How do phishing scams use fake anti-virus pop-ups to deceive users?

Phishing scams utilize fake anti-virus pop-ups to deceive users by displaying alarming messages claiming that the user’s device is infected with viruses or malware. These pop-ups often prompt the user to click on a link or call a phone number to purchase fake anti-virus software or provide personal information. To identify such scams, users should look out for red flags such as spelling or grammatical errors in the pop-up message, suspicious web addresses, urgent warnings demanding immediate action, and unsolicited pop-ups appearing while browsing. It is advisable to close the pop-up window, run a trusted anti-virus scan on the device, and avoid interacting with any suspicious content.