This week we’ve found a large number of scams that you need to watch out for, including ones relating to the 4^th of July, Costco, Walmart, Netflix, and Gmail. Would you have been able to spot all the scams?

What Is Phishing

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.

The links lead 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. Here are some examples:

Fourth of July Scams

To scammers, the 4^th of July is not only a holiday; it’s a time when they create fake campaigns and phishing survey pages to trick people:

#1 Costco

• Happy 4th of JuIy from your IocaI C 0 S T C 0 ! Here’s 500 bucks to spend & a compIimentry membership this week-end: <URL>

Do you believe in free money? If you fall for this scam and click on the attached link, you will be taken to a fake Costco survey page. The pages say that you can win a Costco gift card after you complete the survey:

After that, you will be asked to enter personal information, including your name, email address, and even credit card details. Of course, there will be no gift card, and your credentials could end up in scammers’ hands!

#2 Walmart

Similar tactics apply in the recent Walmart text scams. As we’ve talked about several times before, scammers pose as Walmart and prompt you to join in on their “4^th of July Special” and win a gift via the attached phishing link:

• The  W a I m a r t  4th of JuIy Special! Get 25O bucks, to use this week-end pIus a GlFT if you visit here now <URL> Stop to end

Again, the link takes you to a Walmart phishing page where you could end up exposing your credentials. Don’t get scammed!

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!

Surf the web safely with Trend Micro ScamCheck (it’s free!)

Trend Micro ScamCheck is a browser extension and mobile app for detecting scams, phishing attacks, malware, and dangerous links — and it’s FREE!

Check out this page for more information on ScamCheck.

As mentioned earlier, phishing scams not only circulate via text messages; they also spread via emails:

Netflix Survey Scam

We’ve detected Netflix scam emails many times, and this week they’re back again! Promising you an exclusive reward, scammers lure you into clicking on the embedded button to take an online survey:

The button will lead you to a fake Netflix survey page (actually a phishing page), and you already know what will happen. Don’t submit any sensitive information here!

Phishing links will also 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.

Mail Server Phishing Scam (Gmail)

Last week we spotted bogus emails pretending to be from various mail servers. This week, there were a lot more similar phishing attempts. Using various excuses like requests to clear up storage or security alerts, scammers instruct you to click on the embedded buttons:

These buttons will take you to a fake log-in page, impersonating your mail server. Remember, don’t enter your log-in credentials because scammers just want to hack into your account!

How to Protect Yourself

• Double-check the sender’s mobile number/email address.
• Free gifts and prizes are always a major red flag.
• Go to the official website/application instead of using links from unknown sources.
• Never click on links or attachments from unknown sources. Use Trend Micro ScamCheck to surf the web safely (it’s free!).
• Add an extra layer of protection to your devices with Trend Micro Maximum Security. Its Web Threat Protection, Ransomware Protection, Anti-phishing, and Anti-spam Protection can help you combat scams and cyberattacks. Click the button below to give it a try:

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.