It’s already December! This week, we uncovered a gift card scam in which a scammer impersonated Target, T-Mobile, Airbnb, United Airlines, Walmart, and Costco for holiday perks. Were you able to spot all these scams?
holiday gift card scam
We’ve seen gift card scams many times before. Scammers send emails and text messages pretending to be from trusted brands and claiming to guarantee free gift cards or other perks.
You will be asked to claim your reward via attached phishing links, which will lead to the following link: fake survey site It is designed to record personally identifiable information (PII), such as your home address and credit card details.
Fraudsters then use your PII to commit cybercrimes, such as draining your bank accounts or stealing your personal information. Here are some examples:
via text
Last week, we detected 34,351 fraudulent texts promoting free gift cards, with Target being the most spoofed brand.
the goal
- Need groceries? Clothes? Candle? Target gift cards can be used for a variety of other purposes as well. >>
Click (SNT-txt STOP to unsubscribe) - Will you be the lucky recipient of this Target gift card?? See here >>
(SNT-txt STOP to unsub) - Have a big shopping list? Click here
(SNT-txt STOP to unsubscribe) to see if you can get help checking out Target gift cards. the Target gift card in the link is could be of equal value. Is it yours? (TSN-txt from NO to the end)
If you click on one of the decoy links, you will be redirected to a fake Target website that asks for your PII. Be careful and never click on links from unknown sources.
Safety tips: Please double check that the web address is legitimate. The URL for Target’s official website is: target.com.
Protect yourself from fraudulent sites
The truth is, there are a lot of scams and scam sites on the internet, and it’s becoming more and more difficult to detect them with just common sense. However, for an easy and reliable way to detect and avoid fraudulent sites, check out Trend Micro ID Protection.
Identity Protection protects you from scams, fake malware-infected websites, dangerous emails, phishing links, and more. If you come across something dangerous online, you’ll receive real-time alerts so you can take extra precautions.
on mail
In addition to text, scammers also like to use email to spread fake gift card giveaways and scam people.
T-Mobile/iPhone 15
“You’ve won an Apple iPhone 15!” A free iPhone 15 sounds appealing, but the reality is that it’s too good to be true. This isn’t the first time a scammer has impersonated his T-Mobile.
Scammers will try to trick you into clicking an embedded button by pretending that you have been selected to participate in a loyalty program. Again, clicking will take you to a fake survey page where all your credentials may be exposed. be careful!
airbnb
What would you do if you had the chance to win a free $100 Airbnb gift card just by completing an online survey? This email is a scam, so think twice:
united airlines
We’ve seen scammers sending out fake United Airlines loyalty program emails before, and this week they started sending out fake gift card offers again.
Pressing this button simply takes you to a fake United Airlines survey page that asks for your PII. Don’t be fooled by scams!
walmart
Did you receive an email from Walmart saying you could get an exclusive offer? Don’t click. Only scammers receive something special: your personal information.
costco
Costco was also a victim of identity theft. If you see a strange email saying you’ll win a $1,000 Costco gift card, beware. It’s a scam!
Tips for staying safe online
- Free gifts and prizes are always a big red flag.
- Please double check the sender’s mobile number and email address. Think twice before taking action, even if it seems justified.
- For help and support, please contact the company’s customer service directly.
- Never click on suspicious links or attachments. Use official websites and apps.
- If you accidentally give away your PII somewhere, change your password immediately and let your bank or other company know that scammers may be contacting you pretending to be you.
- Check for PII leaks and protect your social media accounts with Trend Micro ID Protection.
- Finally, add an extra layer of protection to your device with Trend Micro Maximum Security. Web threat protection, ransomware protection, anti-phishing, and anti-spam protection help fight fraud and cyberattacks.
If you found this article interesting or helpful, please share it with your friends and family to help keep our online community safe and protected. Also, please consider leaving a comment or a like below. Have a great vacation!