This article is from Trend Micro.
This week we’ve found a large number of scams that you need to watch out for, including ones relating to McDonald’s, DHL, Walmart, Netflix, Samsung, USPS, and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Would you have been able to spot all the scams?
Conventionally, while impersonating famous brands, scammers send out fake text messages and emails containing phishing links and try to entice you into opening them with various lies. See below for some common examples.
Nothing is more tempting than free money, right? Promising you gift cards and other irresistible prizes, scammers send you texts and emails to try to lure you into clicking on phishing links.
These links often take you to fake online survey pages that state you can claim a gift by filling out an online questionnaire. After you complete the questionnaire, you are prompted to enter credit card details before your “gift” can be delivered.
Do you want a free $100 giftcard for McDonalds? Regardless of whether you do, don’t click on the malicious link!
Fake McDonald’s survey pages
Fake McDonald’s survey pages
Of course, there is NO giftcard, and the scammers can collect your sensitive data for their own good. They could use it to steal your money, take control of your account, or commit other cybercrimes such as identity theft. Don’t let them!
Trend Micro Check is a browser extension and mobile app for detecting scams, phishing attacks, malware, and dangerous links — and it’s FREE!
After you’ve pinned the Trend Micro Check extension, it will block dangerous sites automatically! (Available on Safari, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge).
You can also download the Trend Micro Check mobile app for 24/7 automatic scam and spam detection and filtering. (Available for Android and iOS).
We’ve reported on fake USPS emails that feature Samsung Galaxy S21 cellphones as a “gift” before, and this week they’ve gone viral again. Posing as USPS, scammers falsely claim that they are holding giveaway campaigns.
If you take the bait and click on the embedded button, you’ll (of course) be taken to a phishing page. Don’t submit any information here!
Delivery scams are also common. Impersonating delivery companies, scammers send you fake delivery notifications, try to convince you that you’ve missed a delivery, and prompt you to click on the attached link to update the delivery information.
Again, the links are phishing links, taking you to fake login pages or online survey pages that are designed to collect all your credentials.
Fake Walmart survey pages
Fake Walmart survey pages
We have reported on several unemployment insurance phishing scams before, but this time the scammers are impersonating the Indiana DWD. Pretending that you’ve had a large amount of money deposited into your account, the scammers try to trick you into clicking on the attached link:
Sample fake Indiana DWD login page
Sample fake URL:
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