avast reported about adware
Avast’s release described lottery-themed pages that asked visitors for contact details and a purported handling fee. It also identified DealPly, a Chrome extension that sent statistical and search information to attackers. These are specific behaviors in the report; they do not mean that every advertisement, lottery offer, or browser extension is malicious. Be wary of unexpected requests for personal details or fees to claim a prize, and review extensions you do not recognize or no longer need.
The release also reported a 437% increase in the global spread of the Arkei information stealer during Q4 2022. This is Avast’s reported change in spread for that malware in that quarter—not a present-day rate, infection count, or measure of how likely an individual is to be affected. Avast also said that two zero-day vulnerabilities, one in Chrome and one in Windows, had been patched; the release does not establish that every user or device was affected.
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Keeping software and browsers updated and removing unfamiliar extensions can reduce some technical risks. Antivirus software may help detect certain malware, but it cannot reliably make a fake invoice, fraudulent caller, or social-engineering pitch legitimate. Verify financial requests independently and refuse unsolicited remote-access requests.
Keep the report’s numbers—and date—in context
| Figure | What it refers to | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| 14% | Avast-reported increase in refund and invoice fraud activity from October to November 2022 | A change in Avast’s observed activity, not the share of consumers targeted or defrauded |
| 22% | Further Avast-reported increase in December 2022 | A historical change for the period, not a current prevalence estimate |
| 437% | Avast-reported increase in global spread of Arkei during Q4 2022 | A company-reported change in spread, not a count of infected people or devices |
The source is Avast’s February 9, 2023 release about Q4 2022 observations. It is not a current threat ranking, and its figures should not be compared directly with broad consumer-fraud loss statistics.
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Avast’s threat report and its later FTC case are separate matters
The Q4 2022 threat findings concern scams and malware Avast said it observed. Separately, in February 2024 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced an order resolving allegations about Avast’s handling of browsing data. The FTC said Avast collected browsing information through browser extensions and antivirus software, stored it indefinitely, and sold it through subsidiary Jumpshot without adequate notice or consent, despite privacy-protection representations. The FTC announced $16.5 million for redress and restrictions on selling browsing data for advertising; its case record shows the order was finalized in June 2024. These are FTC allegations and order terms concerning Avast’s data practices, not findings from the threat report.
In a separate May 2025 consumer alert, the FTC said eligible customers who bought Avast antivirus software between August 2014 and January 2020 were emailed instructions to seek payment. The claim deadline listed in that alert was June 5, 2025, which has passed; the alert said payments were expected sometime in 2026 after claims processing. Check the FTC consumer alert for any updated status rather than assuming claims are still open.
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