Avast’s February 9, 2023 threat announcement described three related consumer risks seen in its Q4 2022 telemetry: fake refund or invoice messages, pop-ups that impersonate technical support, and adware or adjacent malware that collects information or steers people toward payment requests. The figures below describe Avast’s observations from October through December 2022—not current global prevalence or victim counts.
What Avast reported
Avast reported refund and invoice fraud activity rising 14% from October to November 2022 and another 22% in December. It also reported a 437% increase in the global spread of the Arkei information stealer during Q4 2022. These are changes in Avast’s own detection telemetry for that historical quarter, not estimates of how many people were defrauded.
The company’s release is available at Avast’s February 9, 2023 announcement.
How fake refund and invoice scams work
Fake purchase receipts
A message claims that a purchase was charged to you and provides a phone number to cancel it or obtain a refund. When you call, the supposed agent may ask you to install remote-access software, share your screen, or open a bank account so the refund can be “processed.” The refund story is the lure; remote control and banking access are the objective.
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Fraudulent invoices
Invoices can imitate real vendors closely enough to pass a quick glance. Before paying, confirm that you actually ordered the goods or service and that it was delivered. Contact the business through a phone number, website, or account statement you locate independently—not through details printed on the invoice. As Avast Malware Research Director Jakub Kroustek put it, “Fraudulent invoices often look legitimate,” so verify the order, service and sender before acting.
What to do with an unexpected refund message
- Do not call the number, click its links, open attachments, or install software at the caller’s request.
- Check your bank and card accounts directly for the alleged transaction.
- Contact the merchant using its official app, statement, or manually typed website address.
- If you already shared credentials or banking information, contact the financial institution immediately, change reused passwords, and monitor transactions.
Why a virus-warning pop-up may be a tech-support scam
Avast described pop-ups that claim the computer is infected and display an urgent phone number. The caller may request remote access, personal information, payment, banking credentials, or access to a cryptocurrency wallet. A browser page can be made to look alarming; its warning is not proof that the operating system or security software detected malware.
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Safe response
- Do not call the number or grant remote control to an unsolicited caller.
- Try closing the warning with the Escape key, as Avast recommends.
- If it will not close, restart the computer rather than following the pop-up’s instructions.
- After restarting, update the operating system and browser, run a scan with trusted security software, and review recently installed extensions or applications.
“Never give remote access to your computer to somebody you don’t know,” Kroustek advised in the release. Legitimate support that you requested should still be contacted through the provider’s independently verified support channel.
Adware, deceptive pages and information stealers
Lottery-themed payment pages
Avast reported lottery-themed pages that requested contact details and a supposed handling fee. A prize that requires an unexpected payment or sensitive information is a warning sign. Do not enter card details to release a prize you did not knowingly win.
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DealPly browser extension
The release identified DealPly as a Chrome extension that sent statistical and search information to attackers. Remove extensions you do not recognize or no longer need, and review an extension’s publisher, requested permissions and privacy terms before installing it. This does not mean every advertisement or browser extension is malicious; the concern is the specific collection and redirection behavior described by Avast.
Arkei information stealer
Avast’s reported 437% Q4 increase concerned the global spread of Arkei, an information-stealing malware family. Information stealers can target credentials and other data, so avoid downloading cracked software or opening unexpected attachments, keep software patched, and use unique passwords with multifactor authentication.
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Avast also said that zero-day vulnerabilities in Chrome and Windows had been patched during the quarter. Enable automatic updates and restart when required; the release does not establish that every user was exposed or that those historical flaws remain unpatched on current systems.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What antivirus can—and cannot—do
Consumer security software can help detect malware, malicious extensions and exploit activity, but it cannot reliably identify a convincing invoice, a fraudulent caller, or a social-engineering request that you voluntarily approve. Pair technical defenses with independent verification, cautious payment practices, password managers and multifactor authentication. Do not treat an antivirus brand as proof that an unsolicited refund or support contact is genuine.
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Keep the Avast report separate from the FTC privacy case
The Federal Trade Commission’s separate 2024 case concerned Avast’s alleged handling of browsing data, not the Q4 2022 threat findings. The FTC alleged that Avast collected browsing information through browser extensions and antivirus software, retained it indefinitely, and sold it through subsidiary Jumpshot without adequate notice or consent. The agency announced a proposed $16.5 million redress and restrictions on selling browsing data for advertising; the FTC case record shows the order was finalized in June 2024. See the FTC announcement and case record.
An FTC consumer alert published in May 2025 said eligible customers who bought Avast antivirus between August 2014 and January 2020 were emailed claim instructions, with a June 5, 2025 deadline and payments expected in 2026 after processing. That deadline has passed; anyone checking eligibility or status should use the current FTC consumer alert or settlement information rather than assuming claims remain open.
Quick Recap
Quick decision checklist
- Unexpected invoice or refund: verify the order and contact the business independently.
- Pop-up phone number: ignore it, press Escape, or restart; never provide unsolicited remote access.
- Prize or lottery fee: do not pay to receive an unverified prize.
- Unknown extension: remove it and review browser permissions.
- Possible compromise: disconnect the device if appropriate, change passwords from a clean device, contact banks, and seek help through official support channels.
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