In the past few years, the number of customers getting scammed from malicious links have increased drastically, leaving them on the verge of bankruptcy. The questions that everyone asks is: how is this still happening? Are people not aware of bank fraud? Are phishing techniques becoming more advanced?
Below we answer those questions, so that you are well equipped to protect yourself from getting scammed.
The Public and Phishing Scams
The general public is well aware of common methods of bank fraud. However, hackers and scammers all over the world are getting smarter and finding more advanced forms of phishing. One of the most common methods is click fraud.
Click fraud calls for the clicking of links from the victim. They can be sent to your computer or cellular device, through email or via text message. These scams try to lure the victim with attractive offers, or create a situation of urgency to click the link, which is followed by the submission of a one-time password.
The cycle of fraud and deception doesn’t stop with the customer. It also impacts the organization’s budget for the pay-per-click campaign.
Some of the most common phishing techniques, that also contribute to click fraud are:
- UPI Fraud
- Bank Credit/Debit Card Fraud
- Email Phishing
- Malicious Link Through Text Messaging
- Duplicated Websites
How are Amazon and Netflix’s Customers Getting Scammed Through Phishing Links?
You may have seen Facebook posts or screenshots from your family and friends trying to warn others about online scams, but what are they all about? They are the easiest way to get the customer’s private information, such as their phone number, email address, and bank account name/numbers. With that information, scammers and hackers gain access to innocent customer’s bank accounts, allowing them to drain them.
Below we talk about some of the latest scams across the country:
Amazon and Netflix Email Phishing
Amazon and Netflix are the most popular channels of shopping and entertainment. Scammers have found a way to trick customers via the method of email phishing and text messages.
You might receive a text message saying that your account will be suspended followed with a link to click to remedy the issue. They might also send an email that says that they believe your account has been used by someone else, and prompt you to click a link in order to confirm your identity.
Fake Website
The scale of scams are reaching new heights as technology advances. One of the ways that scammers and hackers have found to dupe people out of their money is by creating fake websites that have similar domains to popular e-commerce sites.
For example:
Real Website: https://abccompany.com
Fake Website: abc-comp.com