iPad (iOS 9.3.6) Safari $1000 gift card scam

Question

Level 1

19 points

iPad (iOS 9.3.6) Safari $1000 gift card scam

My iPad Mini has a spamware/adware virus (?) that causes Safari to display a web page from "dabmobi_dot_com" (URL modified because it's a bad site) informing me my iPad has been "randomly selected" to receive a $1000 gift card from Walmart (the only one of 3 'gift cards' remaining, if I "act fast" enough....). The splash screen from dabmobi also says it's because I'm an "iPad customer" or a "safari customer".....stupid scammers....and redirects in some instances to a web address "consumerproductsusa_dot_com".

This has been going on for a few weeks now, and a website I am a member of and use every day is no longer accessible to me on my iPad because the adware/scam cannot be removed/deleted or stopped. It appears only to affect that particular web site (swifty's garage dot net), but then I don't browse much on my iPad, but ebay seems to be unaffected, as do the other sites I've recently visited. The website owner at Swifty's has been notified, but I suspect it's not coming from his servers....because I've seen the same scam on my desktop Mac Mini from other web sites. Currently, my Mac Mini isn't suffering the same problem when I log into Swifty's or any other web site.

I am reporting this now because I found out this morning another friend has the exact same problem, and we're both trying to find out how to stop it. He's also affected by the same web site (swifty's), and I presume (he's in another state) dabmobi_dot_com is responsible on his iPad too.

If you click the "close" or "Click Here" button from dabmobi, you have to enter a bunch of personal information in order to prove you "qualify" for the "gift card", which also sets you up to have to agree to purchase items from a variety of websites or online merchants. I searched the forums earlier for others with the same problem, found one, but the "solution" provided had NO effect. Clearing the iPad's Safari cache and web data (done several times this morning) did not solve the issue; forcing Safari to quit and trashing the "offending page" from the iPad's quick-search screen (with the cavalcade of other recent applications....whatever that screen view is called) had no positive affect. Restarting the iPad after doing those recommended steps made no difference.

We were messaging about it this morning (using Messenger) and I tried to give him more information to confirm, including the website that dabmobi redirects to when you click "close" or click to start the personal info data entry; I entered the URLs for dabmobi and it's partner(?) "consumerproductsusa_dot_com", and Messenger wouldn't let me send the message with that second URL because Messenger identified it as an "unsafe site" or something like that. (While attempting to post this issue earlier today, here at the user support forums, my internet service/modem went offline, so I lost the information about the actual secondary website mentioned above. My altered URLs for those sites are correct in the site name....but for the "_dot_com" revision.)

Anyway, anybody here have a better possible solution than clearing the Safari cache/data and trashing the Safari page(s) that are held in the "recent apps" screenflow? Is this a "known issue" with anybody in this user support community?

In summary:

iPad mini wi-fi (iOS 9.3.5) can't log into a web forum due to spam/adware/malicious(?) app that hijacks the Safari browser with an "offer" for a free "$1000 gift card". Web forum administrator/owner notified, but no response yet from him.

Offending spam/adware shows URL "dabmobi_dot_com"....clicking "close" button on the splash dialog box brings up "consumerproductsusa_dot_com" website where the "application" process begins to see if you "qualify" to receive one of the "remaining" "limited supply" "gift cards"--from Walmart--Messenger app prevents sending messages with the latter URL included, because the site is labeled "dangerous" or "unsafe" or something to that effect.

Browser back button either inactivated or just reproduces the same result when you attempt to access the previous page on the previous legitimate website.

Posted on Aug 8, 2017 11:52 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Ralph9430

Level 7

21,998 points

Aug 8, 2017 12:18 PM in response to blick

This is indeed a scam and is not a virus on your iPad. When a popup like this shows up quite Safari. Double click the Home button to show the screen with running and recently used apps. Each app icon will have a sample page above it. Flick up on the page (not the app icon) and the page will fly away and the app icon will disappear. This quits that app. Then use the Settings app to clear history and website data.

Settings > Safari > Scroll down to "Clear History and Website Data" by tapping on that.

Finally avoid the website you were on when the offending message appeared. It is that website that is either infected, hacked or fraudulent.

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Answer 2

blick Author

Level 1

19 points

Aug 8, 2017 12:27 PM in response to getangar

Thanks for the help, but I tried to download an Ad Blocker from the app store and each one I looked at said it was compatible with my ipad mini, until I attempted to download and install it. Can you recommend one that works with an iPad mini (I think it's a "mini 2" but frankly my iPad's settings won't identify my iPad by anything but the "model number", which ain't "mini 2". How do you determine the "model" of iPad mini when everybody in common usage calls it the "iPad mini 2" (or 3 or whatever) but the iPad's "settings" call it by the "official" model name with no reference to the "common name"? (Model: MD529LL/A. Nowhere do I find "iPad Mini 2" in the "settings" list.)

I see that "AdBlock" (the first in the app store screen listing) requires iOS 10 or higher. The others I looked at all said iOS 9.0 or higher....any recommendations?

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Answer 3

blick Author

Level 1

19 points

Aug 8, 2017 12:32 PM in response to Ralph9430

Thanks, Ralph. I followed those steps several times this morning to no avail.

I notified the site's owner of the issue but haven't heard back yet.

Avoiding the website isn't a good solution; until about 3 weeks ago, there was no issue with that site, and it is a trusted site. It's not a "new" site to me....I've accessed it for years on my iPad with no problem until last month.

On that last note, is there any reason you can suggest why I can access that web site on my desktop computer without the problem, but the iPad is the only place the spam/adware shows up? If it's on the site's server(s) or the owner's webhost, wouldn't it also affect any login attempts from any computer?

Anyway, again, thanks for the quick response!

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Answer 4

getangar

Level 5

4,548 points

Aug 8, 2017 12:38 PM in response to blick

I can confirm that I had the same issue while visiting super famous website ... somebody told me (I don't know if to believe or not but that's it) than this kind of **** can even come because of the internet provider. Anyway ... on iOS the only solution was to find a compatibile AD Blocker ... in my case was the one I told (I'm sorry I have no experience with other product).

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Answer 5

blick Author

Level 1

19 points

Aug 8, 2017 1:12 PM in response to getangar

Here's another thing another user on the web site I have problems with suggested: turn off "javascript" in Safari on the iOS device. I tried that and immediately tried the website and had no interference. I'm recharging the iPad now so will have to wait til later to try again and see if that solves the problem permanently. Hope javascript isn't essential to Safari's other normal functions.....

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Answer 6

ShagCA

Level 5

6,365 points

Aug 8, 2017 1:33 PM in response to blick

blick wrote:

Hope javascript isn't essential to Safari's other normal functions.....

That depends on the website you're visiting. Unfortunately a lot of websites require Javascript. You won't be able to view a site without enabling it. Your only hope is to get the website owner remove the bad ads.

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Answer 7

Hugluver

Level 1

8 points

Aug 8, 2017 7:18 PM in response to blick

I'm having the same problem! Called Apple twice and agents couldn't suggest anything other than clearing the history and website in Safari. The last rep made an appointment for me at the local Apple outlet for Thursday (2 days from now!). In the meantime, I can't go into my emails!

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