Norton Antivirus Scam: Is It a Scam?
Fraudsters send fake Norton LifeLock renewal emails with inflated charges, urging you to call a support number to cancel. The call leads to a tech support scam where they steal your money or install malware on your computer.
How This Scam Works
The scam works nearly identically to the McAfee renewal scam. You receive a professional-looking email with Norton branding claiming your subscription renewed for $299 to $499. The email includes an invoice number and urges you to call if you want to cancel. The phone agent asks you to grant remote access to process a refund. They then manipulate your bank's website to make it look like they over-refunded you and demand you send back the extra money. In reality, they transferred money between your own accounts to create the illusion.
Red Flags to Watch For
- You do not have a Norton subscription
- Sender email does not come from norton.com or nortonlifelock.com
- Invoice for several hundred dollars you did not authorize
- Phone number provided instead of a link to your Norton account
- Request to install remote access software to process a refund
Example Scam Messages
What to Do If You Received This
- Do not call the number listed in the email
- Do not click any links
- Log in to your Norton account directly at my.norton.com
- Verify with your bank that no charge was actually made
- Delete the scam email
What to Do If You Fell For It
- Remove any remote access software installed
- Contact your bank and dispute any charges
- Change your banking and email passwords
- Run a malware scan with a trusted tool like Windows Defender or Malwarebytes
- File a report with your local police
How to Report This Scam
- Report to Norton at support.norton.com
- Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- File a complaint with FBI IC3 at ic3.gov
- Forward scam emails to [email protected]
Last updated: February 10, 2026