Using a VPN? Don't get phished by a pop-up scam saying your subscription has expired!

Dear fellow FReepers, likely the majority of you use a VPN along with more secure browsers and also add-ons like Ghostery.

Every time my computer boots up, the first thing that I see is my VPN asking to secure. Then I click on the secure tab and it logs on and secures my internet browsing.

But yesterday morning a very official-looking notification (a pop-up) appeared with the exact same logo as my VPN, informing me that my subscription had expired and that I needed to purchase a new plan. It also said that my current subscription would expire in January 2021, likely the 1st.

Now, I wasn't quite awake yet (MAJOR DRAWBACK), and didn't immediately contact my VPN provider to find out if this was from them or from a spoofer / phishing--like I should have done.

So the groggy me clicked on the tab that said purchase new plan, also appearing very offical-looking with all the aspects of bringing you to the website where you would select which monthly or yearly plan you would like. And the site looked EXACTLY LIKE the official website to choose your plan, the payment procedure(s), and a receipt. And then of course the (official-looking) download and / or updates for the new subscription.

I clicked on the download button, and instead of seeing its progress at the bottom of my screen, the .exe file went straight to downloads and did not open as it usually did and then ask if I would allow this file to make changes to my computer. I sought it out in my Files, found it, and clicked on it. And yes, it told me to seek opening the file using a list of browsers, and then I found out that nothing would open it.

Immediately I opened a chat with my VPN, and the tech speedily went to work looking up my account and then looking into what had taken place. He then informed me that it was indeed not them, but a phishing site that had gotten me. So I went down to my bank and talked with the card services representative, and she dutifully straightened the whole thing out---cancelling the card information and number, issuing me a new card with all new numbers, name, etc. The transaction was still pending, so I am to make sure to check and see if it does go through, I am to again contact card services and they will go to work on it and retrieve the funds.

The bank I use, and have been a member of since the 80s, is by-far the best bank in my area and is very powerful. They stand by their members and do everything to help them, and I know by personal experience they definitely do.

So my beloved fellow FReepers, don't get had, don't get phished, don't get robbed of your money. CHECK WITH YOU VPN FIRST, and don't click on anything that pops up on your screen. Stay safe, love you all and the Lord Jesus richly bless your weekend.

**If you would like information on the exact VPN and other information, please PM me**

Thanks for the info. I've had Express VPN for many years now. I pay automatically every month, and it's fine with me that I pay a bit more that way. I had thought about paying yearly, but then didn't want my kids to have to try to get the money back if I died within that year. They're both on my checking account as co-owners, so if I do die, they can initiate a stop-payment with the bank, and notify the VPN company.

I've been getting phishing emails from someone claiming to be Amazon, and another for a Chase account I don't have. I ignore the ones from Chase because I don't do business with them, but forward the Amazon emails to Amazon's fraud department.

The other day I started getting a series of calls on my cell phone, and the call would then go to voicemail. I don't answer any calls that aren't in my contacts. The calls were all from my area code, with the first three digits of my phone number. The last four numbers changed each time they called. These calls were coming every 30 minutes, then the number sped up to every 11 minutes. I'd block the number, and delete the voicemail. The voicemail gave a different number to call them back on. I searched online for the voicemail number, and found many complaints for that number, and that they were spoofing a phone number for Apple iCloud support.

I finally got tired of blocking and deleting the calls from my phone, and called Verizon to find out how I could stop them. I thought I had a Verizon call filter on my phone, but was told that I would have to download the app, then select the options I wanted. He also told me I could use "Do not disturb" on my iPhone to block unwanted calls. I decided to download the app in Apple's App Store, and viola!! it works! All those spam and robo calls are automatically terminated when they call. If they're calling me, I don't know it.

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