A scam need not involve a direct attack on victims. A cybersecurity group found millions of records showing deals between sellers and reviewers designed to pump up a product’s ratings and appeal. Tap or click here to see how to spot these fake reviews.
Voice + phishing = vishing
Phishing is when a scammer impersonates a brand or company to get personal information and/or money from their victims. These attempts typically come through email, text, social media, etc. Vishing, on the other hand, is a type of phishing that focuses on voice calls. They could call directly or leave phone numbers in emails and other types of messages.
The first attack
The message stated that an order for an LG television set and an Xbox gaming console had been placed, totaling nearly $1,000. Unwitting recipients who know they didn’t place such an order might call the provided phone number to sort things out. That’s where the scammers strike.
The second attack
The second email scam came from a fake address, “no-reply@amzeinfo.com,” and hit about 4,000 inboxes. The title was “A shipment with goods is being delivered.” The message included an order number for an item amounting to nearly $600. As with the first email, this one did not include any functional links but just a phone number to call for assistance. When the team called the number, they got just a ringtone. They took down the number a few hours later, but the perpetrators could easily set up another line and use the same email with that phone number. The scam email got through because it didn’t contain any links or brand names that could be flagged.
What you can do to stay safe
Don’t take action simply because you recognize a brand. Take the time to read everything.Look for red flags such as brand names that seem off, spelling errors, unnecessary punctuation and bad grammar. Don’t give away your sensitive information over the phone. If you’re unsure, hang up and seek out official sources for contact information.
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