Scam of the Week: When PDFs Become Phish-Delivering Files
In this week's scam, cybercriminals are trying to trick you with PDFs that contain malicious content. You receive an email with a PDF attachment that appears to be from a major organization like Microsoft, DocuSign, or PayPal. The subject of the email seems alarming and makes it appear that you have an issue with your account. If you open the PDF attachment, it contains official logos and professional formatting. It appears legitimate, and the instructions direct you to call a customer service phone number.
Scam of the Week: WhatsApp with This Phone Number?
In this week's scam, cybercriminals are using phone calls to try to scam you. This type of scam is also known as vishing. You receive a strange call on WhatsApp, a calling and messaging app. The call is from an unknown number, and when you answer, you hear a robotic voice that asks you to add a phone number to your WhatsApp contacts. The call then quickly ends without any further explanation. It seems unusual, but harmless.
Scam of the Week: A Fine Way to Get Scammed
In this week’s scam, you receive a text message that appears to be from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The text states that you must pay a traffic fine by a certain date. If you don’t pay on time, your vehicle registration will be suspended, and you’ll lose your driving privileges. Some versions of the message even state that you’ll go to jail or your credit score will be affected if you don't pay.
Scam of the Week: Don’t Sail with These Scammers
This week, cybercriminals are targeting travelers by using online advertisements as part of a scam, also known as “malvertising”. If you book an ocean cruise and have questions about your reservation, you probably search Google to find a customer service phone number. The top search result is a sponsored Google Ad that appears legitimate, and even contains a phone number.
Scam of the Week: Don't Make This Smish-take
In this week’s scam, you receive an unexpected text message that makes it appear that someone is trying to log in to your email or social media account. The message contains a multi-factor authentication (MFA) code and what appears to be a customer support number for you to call if you did not request the code. These types of codes are usually only sent to you when you are logging in to an account. If you receive one unexpectedly, it might make you think an unauthorized person is trying to access your account.