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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 USPS, Amazon, the Bank of America, Netflix, Home Depot, and CVS Pharmacy. Would you have been able to spot all the scams?
Impersonating famous brands, scammers send out fake text messages containing phishing links and try to entice you into opening them with various lies.
These links will take you to fake log-in pages. The pages require you to submit log-in credentials to download a software update, change account settings, or whatever other tasks the scammers have asked you to complete. Here are some examples:
We’ve reported on fake USPS emails and text messages before, and recently they’ve started to circulate via text message again. Falsely claiming that there are problems with your package delivery, scammers instruct you to click on the attached phishing link to correct your delivery information:
Source: Reddit
Where does the link take you to? A fake USPS tracking page! Sometimes it might be hard to tell a fake apart from the legitimate website because the layout looks quite similar. Tip: check the web address! The genuine domain is tools.usps.com. Below is an example:
Fake USPS tracking page
The fake page will provide a random tracking number (fake, of course) and ask you to update your information, including your email address, street address, and phone number.
If you fall for the scam, the scammers will record everything you enter on their fake page and use it to commit cybercrimes and steal your identity. Don’t let them!
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Scammers also love to impersonate well-known banks to try to trick you. This week we detected a lot of phishing scams impersonating theBank of America. They try to convince you that your EDD card has been suspended and that you must reactivate it via the link they provide:
Fake Bank of America login page
Phishing links will also often lead to 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. Here are some examples:
“Free Amazon credits!” Recently we’ve seen a lot of fake Amazon text messages. Did you receive any of them?
Eventually, you will have to enter personal information. As we mentioned, don’t do so! Scammers can gain access to the data and use it for their own good. Beware!
Survey phishing scams are also spreading wildly via email:
The buttons in the above scam emails will take you to fake survey pages. Don’t click! Don’t submit anything!
Besides phishing scams, we also found that scammers use text messages to spread links to fake online shops. This time, their excuse is Labor Day:
Don’t spend a cent here! Your goods will never arrive, and scammers will record your credit card details. Plus, there is obviously no way to get your money back!
As ever, if you’ve found this article an interesting and/or helpful read, please do SHARE it with friends and family to help keep the online community secure and protected.
Source: pexels.com
