I was trying to log in to Discord on my phone by entering its web address, but I mistyped it and ended up on a scam page. The page claimed that I owed about $340 and displayed a phone number, which made it look like a phishing scam. I checked the site afterward and one security scanner labeled it phishing while another called it suspicious. I never entered any information, called the number, downloaded anything, or installed an app. Could simply visiting the page have infected my phone, and is there anything else I should check?
2 Answers
This sounds like a scareware or phishing redirect rather than an actual infection. These pages use an alarming bill or fake warning to pressure people into calling, paying, or providing personal information. Since you did none of those things and did not download or install anything, the risk is low. You can clear the browser tab and site data, run the phone's built-in security scan, and keep an eye out for unusual pop-ups or apps.
Simply opening a scam page usually does not infect a modern phone, especially if you did not download a file, install an app, grant permissions, or enter any details. Exploiting a device through a browser generally requires an unpatched operating system or browser vulnerability, which is uncommon. Close the page, update your phone and browser, and review your downloads and installed apps for anything unfamiliar.
Thanks, that helps. I was worried because I grew up hearing that merely visiting a bad website could immediately infect a device.
I only viewed the page briefly and closed it. I never called, submitted information, downloaded anything, or installed an app.