What happened?

The bankruptcy of Silicon Valley Bank happened on Friday 10, 2023, after a historically fast bank run. Over $40 billon funds were withdrawn in just a couple of days, leading the bank to failure. Such a fast cycle of events confused even experienced analysts – needless to say that ordinary folks and startup founders are completely disoriented. Eventually, this incident has prompted crooks to try their luck and try to cash in by any available method, and there are several reasons for that:

• Many companies and individuals working for companies will question how to pay emergency bills. Won’t there be any problems with payroll?
• How to contact SVB now, what website to use, and what to expect generally?
• Finally, this involves much money, which is bound to lead to many scams.

Unfortunately, scammers are sometimes savvier than you think. Therefore, if you work or are connected in any way to an SVB bank, you should keep your ears open; since, in most cases, this information is more or less publicly available, you will undoubtedly face targeted attacks from scammers. Moreover, you should expect phishing attacks not only via email but also via phone or SMS. Although some fraudulent emails may be indistinguishable from the real ones, Pseudo experts will offer legal services to affected companies, and people will be offered loans. In addition, some law firms now create unique pages to attract clients for possible litigation.

Email spam

Bankruptcy-related spam mailings may contain false information about the bank and its financial situation. In addition, such emails may contain offers to receive compensation. Usually, the user is asked to follow a link and enter their information. Often this link is fraudulent, and it is obvious. However, there is already a mass registration of new SVB-related domains. Unfortunately, not all are harmless – scammers register some specifically to deceive victims.

In addition to emails asking to click on a link, attackers can send emails supposedly from bank employees and ask users to provide personal information such as full name, residence address, etc. We recommend that you be very careful with such email and pay attention to the red flags: the sender’s address, the form of speech, and the style of the letter. For example, official organizations never address customers something like “dear user”. Instead, they use a first-name address.

Social media phishing

Social media is another vector that scammers will take advantage of. They can use social media such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn to send messages to bank customers, offering to help them save their money in bankruptcy. Scammers are more likely to create fake profiles and use bank-related logos to make their messages more convincing. So it’s essential to be careful not to trust people who ask for personal information on social media, especially concerning bankruptcy.

Phone calls phishing a.k.a Vishing

Vishing is a scam involving voice communication (a phone call). One common type of vishing is when scammers call the victim and introduce themselves as bank employees that they claim are about to go bankrupt. Since you don’t even have to make anything up here, since the bank is already bankrupt, this is almost a one hundred percent win for the scammers. For example, they can tell you you must transfer your money to another bank account to save it. The standard scheme of asking for information to transfer the money follows. It can lead to the theft of your personal bank account. We only recommend providing information once you are sure you are talking to real bank representatives. You can use the official phone number on the bank’s website to do this.

Race to register domains

We can already observe the registration of new domains that contain SVB. According to statistics, the number of registrations has increased several times over the past two days. Of course, not all of these are outright scams. Some are trying to capitalize on it, not even necessarily by scamming. Here are some of the registrations associated with Silicon Valley Bank:

• login-svb.com (parked)
• svbbailout.com
• svbclaim.com
• svbcertificates.com
• svblawsuit.com
• svbhelp.com
• svbcollapse.com
• svbdeposits.com

This is just a tiny part of it.

Possible SVB Scam Directions

It is also worth mentioning the regional banks affiliated with SVB, which had a stake in it. Since they had heavy relations with SVB, it is probable that SVB’s bankruptcy will affect them as well. First and foremost, First Republic Bank, Western Alliance Bancorporation, Metropolitan Bank Holding, and Signature Bank. It will be reasonably expected if scammers send emails to users saying, “Due to current circumstances, we recommend you protect your savings. Click on the link and update your payment information.” All this is done for one purpose – to get access to the victim’s accounts.

The post Incoming Silicon Valley Bank Related Scams appeared first on Gridinsoft Blog.

The most common types of scams on Instagram

Since Instagram was founded, mobile scammers have devised many ways to scam users. From seemingly lucrative investment offers to fake job offers, scammers can try to carry out their dirty plans differently. Here are the most common and relevant scams on Instagram today that you should avoid:

Influencer scams

While many legitimate influencers on Instagram exist, not all influencers are the same. Some are fake accounts created to trick gullible users. Instagram influencer scams include accounts with fake followers and likes, racy profile pictures, and promoting investment opportunities or financial services. In some cases, it is possible that the account was once real but was hacked.

Yeah. I’m sure this Instagram account will really help me succeed financially. pic.twitter.com/QGZdlvazEC

— Gaetano (@gaetano_nyc) April 14, 2022

Phishing scams

Like classic phishing attacks, Instagram phishing scams come with a sense of urgency. You may receive an urgent direct message (DM) or email telling you to take action, or your Instagram account will be “suspended”. In such messages, scammers impersonate the official Instagram support account and try to convince users that your account is in danger. Such attacks are often accompanied by requests for personal information. This information may include your username and password and alerts that you need to check your account for “suspicious activity”. To avoid this, it’s critical that you keep all account information private from others. And remember, Instagram will never send you a message about your account.

Fake job scams

Unfortunately, many people lost their jobs during the pandemic. Fraudsters have tried to take advantage of the situation by promoting fake job postings on Instagram, and they’ve partly succeeded. Phony job scams often include messages from fake recruiters, links to artificial job applications, and requests for your personal information. However, once you give a so-called recruiter your confidential information, they can use it to steal your identity, emptying your financial accounts. In some cases, it has ended up taking over your Instagram profile.

Music promotion scams

This scam is much more specific and can apply almost exclusively to musicians. If you share music on Instagram, you may fall victim to music promotion scams. The music promotion scams usually start with DMs from fake music promotion accounts. If so, the scammers may ask for money in exchange for a promotional post, claiming they can help increase your music streams. Sometimes, these accounts have many subscribers, views, and likes. At first glance, it may seem like there are thousands of people listening to your music. However, these are often bot accounts. Hence these Instagram views will not lead to new listeners on streaming platforms.

Sponsorship scams

Fake sponsorship scams (sometimes called Instagram ambassador scams) on Instagram also use fake or hacked accounts. However, these accounts pretend to be legitimate brands instead of posing as an influencer. Similar to the previous points, signs of sponsorship scams start with DM from fake brand accounts, which often ask to pay them to advertise. They may also ask for your personal information and, in some cases, offer to be an ambassador. They may promise a free trip or discounted travel, such as for a private meeting or photoshoot. Such situations are often fake and are only used to steal your personal and financial information. All such contacts require a thorough analysis.

Lottery and giveaway scams

Another standard Instagram scam scheme is a fake lottery and giveaway. Typically, these scams are designed to steal your information by convincing you that you have won a prize or contest. First, they congratulate you in a direct message and tell you that you have won an award. Next, scammers ask for your personal information to send you a prize. Sometimes they ask you to follow a link that redirects you to an insecure website. Rascals sometimes hijack real accounts or pretend to be someone running a legitimate giveaway. That’s why it’s essential always to be careful and keep personal information private from someone you’re not sure about.

Crypto scams

These days, it’s almost impossible to be on the Internet without hearing about cryptocurrency. Unfortunately, scammers here also managed to take advantage of the situation to scam Instagram users. The main signs of a crypto scam on Instagram can be considered any DM from extraneous accounts is claiming they can make you rich. In doing so, they ask you for payment or personal information. The only thing that can happen to your investment if you contact such scammers is that you lose it.

Romance scams

Romance scams can make you and your account vulnerable to hackers. In addition, these scams can be frustrating, often causing emotional and financial pain. Here, too, it’s all classic, DM from a fake account, lengthy romantic communication, then requests for payment, gifts, etc. In such attacks, scammers use the most sophisticated lies and social engineering to manipulate you and extract your money and personal information.

Investment scams

Similar to crypto scams, many scammers target those looking for extra money. They will send DMs and offer investment opportunities, so it’s best to be wary of any cash exchange or get-rich-quick schemes. The red flags of this scam include DMs from people with luxury lifestyles and promises of wealth and financial success. In return, you will be asked for an initial investment, often using mobile payment apps. However, once the scammer gets your initial investment, you will never hear about him again, and he will continue to try to do so with others. Alternatively, the crook will convince you to make another investment, which is promised to cover the previous losses.

Fake product scams

And the most massive scheme is the counterfeit items and online shopping scams on Instagram. Such scammers often buy a promoted Instagram account with many followers, which makes them more convincing. The red flags of this scam are

• Fake products ads
• Heavily discounted prices compared to other stores
• Links to questionable sites
• Requests for personal information to complete the purchase

Not only that, once you’ve given the scammers your personal information, you could lose access to your Instagram account, could get a fake version of the product you ordered, or, even worse, they could steal your identity.

Paid subscription scams

Another scam you should look out for is paid subscription scams. Scammers may offer access to genuine subscription services at a reduced price in these scams. The red flags, in this case, are account advertising of a lifetime or discounted admission to subscription services, requests for payment and personal information, and links to fraudulent sites. Usually, these are popular subscription services such as Netflix, Spotify, or Xbox Live. Again, we recommend only subscribing to a subscription service on the official website.

Blackmail scams

Sometimes hackers can break into an Instagram account and try to blackmail you as a form of harassment or for financial gain. This is all accompanied by threats to reveal personal information and claims that the hacker has access to your files. However, the hacker may not even have any information he claims to have. These are common attempts to scare you into complying with their demands.

What to do if you were scammed on Instagram

To protect yourself and your Instagram account, follow these steps:

• Don’t reply or click on links. Whenever you receive fraudulent messages on Instagram, the best solution is not to respond or click on any links.
• Block the account. The scammer won’t trouble you if he realizes you won’t fall for his tricks. To block someone on Instagram, click on their profile, tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner of the screen and select “Block.”
• Report the account. Follow the same steps above, but select “Report” and follow the instructions on the screen to let Instagram know the specifics of the scam.

This way, you can protect yourself and help Instagram prevent fraud with these accounts.

How to avoid Instagram scams

To reduce the likelihood of fraud, follow these cybersecurity tips:

• Use common sense. So it is if you’re offered a deal that seems too good to be true. Always be cautious and use common sense when communicating with other Instagram users.
• Enable two-factor authentication. Using 2FA can help prevent outsiders from accessing your Instagram account, even if they gain access to your password.
• Look for the confirmation check mark. If someone texts you from an account claiming to be an influencer or brand account, look for the blue verification check mark next to their name. Luckily, anyone on Instagram can’t buy it for $8, and it’s probably a fraudulent account if there’s no checkmark.
• Don’t link your Instagram with third-party apps. In some cases, third-party apps may request access to your Instagram account. Before you say yes, research and ensure the app is legitimate, as some apps can collect and sell your data.
• Make your account private. If you set your Instagram account to private, then only approved users will be able to view your account. You can do this by clicking “Settings,” selecting “Privacy,” and then turning on the “Private Account” feature.
• Use strong passwords. If you don’t do this item, all others will go to waste. So to keep your Instagram account as secure as possible, it’s essential to use a strong password. This can help prevent scammers from hijacking your Instagram account through password spraying or other tactics.
• Never click on suspicious links. In many cases, Instagram scammers may try to direct you to a malicious website. To avoid this, only click links you’re sure about.
• Shop only from verified accounts. Since Instagram added the shopping feature, many companies have started advertising and selling products online. Unfortunately, scammers pretend to do the same. To be safe, buy only from verified accounts with a blue check mark.
• Use an antivirus app. You can install an antivirus app on your mobile device for an extra layer of protection. This will help protect your phone from mobile threats, including viruses, malware, and spyware.

By following these tips, you can browse Instagram without worrying about scams.

The post 12 Instagram Scams to Know and Avoid in 2023 appeared first on Gridinsoft Blog.

What is Norton Scam?

Norton scam email is a common name for dubious emails that may come to anybody, regardless if they are the users of their products or not. These emails may potentially contain different text and disguise, same as any other phishing. But the most common is a notification about the subscription purchase or renewal. People receive a message that says their card was charged with a hefty sum, and to cancel it and receive a refund you should follow the instructions. The sum varies from $200 to $1000. This is not very realistic as these emails usually come to single users, who will never buy a corporate license or a one for 10+ machines.

Still, the sum is pretty scary and attracts the user’s attention. Phishing Norton emails may occasionally contain a link to a third-party site or a contact number of tech support. Both of them, as you can already guess, have nothing to do with the real services of a company. Villains may use a single phishing page for multiple spam campaigns.

The link may be plain text, as well as inside of the button or email text. It leads you to a phishing page, that will ask for your personal information – name, email address, phone number, et cetera. In some cases, they can ask you about the bank card details, including the security code (CVV/2). Later, this information will be used against you – after selling it to a third party on the Darknet.

The Tech support number is no good as well. There, crooks who mimic the real support will try to lure out your sensitive information, same as in the case with a link. The other thing which repeats the previous method is the behavior around the collected data – they sell it on Darknet forums as well.

How dangerous is the Norton scam email?

Same as any other phishing, it aims at grabbing as much personal information as possible. At a glance, you may think it is not that bad, as you share this information with different online services too. However, most of them keep this data a secret, as there are data protection laws that punish data selling. Meanwhile, phishing actors are not bound by any kind of laws, as the very essence of phishing is outlawed.

It is unlikely to meet a benevolent person among the buyers for leaked information on the Darknet. If you’ve shared your personal information, that will be the base for more precise, spear phishing. Crooks will try to perform a more sophisticated fraud to make you pay them by mimicking a thing you’re expecting. Leaked bank card details, on the other hand, give them the ability to manage your money as they want – and they can find a way to circumvent the bank’s safety measures. Carding has become way less widespread over the last 5 years, but remains a threat.

How to avoid being fooled with email scams?

There are a few rules that will help you to detect and avoid any questionable emails. They do not require anything specific and only rely on your attentiveness. Even the most sophisticated scams cannot be 100% identical to genuine emails. When it comes to some massive mailing with low-quality phishing emails, it is very easy to bust their disguise.

Unrealistic claims or offers

Do you really think Norton will charge you without your knowledge? Or offer a 1-year license for free, just for taking part in a quiz? When the things in the letter look untrustworthy, get some other ways to verify such offers. For example, you can check your bank account and see if there were any debit operations as described in the letter. On the official Norton website, you can see if there are any active subscriptions, and also promotions or giveaways. Still, emails may repeat the promotions, but contain a different link, so you will get into a fraud either.

Email addresses

No one can copy the email addresses of genuine mailing services, used by companies. And phishing actors sometimes don’t even try to – they apply using hijacked accounts or single-use emails, created only for spamming. Hence, seeing a letter that pretends to be a message from Norton, and is sent from ol1209130@bilibili.com is already fishy. In advanced scams, crooks may try to spoof the genuine address by changing the letters with numbers, to make them harder to distinguish from real ones in haste. For example, you may witness the nort0nsupp0rt@norton.com instead of support@nortonlifelock.com. Here is the list of address domains used by Norton in their official mailing – crooks cannot use or counterfeit it in any way.

Typos and poor email design

Can you imagine official letters from a worldwide-known company, whose design is poor and the text is full of errors? Most companies hire several writers who review the patterns used for automated emails and check up on all hand-made correspondence. Seeing a genuine letter that looks like a kid’s scribble is hardly a case. Be sure that it is likely a scam; you can additionally confirm your expectations by looking for the signs we mentioned above.

The post What is Norton Scam Email? Tips to Protect Yourself appeared first on Gridinsoft Blog.

Since many of us are still isolated at home, losing access to Netflix is almost as unpleasant as shutting down the Internet. Thus, any email from Netflix claiming that your payment details didn’t go through can get your attention and encourage you to act hastily. Below, we explain how the Netflix trap works and how to recognize a Netflix scam email.

Netflix Email Scam 2022 – How to Spot It

At first glance, the fraudulent letter looks pretty convincing. It begins with the Netflix logo and the phrase “Something went wrong,” which may seem familiar to those whose streaming show is interrupted at the most critical moment of the show. However, a closer look reveals clear signs that email has nothing to do with Netflix.

Signs of The Netflix Email Scam:

• The sender’s email address has a different domain and is different from the original Netflix.
• A generic address is used instead of your name, which signifies that fraudsters sent this email bulk to thousands of accounts.
• The email contains elements of urgency designed to create panic so that users act quickly. For example, losing access to Netflix could be a threat if you don’t update your payment details immediately.

Sometimes scammers make a decent attempt to mimic genuine Netflix messages, and they almost succeed. But, as with most fraudulent emails, one or two details are usually missing that show it’s not a genuine email. So let’s go over everything you need to know about Netflix scam text 2022, shall we?

How the Netflix Scam Email Works

There are several common scenarios, but it’s worth mentioning a few red flags, to begin with, that suggest how it works.

Netflix Payment / Subscription Issues

The email says you need to update your account status by clicking on the attached Netflix phishing email link. The link will take you to a fake Netflix login page, asking you to log in and provide your credit card information. This way, scammers get the credentials and can use them to hijack your account. You can also hover over the link (without clicking) to see the actual destination URL. Still, it may be hidden behind a short link, that says nothing about its content. That is not a common practice in machine-generated notifications, so you should not follow that link either. In some cases, an attachment is pinned to an email. Opening or downloading it can install malware on your computer. This could potentially be ransomware that can lock your device and encrypt files.

Netflix Reward / Gift Online Survey

Sometimes the message promises you an exclusive reward, but you must take an online survey to get it. This is how scammers lure you into clicking on a built-in button that takes you to a fake Netflix survey page. It goes on to say that you can win a free one-year Netflix subscription or other “exclusive reward” by taking a simple online survey. Sounds tempting. However, there is, of course, no gift. The ultimate goal of scammers is to elicit your personal information! They will record everything you enter on these fake pages and use it to do their dirty deeds. Don’t fall for this – NEVER share your credit card or other personal information online unless you are 100% sure the website is legitimate!

What Happens if You Click on the Email Scam Link?

First, an important note – do not try to do this from a work computer that has access to your company network and data. Such security mistakes, which are easy to avoid, usually cost companies dearly. The link from the fraudulent Netflix email leads to a landing page that looks very similar to the real one. Next, you are asked to log in with your login and password.

If you’ve entered your genuine credentials, the scammer will have everything they need to log into your account and take advantage of your personal information. This may not be critical for Netflix, but given how many of us are used to reusing the same old passwords repeatedly, it won’t take long for a scammer to try to log into more sensitive accounts. To prevent this from happening, we highly recommend using a password manager.

To ensure you are on a phishing page, you can do a simple trick – enter a non-existent username and password. The original site will give you an error that the account does not exist. However, if you can still proceed, it’s a Netflix scam email. In this case, even after entering random credentials, the website prompts you to update your payment details. However, nothing will change – all you typed or will type in the fields on that fraudulent page will be simply transferred to hackers.

What to Do If I Receive a Fraudulent Netflix Email Scam?

Fraudulent emails are an integral part of online life. Although the quality of spam email filters continues to improve, even with services like Gmail, Outlook, and sometimes it’s hard to stay ahead of every threat. However, a few simple actions can keep you safe.

Delete or report

The easiest thing to do is delete obvious fraudulent emails. However, if you feel like a good digital citizen, you can report them first. For example, you can use an exclamation mark icon or flag spam emails. You can also forward the email to the appropriate services, such as phishing@netflix.com. Finally, notify your IT administrator if you encounter fraudulent emails on your work email account.

Do not click the Netflix text scam

Never click on any of the links in a potentially fraudulent email. Instead, if you want to verify your account information, open a new window or tab and go to the actual website regardless of the links in the email. Clicking the scam message will notify the crooks that your account is active – and you will be spammed even more. Moreover, some tricky techniques include token stealing. If you go by a specifically designed link while being logged into your account on the device, crooks will intercept the token and will be free to manage your account.

Avoid attachments

It’s important to say that users are getting hooked on Netflix by phishing email, as sad as it sounds. Attachments are a clever way to disguise malware and spread threats. If you see an unusual attachment in an email that you don’t expect, never open it. Those are usually MS Office files that contain macros. They only contain a Netflix text scam that asks you to activate macros execution, which is disabled by default. Macros, in its turn, connect to the command and control server, and download malicious payload to your PC. Due to the vulnerability of macros execution mechanism, it easily circumvents the security solution.

Don’t update your payment information

Never update your financial or payment information when asked to do it in an email. Most companies warn you against this. For example, Netflix says: “We will never ask for your personal information in Netflix scam text 2022 messages or emails. This includes bank account details, credit or debit card numbers or Netflix passwords“. Services rarely break their own rules, so only these rows are enough to spot a scam.

Don’t reuse the same passwords

If you use the same password to log in to multiple accounts, attackers only need to crack one of your accounts to access all the others. The effective way is to use a password manager. All you need to remember is one master password. Then the password manager will store and enter complex passwords for you. It’s a simple, inexpensive, and secure way to manage multiple logins.

The post Netflix Scam Email: Top Netflix Scams 2022 (Phishing Texts, Emails) appeared first on Gridinsoft Blog.

McAfee scam email aims at your credentials

This email fraud is a classic example of phishing that involves messages that lead the user to a malicious page, which repeats the design of a simple login site. Sure, frauds related to email messages from strangers involve different tactics, but this one also appears. McAfee scam email mimics the regular notification from the vendor regarding account details or the users’ licenses. It may be an offer to get a free license for 1 year (or prolong your current one), a message that you should approve certain changes to McAfee policies, or prolong the license as it expires soon. At least these words already make the message untrustworthy, as real messages never contain something like this. Is there a Mcafee scam email 2023 going around in cybersecurity?

At the email bottom, or in the exact text, there is a link or a button that you can click on to get the details. Regardless of the bait, it will throw you to a phishing page – the one that copies the McAfee login page or a scam survey site. The former is more likely when this link is in a scary message, the latter – in a gifting one. Does Mcafee send emails?

The login page has only 2 states – the default one and the “wrong login/password” sign underneath the fields for login credentials. Regardless of what you type there, the information will be transferred to crooks who can manage your account after that. Alternatively, from the phishing page that aims at your credentials, the site may contain a download button. It can download and install a thing you’d never get willingly. Adware or rogue apps are the most often cases in this case.

Pseudo-giveaway that promises you a gift will likely ask you for your personal information. Shady persons on the Darknet are willing to pay a lot for a database of users’ information. The pack of name/surname/physical address/email address/system information et cetera gives a lot of advantages for other scams.

Rarely, the message may contain the attached file, and the text offers you to open it instead of following the link. In this file, you’re supposed to see details about the changes in the terms or other stuff they used as a disguise for a letter. In fact, this attachment (often a .docx or .xlsx document) contains a virus.

How dangerous is the McAfee scam email 2023?

Main thing you’re risking when following the instructions in a scam fake email addressis your account credentials and your personal information. The latter may not look so scary to you, as you share a lot of information with different services online. However, they usually keep them in secret, as GDPR rules force them to. Meanwhile, crooks who obtain your personal information through phishing never pay attention to rules or laws. As I mentioned, this information will likely be packed into a database and sold on the Darknet. And the next owners of this data will hardly be benevolent.

Credentials from your account, on the other hand, fit two roles simultaneously. Having your McAfee account means being able to steal your license key, if the one is present. Afterward, your key will likely activate a cracked copy of this software. Alternatively, it will be sold for a penny somewhere on the Internet – at a way lower price than you paid for it. If your license supposes its usage on several computers, be ready to meet the squatters. Another role for the stolen credentials is adding them to a database of leaked passwords and logins. Such information packs are used in brute force attacks, and the more passwords are here, the bigger is the chance of success.

Malware injection through the attachment is the problem of a different grade. While identity theft or account hacking is not an instant action, malware starts actions immediately after the launch. Fake email address phishing, like McAfee email scams, has become the bread and butter for malware distributors over the last year. It is dangerous for both single users and corporations, as the human factor is exploitable. In such a form, you can get any malware – but the most common things are stealers, spyware and ransomware. Sometimes, they arrive individually, resulting in compromised accounts and ciphered data. Not the very pleasant consequences, ain’t they?

How to protect yourself from McAfee email scams? How to Stop Mcafee Spam Emails?

The positive about most email scams is that they can easily be mitigated by a simple attentiveness. Once receives a suspicious email, the user should pay attention to a couple of things in its body and header. Even the most sophisticated fakes will contain elements that cannot be the same as in the original email. Less complicated things usually have various other signs that will help you to uncover the fraud. So, Mcafee scam emails, how to stop?

Typos and grammatical errors

Despite the availability of online spell checkers, crooks still refuse to use them, making a lot of mistakes in their letters. Poor English, missed punctuation marks, bad design – all this cannot be met in an official email. Their presence points to the fake origin of such a letter.

Link address

Genuine messages may contain links to their website – for instructions, for example. However, they always belong to the original sender’s domain (mcafee.com for the genuine McAfee email message case). If you see the link to a dubious page, like 193d9haodcnaqda127.weebly.com, or a short link, that is the reason to avoid clicking it. Official mailing never contains links to external sites and never applies using short links.

Sender’s email address

There are official email addresses companies use for mailing or conversations. They are often listed on their website. Receiving a letter that pretends to be sent by McAfee support, but the sender is mikey19137@aol.com does not look trustworthy. In complicated situations, crooks may try to use email addresses that look related to the sender. That’s why it is better to review the contacts on the website. For McAfee, those are the following:

Strange offers and unusual notifications

Giveaways, quizzes, or notifications about account blocking are not typical for any company. They can mail you when there are certain problems with your account to be solved, but you would likely be aware of them. On the other hand, offering to share personal information in exchange for a prolonged license is never a real case. In conjunction with the symptoms we mentioned above, it will point to the fact that this message is fake.

Is it possible to avoid email spam in the future?

The appearance of email spam in your inbox does not mean any bad things happened. Crooks often purchase databases with random email addresses, flooding them to bait someone into fraud. If you neither respond nor follow the link, they will delete you from their list sooner or later. However, any activity (i.e., replies or clicks on the link) shows them that your account is active and was baited into a scam. Spam researchers state that any response to a fraudulent email causes a rapid increase in other fraudulent emails.

Several tips can help you get less spam and easily distinguish between genuine and fake ones. First, use a separate email for registrations on sites and events you are not confident about. Some sites are not so worried about their image and happily sell the databases with their client information to third parties. The latter is not always malicious, but exposure is unpleasant for your “main” email address. This draft email will act as a shield that will take all suspicious emails on its part. Meanwhile, you will be sure about emails in your personal or work inbox.

Another tip is related to reporting the suspicious emails. Yes, most mailing services use special anti-spam engines that control most spam flow. However, perfection has no limits – and sometimes you may see Mcafee phishing emails in your inbox. Reporting such a tricky mail is easy: all you have to do is click the button with three dots on that message and press “Report Spam”.

The post What Is McAfee Scam Email? Tips for Protection from McAfee Email Scam in 2023 appeared first on Gridinsoft Blog.

What Are Internet Scams?

Scams can happen in many different ways on the internet, using computers and mobile devices. Scammers use methods of social media, SMS on a mobile phone, fake tech support calls, phishing emails, and more. The purpose of online scams can be to steal a person’s credit card information, password and login credentials for an account, or even their identity. Also, beware of “Get Rich With Bitcoin” Instagram scams, this is a very common attack in 2022.

Most Common Types of Online Scam

1. Phishing Emails, SMS, Calls, and Websites

Phishing is a cyber attack where scammers send spam messages to an unknown number of users to obtain confidential information or to earn money. These letters are mostly disguised as legitimate organizations or companies, which helps the fraudster gain confidence in his victim. Unfortunately, fraudulent scammers get what they want, which can either hijack your identity, get money from you or infect your PC with viruses. Yes, such fake emails may also contain malicious links or attachments, clicking on which you can distribute malware to your PC. For phishing, attackers use a text message that forces targeted individuals to perform certain actions. “Your package could not be delivered” smishing – USPS online scam text to beware of.

2. Romance Scams and Fake Online Dating Profiles

Love scams aren’t the new way to make money by cheating. Fraudsters forge their profiles on social media or online dating sites, hoping to gain confidence in the victim and engage in an affair. These scammers then use psychological tricks to create an emotional bond and profit from it. Unfortunately, these cheaters pretend to be victims who need money, and there’s no one to help them. In some cases, they even blackmail their victims on a permanent basis and demand a certain amount of money. This is one of the most dangerous types of online scam, as it relies upon human emotional ties – even though the companion is purely fictional.

3. Online Shopping Scam

Shopping on the Internet is not dangerous by itself. But the fraudsters have also found traps that can steal data and money from users. They lower the prices of products and give them significant discounts to get users to buy them. There will be no problems with payment, but that does not guarantee that you’ll receive the goods from the description, or will receive at least something.

4. Cryptocurrency Scams

Approximately $14 billion was stolen from people through cryptocurrency scams in 2021, according to records. While some people have become millionaires by investing in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, such cryptocurrencies are also the home to many online scams. Someone might trick you into giving them access to your online cryptocurrency wallet and steal your coins. Scammers might contact you with information about an upcoming Initial Coin Offering (ICO), and as the coin’s value increases, they quickly sell their coins at the highest point. Several years ago, social networks have been plagued with crypto scams, so be careful if you use this platform to find an investing idea.

5. Mobile Scams

Many fraudsters also attack mobile devices, for example, using malware or apps that look legitimate. These applications disintegrate malicious pop-ups, banners, through which other pests can spread and even steal confidential data. Another often target of mobile scams is installing spyware – to spy on you or just collect your personal details in order to spoof your identity in future.

How To Spot a Scammer: 4 Warning Signs

1. Use authority to build trust: Scammers always try to disguise themselves as an organization or company you know. This way, they have a chance that the attack will succeed. So be vigilant with someone who writes to you out of the blue. Beware of unexpected emails from serious organizations, it is better to go from the browser to the personal account of a company, bank and check if there are notifications for you.

2. Prey on your emotions: Whatever platform the fraudster tries to attack, he will always manipulate you. It can be a declaration of love and a request for help to sick children or older people. And the faster you trust him, the more successful his attack will be. So conclusion one – do not trust everything in the network.

3. Be threatening and aggressive: There are threats in addition to requests for assistance. The fraudster may threaten to steal your data or expose provocative photos and videos online in exchange for confidential data or money. They can also be presented by law enforcement to appear more convincing. It is important not to be afraid. Think about who can text you with such a threat and whether he has any provocative information about you.

4. Force you to use unusual payment options: Fraudsters use third-party payment options, which should alert you. They offer to pay through a fake payment system, with which they then receive user payment data. Sometimes, they send a link to the payment system you recognize, but the victim will switch to a phishing copy of this.

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What is a phishing scam? It is an attack carried out by an attacker on a user using a form of social engineering. It often occurs through emails, text messages, and calls with a specific structure and a fraudulent motive through which the fraudster attempts to influence the victim and get what he wants. The list of desires includes passwords, account data, and malware distribution.

Related Content: QR code phishing is a growing cybersecurity threat.

You will likely notice similar emails in your inbox if you are sensitive to your privacy. At the bottom, there is often a requirement to urgently click on a link or a confirmation to enter the system, which you did not open soon. So, what to do if you fall for a phishing scam?

Five signs of a phishing scam

Below we will submit the five most common signs of the phishing scam, after which you will be able to protect yourself from such deception. It is very important to be able to define it correctly, as threat actors apply very sly tactics. In the case of spear phishing, for example, they can counterfeit the email you are waiting for – and make you trust them.

1. Identity verification in your email

Everyone saw it at least one time in their life. Each user has an account – in a bank, online store, or social network, which is tied to an email. Based on this, scammers use this as bait to make a successful phishing attack on the user.

They disguise their messages as a company or bank that you know that says they need to urgently confirm your identity to do some background check or something. In this case, you need to be very attentive and understand whether you were waiting for some message from your company or bank which may relate to your account. If you doubt the legitimacy of such confirmation, better enter the account from your application or the official website, bank, or company and check the presence of any such issues.

2. Addresses or links to a website do not look authentic

Fraudsters carefully approach the issue of falsifying addresses under the actual addresses of some offices. At first glance, these addresses may seem quite similar to the ones banks or companies use to text you. But if you look closely, you can understand that something is wrong with the name. The addresses look similar but are never the same as the official sender has.

Information in letters can also be malicious. For example, this malicious stuff can be in the links inside the message body. Clicking on them will take you to a malicious site where you’ll likely see a phishing form, or a malicious offer. To avoid this, hover over them and check the link’s current address.

3. Poor spelling and illiteracy of the writing itself

Read the letter carefully before agreeing to anything you see or read. The presence of gross grammatical and spelling errors should give you an idea of the legitimacy of this letter. Major sites, stores, banks, and companies will protect their reputations and avoid minor missteps. It is their image in the customers’ eyes, so they are interested in taking care of their visuals.

Read carefully everything you see, and look at the structure, whether there is a greeting, the central part, and a logical ending. That way, you can determine if the letter is genuine.

4. Suspicious attachment

If you have received an email with an attachment you will be asked to go to, you should check it well. Scanning the attached file with the antivirus is a good idea. At least, you should be on the alarm when seeing the offer to enable macros in the document. Through such attachments, fraudsters often try to distribute malicious URLs that lead to the installation of Trojans and malware on your device.

5. The purpose of the phishing message is to make you panic.

Here we return to our main slogan of the article – “Your account is blocked”. Yes, this is also one of the features of phishing scams. Malefactors use such phrases to drive users into a panic. It is a psychological technique so that the user does not have time to think clearly. In a panic, you go to the link or enter the info to the attached form, and thereby compromise their data.

They can add a list of frightening phrases – “your computer is infected,” “we leaked your data”, and others like that. To verify that these threats are real, log in to your accounts through official sources, not through the ones you see in a letter. Since there could be real cases of such notifications, you should verify the authenticity of such threats.

The post “Your Account Has Been Locked”: Top 5 Signs of a Phishing Scam appeared first on Gridinsoft Blog.

1. Verify a Site’s Security. Try to be more careful about this. When you enter your data into the network, be it financial or personal data, check the site where your data will remain. So the first thing to look at is how the site URL is written; usually, it should start with “HTTP”, then a locked lock icon should be the address bar. Also, it is not superfluous to check the presence of a site security certificate. Be careful of malicious programs. They can squeeze into your PC through unverified links and sites, do not be fooled by advertising that offers cheap products or quick earnings, be careful.
2. Check Your Online Accounts Regularly. Everything depends on you. Suppose you monitor your bank accounts and statements, check passwords, sometimes even change passwords, and put two-factor authentication on your social media and emails. In that case, you have a minimal chance of falling for the scam. Remember to use a strong password that is hard to crack, this is important.
3. Think Before You Click! Do not click on everything you see online. There is a mass of cybercriminals on the Internet who work through ads, pop-ups, and links saying that you urgently need to protect your PC from viruses and others. Fraudsters know many typical phishing methods to deceive you. They disguise their emails under some companies and perhaps even familiar sites. But before you go to the specified address, move the cursor to the link line and see if it will take you to the place mentioned in the sentence.
4. Keep Informed About Phishing Techniques. Be always on your guard. Watch and search for new methods of phishing scams and watch the news about what is happening in cybercrime. Fraudsters invent sophisticated ways every day to trick you. Don’t let them do it. Check everything and protect your data.
5. Use Firewalls. You need to use similar firewalls to reduce the risk of hackers infiltrating your computer. How It Works: A firewall is a wall between you, your computer, and external intruders. There are two types of Firewalls: desktop (software) and network (hardware). It would help if you used them because they work together, giving you more guarantees.
6. Be Wary of Pop-Ups. It is another kind of phishing scam. Be careful to appear quiet on legitimate websites and mask as a typical offer from the same site, do not click on the suggested links. If you want to close this pop-up window, click on “X,” but not on the word “Cancel”; it can be a decoy for switching to malware. So remind yourself of the facts about adware attacks and pop-ups.
7. Use Antivirus Software. Install antivirus software. It will protect you from intruders. After installation, do not forget to update the antivirus software. New updates will help detect new fraudsters’ methods, so do not neglect this—Use a Firewall, which will block attacks. Also, do not forget about anti-spyware. Antivirus software scans every file on your computer, so you will easily avoid damaging your operating system.
8. Never Give Out Personal Information. Do not enter your confidential data to the received link via email. That’s incorrect and wrong. If you need to enter financial data, call the site, clarify all the details, and make sure you speak with an official company employee. Only then transmit any information about your card, but it can only be the card number and the incoming confirmation code from the bank about some payment. Only you should have the password to the card.
9. Keep Your Browser Up to Date. This item you should remember and apply. Once a new update is released, install it. This protection is a response to some new methods of cheating intruders.
10. Install an Anti-Phishing Toolbar. This toolbar can warn against phishing sites. It’s elementary. Install a phishing fraud protection toolbar on the PC, after which every time you visit a site, the program will scan the data of this site and warn you whether it is dangerous. The program checks the site you need with the list of phishing sites; if it is not included in this list, you can safely use this website.

Types of Phishing Attacks

The most dangerous types of phishing attacks should be avoided and know the steps to solve the problem. The main target of phishing is usually personal information such as credentials, full name, phone number, and email address.

1. Spear phishing. The purpose of this phishing is specifically for you. Intruders who work by this method already know something about you. They have part of your data; it’s your name, residence, knowledge of some language, your place of work, and so on. In this case, in a letter, the offender addresses you, for example, by name and surname, and confides you to himself.
2. Smishing and vishing. This subtype is similar to the case with email, only here, the fraudster works via text message. The attacker sends you a false text message stating what happened to your card, and you should follow the link to prevent it. The attacker is waiting for you and wants to steal your card details.
3. Email phishing is one of the most common phishing scams. The fraudster masquerades as an official company, replacing its domain and sending out vast counts of requests.
4. Angler phishing. In this attack, the attacker works through fake URLs, tweets, posts, and Websites to steal confidential data or download malware on the user’s PC. Sometimes fraudsters can use user data through their social media postings for narrowly targeted attacks.
5. Whaling. These attacks are directed at the highest levels of society. The ultimate goal of this phishing attack is the same as the others, only the methods here are different. In his letters, the fraudster attempts to identify himself as your director or some important person to convince you of his evil intentions.

How to protect your PC from Phishing Scams?

We mentioned earlier that we should get anti-malware to warm ourselves against Phishing Scams. We suggest you consider protection from GridinSoft Anti-Malware. Install this protection on your PC, it will only take a few minutes of your attention, and in the future, you will not need to experience intruder penetration into your personal space.

The post 10 Ways To Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams appeared first on Gridinsoft Blog.