A new phishing email making the rounds says you’ve violated FB’s terms of service or “Community Standards.” It’ll ask you to click a link to “appeal” within 24 hours or have your account deleted. Don’t fall for it; they’re after your login details. Two tips to spot the fakes: Look for typos and emails where the sender’s email address doesn’t end in facebookmail.com.
New antivirus scam email spreading — Don't click!
You don’t expect antivirus software to spread malware, but it happens. Tap or click here for how this malware can eavesdrop on your calls using your phone’s motion sensors.
Phishing scams are also far too common. Maybe you get a receipt for AV software you never bought, or a marketing email that looks legitimate buts leads you to a bogus page ready to take your credit card info.
Before you get duped, read on to learn more about how one version of this scam works and what you can do about it.
If you get this email, ignore it
Just because a well-known company’s name is attached to an email doesn’t mean it’s legitimate. Scammers often use the branding, logos or colors from retailers or services to trick potential victims.
In the latest scam, the phishing email impersonates McAfee with an accurate color scheme and logo. It looks to be a marketing email to protect your computer. There’s a big red flag, though: The sender address leads is a long, strange string of characters.
The subject line includes a confirmation number to prompt you to open the email. Once you do, maybe you’ll think, “Hmm, I do need antivirus software.” But the link inside doesn’t link to any official site.
In some variations of this scam, the link will take you to a page where you must verify the card details used in a transactions. This will do nothing but harvest your banking information, and the criminals then make off with your cash.
One of our Komando.com writers received one of these messages in her inbox and saw the red flags before even opening it:
- The sender name was “Mcafee” — the company name is McAfee with a capital “A.”
- The sender’s email address was a string of random numbers and letters that didn’t even include the company name. McAfee states that it will only send you emails from domains such as @mcafee.com.
- We attached the content of the email below. Note the error in the line “If your computer is unprotect, it is at risk for viruses and other malware.”
This isn’t the first time McAfee has been used in this scam. Late last year, many users saw malicious pop-up windows in their browsers, claiming the antivirus subscription had expired. The “renew subscription” link captured personal and financial information.
These bank suspension alerts are fake – Don’t fall for them
When scammers can’t intimidate you through fear and bullying to hand over your account details, they often switch to a different tactic.
In a sneaky new campaign, scammers are sending messages to potential victims claiming that their bank account has been frozen due to suspicious transactions. The only way to unlock your assets? You must verify that you are the legitimate account owner.
In 2008, the U.S. Department of Defense experienced the worst breach of military computers ever. Was the source a … A.) Phishing email, B.) USB flash drive, C.) Compromised employee or D.) Stolen laptop?
This phishing attack lets hackers read and send emails from your account
Passwords are heading toward becoming a thing of the past. That’s because more and more websites enable you to use your Google or Microsoft credentials to log in instead of creating new ones.
This functionality is called Open Authorization (OAuth) and grants third-party apps permission to access your information. For example, think of the ability to post Instagram photos to your Facebook or Twitter feed.
Scams are getting smarter - Don't fall for this one tricking Amazon customers
Holiday shopping scams should be no surprise at this point. Thieves know tons of people are looking for great deals on the hottest items of the season and do their best to rip them off. Tap or click here for details on holiday shopping scams that are already making the rounds.
Use a PC? This new Microsoft phishing scam is mighty convincing
Over the last few years, we have seen several phishing and cyberattacks that seemed ingenious. From masking their appearance to hiding in plain sight, criminals will always develop malware to be as untraceable as possible.
Watch out for this clever Netflix email scam that can drain your bank account
If you’ve checked your email any time recently, you’ve probably seen a plethora of junk messages relating to COVID-19, your bank and bills in need of attention. If you haven’t already guessed, most of these are spam and scams, but why are so many of these obvious traps slipping through our filters so easily?
Inbox full? Here's how to find attachments eating up all your storage
According to Statista, 306.4 billion emails are sent every day with an office worker receiving, on average, 120. Take a look at your email account. What’s your typical number?
If you find your inbox overflowing with messages, don’t get flustered. Tap or click to discover Kim’s six ways to manage your inbox. You likely send and receive numerous emails throughout the day, and it’s further probable that many contain attachments such as photos and documents.
Did you get scammed by one of these ultra-convincing fake DMV websites?
Spoofing is one of the latest tricks scammers have up their sleeves, and they’re getting seriously good at it.
Spoofed phone numbers and websites that look exactly like the real thing are tricking people all over the country. A recent example was so effective it even drew the attention of the FBI. Tap or click here to find out what sparked this FBI alert.
Scam alert! This spoofed phone call looks so convincing
If there’s one thing we know about cybercriminals, it’s that they’ll do whatever it takes to take advantage of you. Most are very organized and use sophisticated techniques that are always changing to stay ahead of software patches and law enforcement.
This sophisticated banking scam looks too real to be the work of hackers
If you get an email from a company that you normally do business with, you probably think nothing of it. We’re always seeing special offers and payment reminders through email; it’s just the way of the world nowadays.
Scams and phishing attacks spreading amid Iran cyberwar fears - don't get fooled
A little over a week into the new year and almost like clockwork, cybercriminals are already busy making the rounds with their latest scams. If it isn’t an attempt at stealing your identity, it’s a scam to pilfer your passwords.
Scam alert: Convincing phishing email is spreading
When’s the last time you got a phishing email? These tricky campaigns are some of the most effective tools a hacker can use, and judging by the millions of users successfully harmed by these schemes over the past few years, we’d say they’re unlikely to stop any time soon.
Don't fall for this 'White House' phishing email
There’s a brand new phishing email that’s making the rounds. I’ve seen it personally, and it’s using a well-known political figure to trick you into clicking. You’ll recognize this name when it pops up in your inbox, but the message isn’t really from her – it’s from scammers! Take a look at this screenshot, and I’ll point out the major discrepancies.