This week we’ve found a large number of scams that you need to watch out for, including ones relating to Airbnb, Shell, Walmart, Ray-Ban, and more. Would you have been able to spot all the scams?

Fake Websites

To begin with, this week we detected several fake websites impersonating famous brands to try to trick you. Scammers spread links to these fake websites via text message and email, luring you to open the link with various excuses. Below are some examples:

#1 — Travel Scam (Airbnb / Booking.com)

The summer traveling season is not over! Have you planned your vacation and booked your hotel yet? As we’ve reported several times before, scammers create fake hotel booking websites, pretending to be big brand names like Airbnb or Booking.com. Here’s what these fake pages might look like.

A list of fake Airbnb / Booking.com URLs:

• partnersupport-center[.]com
• airbnb-ng[.]000webhostapp[.]com
• airbnb-paysverif[.]com

Note: the genuine web addresses of these 2 sites are Airbnb.com and Booking.com. Always pay close attention and be careful.

Don’t spend a cent on these fake sites. You won’t get anything for your money. And nothing would be worse than being far away from home with nowhere to stay.

These fake sites are designed to steal your personal information, including log-in credentials and credit card details. Scammers can thus use them to commit other cybercrimes such as identity theft.

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#2 — Online Shopping Scam (Ray-Ban)

Fake online shops are one of the most popular categories among scam sites. For example, posing as Ray-Ban, scammers use irresistible sales campaigns to get your attention, prompting you to click on the attached link in their scam emails:

The attached link will lead you to a fake Ray-Ban online shop. Watch out!

#3 — Fake Dating Site Spam

“Dating Site For Singles” — Scammers are now sending random emails containing links to suspicious adult pages. Did you receive any of them?

Scammers try their best to lure you into clicking on the links, which lead to fake adult websites where you could end up exposing your credentials. Don’t get scammed!

Online Survey Phishing

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. These links will 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. Here are some examples:

#1 — Shell Gift Card Scam

We’ve written about Shell gift card scams before, and this week they are circulating again:

• PRlZEWlNNER: We’re HAPPY to AWAR’D #8138432928 1 OF 8 $500ShelIvchs. FiII-out your deets:  <URL> STOPtoUnSub

Promising you a Shell gift card voucher, scammers try to trick you into clicking on the phishing link that leads to a fake Shell online survey page:

In the end, you are asked to provide personal details like credit card information. Scammers can record everything you submit on this page and use it to steal your money or commit other cybercrimes such as identity theft. Don’t let them!

#2 — Walmart Survey Scam

Walmart is one of the most commonly impersonated brands. This week, scammers have been urging people to take part in an online raffle to earn money via the attached link:

• 🔆Walmart-! take part and earn 💵  <URL>

Again, in the end, you will need to enter credit card information as well as other personal information. Don’t fall for it!

How to Protect Yourself

• Pay close attention to URLs.
• Double-check the sender’s mobile number/email address.
• Only shop on legitimate online shops/platforms.
• 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 Check 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.