This week we’ve found a large number of scams that you need to watch out for, including ones relating to iPhone 14, Walmart, Home Depot, Amazon, Netflix, LinkedIn, FedEx, and MORE. Would you have been able to spot all the scams?

Phishing Scams

Impersonating famous brands, scammers send out fake text messages containing phishing links and try to entice you into opening them with various lies. So where do scammers want to take you to?

Phishing links will often lead to online survey pages that state you can claim a gift by filling out an online questionnaire. Below are some common scams with examples:

1. Raffle and Sweepstakes Scams

Raffles and sweepstakes are both commonly seen in phishing scams. Scammers create irresistible but too-good-to-be-true offers to lure you into joining their fake campaigns.

#1 – iPhone 14 (T-Mobile)

Yeah, it’s only been around a week since the launch of the iPhone 14, but there are already tens of thousands of raffle scams featuring it as a reward. Scammers pose as well-known companies like T-Mobile, and hold fake anniversary campaigns or just send you malicious messages randomly:

• Celebrating T-Mobile anniversary with an iPhone 14 Pro {URL}
• You have been chosen to ANSWER & WIN a new iPhone 14 pro max. {URL}

On the online survey page, you’re told you can win the gift by filling out the survey. After you complete the survey, you are prompted to enter credit card details before your “gift” can be delivered.

Of course, there’s no gift, and your personal information could be stolen — that’s the scammers’ goal. With it, they can steal your money, take control of your bank account, or commit identity theft. Be careful!

Shield Yourself from Phishing Scams with Trend Micro Check

Trend Micro Check 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 Trend Micro Check.

#2 – Walmart

Walmart scams just never disappear! This week we detected a lot of text messages promoting fake Walmart sweepstakes campaigns:

• You Have a Chance: Take advantage of a FREE Walmart shopping spree opportunity: <URL> (SNT – text STOP to unsub)

“Enter to win $5,000 towards a Walmart shopping spree!” Again, if you take the bait, you will be taken to a fake online survey page:

You could end up exposing your credit card details along with other sensitive information. Don’t get scammed!

2. Gift Card Scams: Home Depot

Sometimes scammers falsely claim that you can get a gift card directly, but again, by completing an online survey. This week we noticed a rise in fake Home Depot gift card text messages:

• Home Depot- $100 GiftCard <URL>

Same tactics — if you take the bait and click on the attached phishing link, it will take you to an online survey page like this:

You know what will happen next. Don’t submit any personal information!

Besides online survey pages, phishing links will also often take you to fake login pages that will end up asking you for your personal information and login credentials.

3. Payment Issues Scams

#1 – Amazon Prime

Are you an Amazon Prime member? Falsely claiming that there are technical issues with your Amazon Prime membership, scammers pose as Amazon and instruct you to take action to verify your account via the embedded button.

If you take a close look at the fake email above, you can see that the sender’s email address domain doesn’t belong to Amazon. If you were to miss the red flag and click the button, you would be led to a fake Amazon login page where scammers can record everything you submit. Watch out!

#2 – Netflix

We’ve reported on Netflix phishing scams numerous times before. This week we saw a new wave of them. Posing as Netflix, scammers send fake notifications, trying to convince you that there are some issues with your Netflix payment or billing information:

These buttons take you to a fake Netflix login page. Don’t click!

Other Issues with Online Services

#1 – iCloud

Received an email saying that your iCloud storage is full? Wait a second; it is not even a legitimate iCloud email!

The button will take you to one of a few random fake login pages. Don’t submit any credentials!

#2 – LinkedIn

LinkedIn scams are also not new to us. This week 2 different examples were circulating:

Check the senders’ email addresses closely — none of them are genuine!

No matter what the scammers’ lies are, the links in these emails take you to a fake LinkedIn login page. Beware!

Spam Emails Without Phishing Links

Some scam emails don’t contain any phishing links, but they urge you to reply to them with your personal information. As we’ve stressed several times, don’t get scammed!

1. Package Delivery Scams — FedEx

2. Beneficiary Scams

How to Stay Safe from Scams

• Pay close attention to URLs — are they legitimate?
• 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 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:

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