This week we’ve found Christmas shopping scams as well as phishing attempts in which scammers are impersonating USPS and Paxful Wallet on Venmo. Would you have been able to spot these scams?  

Christmas Shopping Scams

In November alone we detected and blocked 577,444 scam online shops featuring Christmas sales – that’s over 32% more than in 2022! Below are some examples. Have you seen any of them?

Sample web addresses of scam Christmas shops:

• rotikac[.]com
• awishday[.]com
• nlheliwe[.]shop
• bariate[.]store
• ovpcn[.]com
• joyfullift[.]co

Don’t shop on these fake online shops! With these malicious websites, scammers are not only aiming to steal your money, but also targeting your personal identifiable information (PII), such as credit card details They could then sell this data on the dark web and/or commit identity theft. Don’t let them!

Stay Away from Scam Sites

The truth is, there are lots of scams and scam sites on the internet and they’re getting even more difficult to detect with common sense alone. However, for an easy and reliable method of detecting and avoiding scam sites, check out Trend Micro ID Protection.         
 
ID Protection can shield you from scams, fake and malware-infected websites, dangerous emails, phishing links, and lots more! If you come across something dangerous online, you’ll be alerted in real time so you’ll know to stay well clear.        

Phishing Attempts

Besides fake online shops, scammers also create phishing pages to exploit you. Posing as well-known or trusted brands, they will attempt to get you to click on these phishing links, leading you to phishing pages that will record all your PII. Once again, scammers can then commit a series of cybercrimes. Don’t let them!

There are various tactics scammers use. Below are some examples.

Fake USPS Delivery Email

We’ve reported on USPS scams many times before. Impersonating USPS, scammers falsely claim that there’s an issue with your package delivery and prompt you to click on the embedded button to verify delivery details:

Don’t click! If you do, you will be taken to a fake USPS website that asks you to provide personal information that will all end up in scammers’ hands.

Paxful Wallet Venmo Scam

Do you use Venmo? Pause for a skeptical moment if you receive a notification that says you’ve paid an amount to Paxful (a crypto trading platform) using your Venmo account. The notification could be a SCAM!

Similar to the PayPal invoice scams we’ve reported on before, scammers utilize Venmo to trick you. Their goal is to urge you to dial the number if you don’t recognize the made-up payment. Don’t do so! Scammers will be waiting on the other end, and will try to convince you into revealing more of your PII over the phone call.

Tips to Stay Safe Online

• Double-check the sender’s mobile number and email address. Even if it seems legitimate, think twice before you take any action.    
• Reach out to the company’s customer service directly for help and support.
• Never click on dubious links or attachments! Stick to official websites and apps.
• If you’ve accidentally revealed your PII somewhere, change your passwords immediately and inform your bank and/or other companies that scammers may contact them pretending to be you. 
• Check if any of your PII has been leaked and secure your social media accounts using Trend Micro ID Protection.   
• Finally, 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.  

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