We’ve found lots of scams this week, including ones relating to MetaMask ETH, Costco, and Walmart. Would you have been able to spot all these scams?
Phishing Attempts: What Do Scammers Want?
Impersonating trusted brands, and under a variety of pretenses, scammers love to spread phishing links via text message or email — always with the goal of stealing your personally identifiable information (PII) (i.e. email address, Social Security number, credit card number, and more).
They will use various excuses to prompt you to click on the attached phishing links, e.g. promise you a reward, ask you to track a package’s delivery, take an online survey, and more. The phishing links will then lead to phishing sites designed to record your PII, with which scammers can commit a lot more crimes such as identity theft! Below are some examples.
MetaMask ETH Windfall Scam
Nothing is more suspicious than an email that states you can randomly get free Ethereum tokens (ETH) worth over $9000, right? We found that scammers are posing as MetaMask, the crypto wallet service we’ve posted about several times before, and sending out emails guaranteeing you can get 5.18915 ETH via the embedded button:
In this case, it will take you to a fake MetaMask page that instructs you to log in to withdraw the ETH to your wallet. Don’t do so! Any credentials you submit will end up in scammers’ hands, including your MetaMask seed phrase/key phrase, which will grant scammers full access to your MetaMask wallet.
An Easy Way to Stop Phishing Scams
The top safety tip to avoid phishing scams is NEVER to click on any unknown links. Or, you can use our 100% FREE tool, Trend Micro Check, to help fight scams with ease!
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Besides emails, scammers also spread phishing links using text messages. One of the most common tactics they use is to try to trick you into completing surveys to win a gift card:
Costco Survey Scam
We’ve written about fake Costco text messages many times before. This week, scammers say you can win a $100 gift card plus an expensive electronic product such as wireless earbuds after taking their online survey:
Costco: Thank you for being a valued shopper. Please answer our quick survey to help us better help you in the future. <URL>
As mentioned, the link will take you to a phishing page where you could end up exposing your personal information:
Scammers falsely claim that you can get the reward for free, but you need to pay the shipping fee. Then they ask for your contact details and payment information, including credit card credentials. Now you know what will happen: scammers will use your data for their own good. Be careful!
Walmart Survey Scam
Walmart is also one of the most impersonated brands, especially in online survey scams. Scammers use gift cards to lure you into taking part in their fake survey:
- Info by Walmart: You have earned the current weeks 500 USD gift card prize, spend in any branch <URL>
Don’t click on the link! If you do, you will be led to a fake online questionnaire that steals all the data you enter. Watch out:
Tips to Stay Safe Online
- Free gifts/money are always a red flag.
- Double-check the sender’s mobile number/email address. Even if it seems legitimate, think twice before you take any action.
- Never click on dubious links! (Use Trend Micro Check). Only use official websites/applications.
- Use Trend Micro ID Protection to check if your email address, password, phone number, or social account has been leaked.
- 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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