WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE e-mail scam: how to spot it and what to do
WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE is a tech support scam that shows up on Google Chrome or another browser and claims that the Windows can't continue working due to suspicious activity. Users are urged to contact Windows support immediately by calling a toll-free +1-888-357-5053 number.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
Automatic
Get a free scan and check if your PC is infected.
Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.
Do it yourself · free Remove WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE e-mail scam yourself 4 steps, about 12 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE e-mail scam: summary
| Damage | If remote access is given, malware can be planted on the device. Also, each file can be copied, and sensitive information such as personal details, stolen |
|---|---|
| name | WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE |
| Type | Tech support scam, phishing |
| Imitated site | Microsoft website |
| IP address | 172.67.182.40 |
| Fake Tech support scam phone number | +1-888-357-5053 |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 11 more facts
| Error message | Windows has been blocked due to suspicious activity |
|---|---|
| Symptoms | Pop-up errors, fake system warning messages, fake error messages |
| Name | WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Arrives as | |
| Pretends to be | A well-known company |
| Claim | Your account needs urgent attention |
| Asks for | Your password |
| Phone number | +1-888-357-5053 |
| First seen | 15 January 2021 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What the WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE e-mail scam e-mail looks like
Contact-Windows-Support: +1-888-357-5053
Please call us: +1-888-357-5053
Program Defender.exe
Verified Publisher: Windows-Defender
Necessary measures: Contact us immediately so that our technicians can guide you through the process of removing the Phone can lead. Please call us within 5 minutes to prevent Your Computer will be disabled.
Quick Help
Go Back Safety
Prevent additional dialogs.
+1-888-357-5053
How to tell the WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE e-mail scam e-mail is fake
- Phone number:
+1-888-357-5053
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE
- Anti-malware software should be used to make sure no malicious files were downloaded
- WARNING-CRITICAL-MESSAGE Error # MSWindows-77X1 Contact-Windows-Support: +1-888-357-5053 : Do not ignore this important warning Windows was blocked due to suspicious activity.
- Sensitive information (credit cards) 4.
Is WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE e-mail scam dangerous? What the senders want
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE – a fake error message that could lead to malware infections
WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE is a tech support scam that shows up on Google Chrome or another browser and claims that the Windows can't continue working due to suspicious activity.
Users are urged to contact Windows support immediately by calling a toll-free +1-888-357-5053 number.
Many scamming websites imitate Windows and other company websites to trick people into believing the threat is real. When users call the given numbers, they might be asked to give remote access to their device or buy some software required to fix the issues.
Furthermore, threat actors behind WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE error claim that if the window is closed, the computer will not work and that the imaginary threat is capable of stealing passwords, credit card info, files from the computer, etc.
Warning: Never call any numbers that fake sites ask you to.
If you did call the threat actors and gave them access to your device, then you came to the right place. Our cybersecurity experts have compiled a list of instructions on how to delete this threat and any other possible malware that could have been sent to your device if you've allowed remote access to scammers from this site.
Users might have been redirected to the site where WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE fake error message struck out of nowhere by clicking on a deceptive ad, visiting other shady portals, having potentially unwanted programs (browser hijackers, adware, etc.) installed on their device, or by some other sneaky method.
The main thing when such a message appears is not to panic. Please remember that websites can't determine if you have a virus infection or that your software is out of data and need updates. All technical error messages received while browsing the internet are a scam.
Tech support scam WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE is made out of two messages. One can be seen as a pop-up window and states:
The other one is displayed in the background, claiming that:
None of these claims are true. By calling the given scam number and giving remote access to a device, users are risking that either (or all) of these scenarios are could come to life:
In case WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE scam freezes the browser window and prevents from closing it, users have to open the Task Manager. You can do that either by clicking the right mouse button on the taskbar and choosing Task Manager or by pressing CTRL + SHIFT + ESC on your keyboard.
Afterward, choose the browser you were using when it got frozen and press the right mouse button on it. Then click End Task. The browser should be closed, and the error messages should have disappeared. When the next time you launch the browser, don't go for the "reopen last session", "open closed tabs", or any other option that would reopen WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE tech support scam virus.
Keep either of these apps up-to-date so they could prevent such perils in the future.
Cybersecurity specialists at LesVirus.fr highly recommend doing a system tune-up to fix any corrupted files. Once any issues are detected, the app will take care of them with a push of a button.
- Money is asked for imaginary tech support, i.e., fixing the imaginary system issue
- Potentially unwanted programs are installed on the device
- Malware, such as ransomware, Trojans, or any other kind, is planted
- Sensitive information, such as personal details, credit card info, and any other valuable information, is stolen
- Various files deleted or copied.
What to do after the WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE e-mail
If you only received the message and clicked nothing, step 3 is all you need.
If you clicked the link or typed anything on the page it opened, do every step, starting with the password.
Step 1: Change the password you typed on the fake page
If you typed a password on the page the WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE message opened, assume the sender has it. Go to the real site by typing its address yourself and change the password there, choosing one you have never used.
Change it anywhere else the same password was used, and sign out all other sessions if the service offers it. Any browser on Windows 11 or Windows 10 will do, as long as you do not follow the e-mail's link.
Microsoft account, Security page (account.microsoft.com/security): Change password. Full procedure with screenshots: Turn on two-step verification / secure a hacked account
Step 2: Turn on two-step verification
With two-step verification on, a stolen password alone no longer opens the account, because a sign-in from a new device also needs a code from your phone.
Switch it on for the e-mail account first, then for banking, shopping and social accounts that use that address.
Check the recovery phone, the recovery e-mail and any forwarding rules while you are in the settings, since attackers change them to come back. The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Microsoft account: Manage how I sign in, where two-step verification and the sign-in methods are. Full procedure with screenshots: Turn on two-step verification / secure a hacked account
Step 3: Report the e-mail and delete it
Do not reply and do not click anything else in the message. In Outlook select the e-mail and choose Report > Report phishing; in Gmail open the three-dot menu next to Reply and pick Report phishing.
That trains the filter for everyone on the service, and the message goes to the junk folder. If the e-mail came to a work address, forward it to your IT team as an attachment first.
The steps are the same in the web mail and the mail apps on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
New Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web: Report > Report phishing. Full procedure with screenshots: Report a phishing e-mail
Step 4: Scan the PC if you opened a file from the message
A fake sign-in page only steals what you type, so most readers can skip this step. If the WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE e-mail made you download or open a file, delete it and scan the PC.
In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and then Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now. The offline scan restarts Windows 11 or Windows 10 and takes about 15 minutes.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
To uninstall potentially unwanted programs from Windows, follow these steps:
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
Remove from Google Chrome
Clean Chrome to ensure no ads or redirects return:
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- 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:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- 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.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- 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.
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.
Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.
Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.
Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online.
One of the basic means to add a layer of security - choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.
However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.
Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:
- power cuts
- Blue Screen of Death errors
- hardware failures
- crypto-malware attack
- even accidental deletion
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Instructions to increase cybersecurity level to avoid malware and scam pages
Malware has been circulating the internet for over two decades.
Since then, it has evolved into a large, illegal business. Different kinds of malware and scams are constantly being created. Various social engineering techniques are used to fool everyday computer users. Even tech-savvy people can get tricked into downloading malicious files.
Our IT experts decided to compile a simple tutorial on how to increase cybersecurity level. If these guidelines are followed, then it will be much harder for cybercriminals to profit off you:
- Operating software and installed applications must have the latest available updates installed as soon as their developed (except for BETA versions)
- Trustworthy, professional anti-malware software must be installed on any device that's regularly used to connect to the internet
- Backups of all essential information must be kept on at least two separate devices, e.g., cloud, USB drive, external storage
- System repair tools must be used frequently to maintain the overall health of the system
- Download software only from legitimate distributors, stay away from torrent sites, illegal vendors, and other shady websites
- When some sort of an error, ransom note, or other malware indications are spotted, users must stay calm and don't make any rash decisions. Visit cybersecurity pages and find out how to deal with the issue.
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Remove WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE from your device
First and foremost, none of the claims that WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE tech scam displays are true.
Websites, no matter how identical they look to legitimate tech support sites, can't determine whether something is wrong with your device or not.
Remove WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE by opening Task Manager and ending the task of the browser. However, if your browser works normally, closing down the tab the scam is displayed on will suffice.
To ensure that no malware was installed on your device, it's highly recommended to perform a full system scan with professional anti-malware tools. This type of software will take care of WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE removal from your system if such a threat is present.
Please don't forget to use system repair tools to take care of the device's overall health. Corrupted, edited, or in any other way, modified system settings and files could lead to various system irregularities, such as severe lag, performance loss, crashing, freezing, etc.
Questions about WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE e-mail scam
I opened the "Please call us: +1-888-357-5053" e-mail. Am I hacked?
No. Opening and reading a phishing e-mail does not give anyone access to your account or your PC. Modern mail programs block scripts and remote content by default, so reading the message "Please call us: +1-888-357-5053" only showed you text and pictures.
The danger comes from clicking the button and typing your password on the page it opens, or from opening an attached file. If you did neither, report the message as phishing and delete it.
If you clicked but closed the page without typing anything, there is also nothing to fix. If you did type a password, change it from another device and turn on two-step verification.
Is +1-888-357-5053 a real Microsoft support number?
No. Microsoft does not put phone numbers in warnings, pop-ups or error messages, and its support never calls you first about a virus. The number +1-888-357-5053 is used by a scam call centre that pays for traffic to fake warning pages.
If you need help from Microsoft, go to support.microsoft.com yourself and start from there. Never use a number that appeared in a pop-up, an unexpected e-mail or a search ad that looks like a support listing. If you already called, follow the steps in this guide for callers:
- remove any remote tool
- change passwords from another device
- contact the bank if you paid
I typed my password after "Please call us: +1-888-357-5053". What now?
Act within the hour. From another device, open the real site of the account the message "Please call us: +1-888-357-5053" imitated and change the password. If the same password is used anywhere else, change it there too.
Sign out of all other sessions, check the recovery e-mail and phone number, and look for mail forwarding rules or filters you did not create. Then turn on two-step verification with an authenticator app or a passkey.
If the fake page also asked for a card number or a bank login, call your bank and ask them to block the card. Finally, report the e-mail so others are warned.
I paid the people at +1-888-357-5053. Can I get my money back?
Often yes, if you act quickly. Card payments can be disputed through your bank as fraud; call the number on the back of the card and explain that you paid a tech support scammer reached at +1-888-357-5053. Bank transfers are harder, but the bank may recall the payment if you call the same day.
Gift cards can sometimes be frozen if you contact the card issuer with the codes before they are spent. PayPal and similar services have their own dispute forms. Keep every receipt and message, and report the scam to the police or the national fraud office, since banks often ask for a report number.
Could WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE be a genuine message?
We checked it, and it is not. A well-known company is only the costume. The message exists to get your password, and real companies handle that inside your account, after you sign in normally, not through links, attachments or phone numbers in a message you did not expect.
Scammers copy logos and footers perfectly, so the design proves nothing. The sender address, the link target and the request are the reliable signs, and all three point to a scam here. Delete it, and if you are worried, check your account directly.
Who answers +1-888-357-5053?
Not the company named in the message. +1-888-357-5053 leads to a call centre that runs WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE, often far from the country it claims to be in. The agents follow a script: they confirm a charge you never made, then offer a refund that requires remote access to your PC.
Scammers change numbers often and may also spoof caller ID when they call you back. If you want to talk to the real company, find its number on its official site or on your card or statement, never in the message.
I opened the message. Is my computer infected?
Opening and reading a message is safe in modern mail apps and browsers; images and text do not install anything by themselves. Your PC is at risk only if you opened an attachment, ran a downloaded file, or followed instructions to paste a command or install a program.
If you did none of that, delete the message and move on. If you did, disconnect from the internet and run a full scan and the Microsoft Defender offline scan. Do not reply to the sender or click links in the message later either.
Is it worth reporting a scam if I lost nothing?
Yes. Reports from people who did not fall for WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE are how blocklists, mail filters and hosting companies find new scam pages quickly, often before most recipients open the message. Reporting the message as phishing in your mail app is enough for most people.
If the message impersonates a company, its security or abuse team usually accepts forwarded copies too. Police reports matter mainly when money or documents were lost, but national fraud centres also collect reports without losses to spot campaigns.
Can I trick the scammers or waste their time?
Better not. Replying to WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE confirms that your address or number is live and puts it on lists that sell for more. Scammers who are teased sometimes switch to harassment or try to use any detail you reveal, such as your name, employer or location.
Playing along also risks a slip, like opening a link or a file they send. Report the message, block the sender and delete it. Your report does more damage to the operation than a conversation would.
Will Fortect remove WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Adware (read October 6, 2026)
- Lesvirus: LesVirus (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize and avoid phishing scams (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: Recognize and report phishing (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Support: Protect yourself from phishing (read October 6, 2026)