This week we’ve found phishing attempts in which scammers are impersonating Equifax, Netflix, and UPS. Would you have been able to spot these scams? 

Phishing Scams

Impersonating trusted brands, scammers prompt you to click on malicious links that lead to phishing pages where they can record all your PII, such as your Social Security number, login credentials, and credit card details. With all this information, they can steal your money as well as your identity.

They make up various pretenses to trick you. For example, issues with your account, a failed delivery, or something else. No matter which tactics they use, they will ask you to take immediate action via the attached link, enabling them to gain access to your PII. Below are some examples:

Equifax Text Scam

“Equifax Alert: Your Score Dropped!” Have you received texts from Equifax that say your credit score dropped or your account was flagged? Hold on before you do anything. It might be a SCAM!

• Equifax Alert ATTN: Your credit score dropped 00 pts, More info: <URL> (detected by Trend Micro 614 times last week)
• FRAUD-NOTICE: EQUIFAX has flagged Your ACCOUNT!! Please handle immediately!! <URL>

These texts are NOT from Equifax. Plus, they all lead to websites that don’t belong to Equifax. Instead, they will take you to phishing pages where you could end up exposing your credentials, and scammers can thus take over your account. Don’t let them!

Sample Equifax text scam URLs:

• Scoreinfos[.]com
• Noortimer[.]com
• doortimer[.]com
• urtaxtime[.]com
• patronpath[.]us

What if my credit score really dropped?

There could be many reasons why your credit score dropped. Here’s a list of best practices for credit score health:

• Remember to pay your bills on time.
• Minimize debt and practice responsible spending habits.
• Check your credit reports regularly.
• Don’t apply for unnecessary credit cards.

Stay Away 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.        

Fake Netflix Payment Email

Netflix scams are always around. Posing as Netflix, scammers, again, send out emails containing phishing links to try to trick you. This week they told you that you need to update your payment details to resume your subscription:

Don’t click! The embedded button will lead to a fake Netflix page that collects your credit card information. If you do as instructed, scammers can view the data you enter and use it for their own good. Be careful!

UPS

“Would you like to receive your package?” Yes, but at what cost? We’ve been reporting on fake delivery notifications for a long time, and this week they’ve been impersonating UPS again:

Falsely claiming you need to change delivery information to claim your package, scammers prompt you to click on the attached button. Next, it will take you to a fake UPS tracking page; once again, everything you submit here will end up in scammers’ hands. 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 SHARE it with friends and family to help keep the online community secure and protected. Also, please consider leaving a comment or LIKE below.