Although Black Friday won't be here for a few days, cybercriminals aren't holding back from trying to take advantage of the upcoming shopping spree.
Bitdefender cybersecurity researchers have conducted a wide range of recent analysis and found numerous scams that try to take advantage of unsuspecting buyers.
The most popular method appears to be a phishing campaign that lures people in with deep discounts on designer handbags and eyewear, then steals (opens in a new tab) their credit card information, when victims submit this information on specially designed landing pages.
Fake surveys, fake sunglasses
In addition to fake Louis Vuitton bags, victims are also lured by fake Amazon and Home Depot gift cards worth up to €1,000, as well as fake surveys that promise people big rewards, like Pixel phones and Samsung phones. Galaxy S21. In some cases, researchers have also detected fake PayPal vouchers.
With coupons and surveys, victims are invited to complete the task, and then if they win the prize (and they always do, regardless of answers), all they have to do is pay the shipping fee, which the scammers claim be near. €5.
To make this payment, they must also provide all credit card information, including expiration date and CVV number. The victims will then not only make a small donation to the unsuspecting scammers, but will also have given them access to their accounts, which they can then empty.
Like any other holiday, Black Friday is a major event for scammers, and Bitdefender researchers urge customers to be very careful when looking for great deals.
"Don't be fooled by incredible discounts that sound too good to be true," they say. Even if you receive an offer that seems absolutely legitimate, do not click on the provided link, but instead visit the page directly, to ensure that you are not redirected to a malicious landing page.