It’s the last week of 2023, but the scammers haven’t given up. They’re continuing to spread phishing links to try to exploit you. We’ve found a large number of scams that you should watch out for, including ones relating to Walmart, Venmo, USPS, and FedEx. Would you have been able to spot all the scams?

Phishing Scams

Impersonating famous brands and companies, scammers will send out phishing links (usually via text message or email) and try to entice you into opening them with various lies.

For example, these phishing links will take you to online survey pages that state you can claim a gift by filling out an online questionnaire:

Walmart Gift Card Scam

We detect new waves of fake Walmart text messages every now and then. Have you received any of them? This time, the scammers are using the lure of a $500 gift card to try to trick you:

• {its|it is} Ava from Walmart are you going to pick up your 50O Dollar Glft Token or shall we pass forward <URL>

If you take the bait and click on the attached link, you will be led to a Walmart survey page where you’re asked to fill out a questionnaire to claim a Walmart gift card:

You would eventually be asked to enter personal information, including your address and even credit card details. Scammers can record any sensitive data you submit on their phishing pages and use it for their own good. Be careful!

An Easy Way to Stay Protected — 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.

Phishing links will also lead to malicious websites containing fake login pages that will ask for your personal information and/or login credentials. Again, this information will end up in scammers’ hands. Below are some examples:

Venmo Login Scam

We’ve reported on Venmo scams several times before. Impersonating Venmo, scammers send out fake security alerts, trying to convince you that there are security issues with your account:

• Venmo,    Your Venmo account has been locked, because we’ve detected suspicious activity on Venmo your account.  Recovery your Venmo account immediately by click link bellow:  <URL>    Please take action on your account within 48 hours to avoid permanent suspension.

Scammers prompt you to verify your account via the attached phishing link that takes you to a fake Venmo login page:

Again, with the credentials you enter, scammers can gain access to and take control of your Venmo account. Don’t let them!

USPS / FedEx Email Scam

“USPS 30 day package reminder!” Be careful if you’ve received this email, especially if you are expecting any packages. As we’ve written about before, scammers love to pose as delivery companies such as USPS and send fake delivery notifications via email:

They urge you to click on the embedded button to schedule your delivery. Don’t do so! If you click, the button will take you to a fake package tracking page. What’s interesting (and somewhat funny) is that in this example, the button strangely leads to a bogus FedEx page:

Anyways, these fake tracking pages require you to submit personal data to view your delivery status, change your settings — or whatever fake reason the scammers have created.

As mentioned, scammers will steal your sensitive data and use it to commit cybercrimes, such as hacking into your bank account or even identity theft. Watch out!

Tips to Protect Yourself from Phishing Scams

• Pay close attention to URLs — are they legitimate?
• Double-check the sender’s mobile number/email address.
• Free gifts 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!).
• Change your password as soon as possible if you’ve already clicked on a suspicious link. Consider using our online Password Generator (also FREE!) to create strong, tough-to-hack passwords.
• 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 will help you combat scams and cyberattacks. Click the button below to give it a try.

If you’ve found this article an interesting and/or helpful read, please SHARE it with friends and family to help keep the online community secure and protected. Also, please consider leaving a comment or like below! Stay safe and Happy Holidays, folks!