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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • Adware
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Jul 2021

How to remove “Congratulations, you have won” scam

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Linas Kiguolis · Expert in social media

Congratulations, you won! is the scam that shows false messages about prizes to Chrome browser users

Examples of

“Congratulations, you won” is a widespread internet scam[1] that has been popular for several years now. These alerts are typically triggered on Android (mostly Samsung), iOS, Windows, and MacOS. No matter how harmless such scams seem, keep in mind that their one and only aim is to swindle users' personal information.

The virus poses as a lottery promising tempting prizes (iPhone, Samsung phones, Walmart, or Amazon gift cards or other prizes) in exchange for answering a few simple questions. Unfortunately, in the final stage, such surveys lead users to a form suggesting them to enter their email address, full name, or even credit card information. This information might be used for further crimes, including credential stuffing,[2] identity theft, etc.

Name Congratulations, you won
Also known as
  • Congratulations, You have been selected;
  • Congratulations, Google user! You are our winner today!
  • Congratulations, Samsung user
Caused by Potentially unwanted program; adware
Main Aims  To swindle users' personal information; generate income from sponsored content
Main risks Identity theft, money loss
Symptoms The continuous reappearance of misleading ads on the web browser offering fake prizes
Ways to fix the problem Uninstall adware from the system and reset the affected web browsers. Next, scan the system with FortectIntego to fix virus damage, e.g. system files and other components

Congratulations, you won message might look believable (especially for inexperienced users) because of the theme used. At first glance, it looks just like any pop-up window from Microsoft Corporation. Please be aware that scammers put a lot of resources and effort to make these types of scams seem convincing. Thus, the pop-up has nothing to do with Microsoft and is designed to deceive unsuspecting users.

The scammy website might be altered based on the users' location, device, and other browser preferences because the adware can track, monitor, and collect information regarding your browsing history, most viewed sites, and searched items. Fake reward messages may state:

  • Congratulations, you won a Google gift;
  • Congratulations Samsung user;
  • Congratulations, you won $1000 Walmart Gift Card;
  • Congratulations, you won an iPhone;
  • Congratulations you have been selected;
  • etc.

The cyber threat which is hiding behind this scam is stating that you have won an expensive prize that you can claim once you complete a short survey that consists of three questions. However, the Gift Card or an iPhone can be requested after you enter your full name, email address, or even log in to your online banking account.

Remember that these specific survey questions given in the Congratulations, you won gif are extremely straightforward and are designed to convince users that it is particularly easy to obtain a valuable gift in just three steps. The following text is displayed in the pop-up:

“Congratulations User!
You have been selected today to receive a FREE iPhone X, PlayStation 4 or Samsung Galaxy S6!
Please click OK to claim the prize before we giveaway to somebody else!”

The time limit can also be given, so you are rushed to complete the survey within two minutes or so.[3] Otherwise, the gift is said to be given to somebody else. This is a common trick used by scammers to catch users at the right moment and lead them to fear losing the promised free prize. However, as we have already said in this article, get rid of Congratulations, Samsung users scam without a doubt because it is a scam.

Congratulations, you have won

What happens after falling for the scam

If you happen to fall for this scam and proceed with the offer, you will be prompted to enter your telephone number and then has to register for a service (which costs $5 a week) that you certainly do not need. As mentioned many times, decline all offers coming from Congratulations, you won meme. However, note that it doesn't eliminate the roots of the issue. For that, you will have to run a full system scan on your computer.

The adware that causes the scam message might also:

  • deliver intrusive ads;
  • redirect to malicious websites;
  • gather non-personally identifiable information (URLs visited, IP addresses, search queries, etc.);
  • sell or share aggregated information with third parties;

Keep in mind that ads generated by potentially unwanted programs might lead to malicious websites that could download and install various malware. Therefore, you should speed up with Congratulations, you won removal. Also, do not forget that scam messages may appear on various devices with different operating systems.

When trying to figure out how to get rid of the virus on an iPad, iPad, or another device, use a reputable anti-malware tool for the OS your machine is based on. You can find trustworthy apps in the App Store and some of the programs that we offer below also have mobile versions. Also, recent scam campaigns targeted Android users, you can find removal instructions down below.

Security experts provide two methods to remove Congratulations, you won the virus from the system. You can defeat it bare hands by following the guide below. Afterward, scan the system with SpyHunterCombo Cleaner, MalwarebytesMalwarebytes to wipe out the leftovers of this virus.

Image of

An adware virus spreading with the help of bundling

The most common way of a PUP getting into your system is with bundling. Typically, users tend to install free software from the internet while using Recommended settings and skipping steps. However, if Advanced/Custom modes are not used, PUPs might sneak into the computer. Therefore it is highly recommended to always use Advanced settings and opt-out of any unwanted programs (browser toolbars, optimization utilities, etc.).

To protect yourself, you should also follow these security tips provided by Utanvirus.se[4] specialists:

  • Download software from official sources and never use third-party or Torrent websites;
  • If you need to update your software, always visit official websites instead of clicking on pop-ups generated from dubious sites;
  • While installing software, carefully read through terms and conditions and untick any unwanted programs while in Advanced mode;
  • Obtain anti-malware/anti-adware software that offers real-time protection.

Remove Congratulations, you've won virus from Android or iPhone

The adware-type virus has been actively spreading on Android and iOS devices. If your iPhone, iPad or other dives has been interrupting you with ads offering the reward or valuable prize, there is a great chance that your system is infected with the Fakeyouwon malware or similar virus.

To uninstall Congratulations, you won from Android, follow these steps:

  • Scan the device with a reputable anti-malware tool for Android.
  • Reboot the device in Safe Mode:
    When in Safe mode go to Settings and click on Apps or Application manager.
    Look for suspicious apps and uninstall them.
  • If the problem persists, perform a factory reset:
    Go to Settings.
    Select Privacy and Factory reset.
    Back up your data     before the reset.
    Reset device to remove the virus.

To get rid of the app from iPhone, use the guide given below:

  1. Go to Settings;
  2. Tap on Safari icon;
  3. Select Clear History and Website Data;
  4. Close the window.

Additionally, follow these steps: 

  1. Go to Settings -> General;
  2. Tap on Erase All Contents option.

Get rid of Congratulations, you won virus for good with proper tools

Fortunately, it is relatively easy to remove Congratulations, you've won virus from Windows or MacOS. If you are a proficient user, please follow the step-by-step guide below, presented to you by our experts.

Please be aware that you need to follow every step carefully and in the correct order, otherwise the PUP might be re-installed after a restart of your browser/computer.

If you are having issues with manual virus removal, you can use an anti-malware software as it can detect the unwanted program, delete all its registries and related files with ease.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari

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