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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 Walmart, Costco, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Louis Vuitton, and Ray-Ban. Would you have been able to spot all the scams?
To begin with, this week we found several phishing 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.
In such phishing schemes, these links will take you to fake log-in pages that appear to belong to various brands. These 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.
We’ve reported on Zelle scams several times before. Posing as Zelle, scammers falsely claim that your profile has been put on hold and prompt you to verify your account via the attached link:
If you click on the link, it will take you to a fake Zelle page that’s designed to steal your login credentials:
Scammers’ ultimate goal is to steal your personal information. They’ll record everything you enter on their fake pages and use it to commit cybercrimes: e.g., hack into your account or steal your identity. Don’t let them!
Sample fake Zelle URLs:
help-zellesupport[.]me
uservrfy-zellep[.]info
bmoharris-verification-zelle-review[.]serveusers[.]com
Note: Zelle’s legitimate web address is zellepay.com. Always take a close look and stay alert!
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Venmo is another brand that scammers commonly impersonate to try to trick you. This time around they’ve been sending out fake security alerts, trying to convince people that there are security issues with their accounts, and urging them to visit the attached phishing links:
Sample fake Venmo URL:
Phishing links will also take you 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. Below are some examples.
Walmart text message scams are certainly not new to us — this week we’ve detected a new wave of phishing attempts featuring a $5000 gift card as a prize:
In the end, you will be asked to enter credit card details — allegedly necessary for the delivery of your “prize.” Of course, there will be no gift card, and your credentials could end up in scammers’ hands!
Similar tactics also apply to the latest Costco survey scams. Promising you free coupons, scammers lure you into clicking on their phishing links that lead to fake Costco survey pages:
Phishing scams also take place through emails. The tactics are basically the same: scammers try their best to get you to click on the embedded phishing links:
Recently we’ve seen home improvement retailers being impersonated by scammers. Offering you rewards, scammers prompt you to take a scam online survey to try to steal your personal information.
Although it’s already been over a week since Amazon Prime Day, fake online shops are still circulating all over the Internet. As we mentioned last week, please beware of fake emails that promote scam Louis Vuitton / Ray-Ban websites.
You already know where these emails lead: to fake online shops!
Sample fake Louis Vuitton website
Sample fake Ray-Ban website
A sample URL of a fake Louis Vuitton online shop:
Sample URLs of fake Ray-Ban online shops:
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