This week we’ve found phishing attempts in which scammers are impersonating Amazon, USPS, Axis Bank, and Walmart. Would you have been able to spot these scams?  

Phishing Scams

Posing as trusted brands, scammers send text messages and emails containing phishing links and prompt you to click on them. These links will take you to phishing pages designed to steal all your PII, such as your home address, Social Security number, login credentials, and credit card details. With your PII, scammers can commit crimes like identity theft.

In some cases, scammers send fake notifications asking you to update delivery information, check the settings of your online accounts, or something else. Below are some examples:

Amazon

We’ve written about Amazon scams many times. Scammers try to trick you into thinking that you need to use the attached link to update your account information:

• Amazon :Please update your information at <URL> to keep access to the service.

The link is a phishing link, and it will take you to a bogus Amazon login page. Don’t enter any information here! If you were to do so, scammers could access your info and thus take over your Amazon account. Be careful!

Protect Yourself from Scams

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.        

USPS

Waiting for packages is one of the best holiday activities. But scammers know it’s the best time to sneak in with fake links! As we’ve reported several times, they impersonate USPS and falsely claim you have pending packages that require your confirmation via the attached phishing link:

• Hello, USPS reminds you that your package has arrived at the warehouse, but cannot be delivered due to incomplete address information. Please confirm your address in the link.  <URL>    (Please reply Y, then exit the SMS, and reopen the SMS activation link. Or copy the link to Google Chrome to open)  The USPS team wishes you a great day

If you proceed, you will end up on a fake USPS tracking page like below. Here, you could eventually expose your PII. Don’t let that happen!

For more info about USPS scams, visit this article.

Axis Bank

Scammers also love to impersonate banks, so be mindful of this when you receive any banking notifications. This week we detected over 400 phishing emails impersonating Axis Bank:

The notification says you can find your bank report via the link, be DON’T click! It will take you to a fake bank login page where your PII could be stolen.

Walmart

“You have been selected to receive an exclusive reward!” Free gifts are always scammers’ favorite tactic, especially during the holiday season. Below is an example of a fake Walmart reward email we detected last week:

Like some of the previous examples, this email directs you to a phishing page designed to steal your PII. Watch out!

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.  

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. Also, please consider leaving a comment or LIKE below. Happy holiday!