Phishing scams are getting more diverse, but the bottom line remains the same: scammers pretend to be from well-known companies and organizations and send unknowing victims spoofed emails and messages containing phishing links. They try their best to lure you into entering your sensitive information. Can you spot all these phishing scams? In this post, we’ll share the details of a few popular phishing scams – Bora Bora, HMRC, Amazon, and TikTok. You’ll see how these phishing scams work and learn tips to avoid them. Continue reading to know how you can spot the scams and no longer be an unknowing victim.

Bora Bora Giveaway Scams on Facebook

A post from a Facebook fan page named “Bora Bora” went viral, receiving over 1.3 K comments. The post claims that they are doing a lucky draw campaign, and the winners will win a 14-night stay at the Le Meridien Bora Bora as a reward.

Once the participants leave a comment below the post, another similar page “Bora B’oragetaway” replies and asks participants to visit Bora B’oragetaway’s profile.

The only post from “Bora B’oragetaway” asks people to register for the lucky draw through a phishing link. It leads to a web page where you’ll be asked to enter your personal information, and scammers can use it for other scams, such as identity theft!

Content:
This March – We are giving away 14 nights at the Le Meridien Bora Bora for 5 people. Includes Flights, Accommodation & Transfers. You will have 2 years to use the holiday! To participate:LikeShareComment: “WIN”Make sure to validate your registration here: hxxps://sites.google.com/view/bora-bora–/2021

iPhone Giveaway Scams on TikTok

A TikTok video falsely claimed to be giving away free iPhones on March 5th, 2021. The video asked users to click on a link in their TikTok profile to claim the rewards. The link is a phishing link, leading to a fake web page where you will be asked to arrange delivery and enter personal information like your home address. Again, like other phishing scams, scammers can use it for other scams such as identity theft!

HMRC Tax Refund Text Scam

Scammers pose as HMRC and send text messages to people, falsely claiming that they can get a tax refund by clicking on a link attached. The link is a phishing link, which will take you to a fake gov.uk login page. You’ll then be asked to enter your personal information and banking details so that scammers can gain access to your bank account. They can steal your money and use sensitive information for other scams, such as identity theft. Here’s a screenshot of the fake gov.uk page:

Content:
HMRC: Records show that you have a pending tax rebate available 02/03/21. To calculate your claim, click here: [URL]
HMRC: Your tax refund from year ending ‘2020’ is pending. Please visit our secure link <URL> to process.
HM Revenue & Customs: Our records show that you are due a tax rebate of £326.91 for tax year 2019/2020. To claim your funds visit: [URL]

Amazon Verification Phishing Email

Phishing scams are not new to us, but recently many people have received spoofed confirmation emails from Amazon. Scammers try to make you believe that your account has purchased some items and you should click on the button to manage the order. Plus, they provide a customer service number for you if you think your account might have been hacked. The number does not belong to Amazon. Scammers can trick you into providing sensitive information such as banking details and credit card numbers.

Amazon Raffle Phishing Texts

Scammers will send you a message, posing as Amazon and falsely claiming that you have won a raffle campaign. The awards are different, ranging from an iPhone to an Apple Watch, but they are all fake! To arrange the award’s delivery, you have to click on a link, which is a phishing link. The link leads to a website that asks you to provide personal information, such as your birthdate or home address, and sensitive information like credit card number and CVC code.

Content:
Amazon: Congratulations Katie, you came 3rd in today’s Amazon Airpods raffle! Follow this link to set delivery: [URL]
Amazon: Congratulations Larry, you came 3rd in this week’s Amazon Earpods raffle! Follow this link to set shipment: [URL]
Amazon: Congratulations KELLY, you came in 3rd in today’s Amazon Smart Watch raffle! Follow this link to set delivery: [URL]

How to protect yourself from phishing scams?

• Double-check the sender’s mobile number/email address.
• Reach out to the official website or customer support directly for help.
• NEVER click links or attachments from unknown sources. 

Use Trend Micro ScamCheck for immediate scam detection!
Copy-paste a link and send it to Trend Micro ScamCheck on Messenger or WhatsApp to detect scams:

Trend Micro ScamCheck is also available as a Chrome extension. It will block dangerous sites for you automatically:

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