Got an email today from [email protected] with the heading – Invoice defender-86 from Security Essentials. The company name they are using is: ..Security_Essentials. Phone: +1-605-277-9746
There were certain aspects of the email which made it clear to me that it was a scam email attempt, but very well put together and had all my information; including name, address and email.
The initial part of the email was very well put together and looked very official. Even the “View Invoice” button took me to a page that had my data and asked for the $299 payment.
The email seems very well put together, even the landing page for the billing seems very well done. The only problem is that I have had Mac computer for a very long time now, and would not have purchased or needed any window defender product.
Then when I called the 605-277-9746 nobody answered. Microsoft or any other software company that did some sort of “defender” program to protect your computer would generally have someone answer the phone. Instead the phone just rang and rang. About 15 minutes later a person who identified themselves as Jessie called me back. I said I was not at my computer at the moment and he gave me my “cancellation code” which was RS1995.
While I spoke with “Jessie”, I mentioned that the credit I had used a couple years ago would have been changed by now. He said that even though the credit card was no longer valid, I would need to cancel the process because there were some bugs in the latest window 11 update which could cause me not to have internet on my computer (all my computers are apple products).
I waited a few minutes for Jessie to call me back, and he called me from a 512-961-8671 phone number. He wanted me to open https://helpext.weebly.com/ where there were several links on the lower section of the site. The link he wanted me to click would download a .exe file into the computer.
I didn’t want to go any further with this and download anything into my computer, so i hung up.
The bottom line is that this is a very well put together scam. If you get an email regarding your Invoice defender-86 from Security Essentials, please realize it’s a scam.
Below is the text of the email and the “invoice” I received. As you can tell, this is very well put together and very easy to believe.
..Security_Essentials.
Invoice for $299.98 due by Oct 20, 2021
View Invoice
Dear Customer ,Thank you for using Windows Defender® Security.
We hope you’ve been able to enjoy all the benefits of your Windows Defender® Security membership these past 3 Years.
Great news! we’re running a one-time early renewal offer for all current members.
Hence your subscription of $299.98 is auto Renewed and the charge will reflect on Your bank account in 24hrs.As you have selected the auto-renewal subscription method during the last checkout.
If you want to cancel your Windows Defender® Security subscription through call, please contact our Windows Defender® Security Team +1-605-277-9746
We’d love to hear your feedback!
Windows Defender® Security Team
Call : +1-605-277-9746Invoice defender-86
View Invoice
..Security_Essentials.
Phone: +1-605-277-9746© 2010-2021 Wave Financial Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy • Terms of Use
And a few days later I get a follow up email:
Reminder from ..Security_Essentials.
Just a friendly reminder that payment on an invoice issued on Oct 20, 2021 is overdue. This invoice was due on Oct 20, 2021. Please submit payment for this invoice as soon as possible.
Thanks,
..Security_Essentials.
They even gave me another follow up call saying they had a missed call from my number.
As far as these cancellations scams, this one is probably one of the best set up and most likely there are thousands of people falling for this scam.
They are either making money from people paying the fake invoice price, or when you try to cancel they have you download remote control software into your computer and steal information such as banking and other financial information.
I reported them, but it’s very unlikely that they will be stopped or any action taken against them. The best thing to do is make people aware of these scams. Please share and talk to your parents and family members to make them aware.
If you received an email from them, please leave a comment with the phone number and emails they might be using.
New phone number used: 803-752-9545