This week we’ve found a large number of scams that you need to watch out for, including ones relating to the 4th of July, Costco, Walmart, Netflix, and Gmail. Would you have been able to spot all the scams?
What Is Phishing
Conventionally, while impersonating famous brands, scammers send out fake text messages and emails containing phishing links and try to entice you into opening them with various lies.
The links lead you to online survey pages that state you can claim a gift by filling out an online questionnaire. After you complete the questionnaire, you are prompted to enter credit card details before your “gift” can be delivered. Here are some examples:
Fourth of July Scams
To scammers, the 4th of July is not only a holiday; it’s a time when they create fake campaigns and phishing survey pages to trick people:
#1 Costco
- Happy 4th of JuIy from your IocaI C 0 S T C 0 ! Here’s 500 bucks to spend & a compIimentry membership this week-end: <URL>
Do you believe in free money? If you fall for this scam and click on the attached link, you will be taken to a fake Costco survey page. The pages say that you can win a Costco gift card after you complete the survey:
After that, you will be asked to enter personal information, including your name, email address, and even credit card details. Of course, there will be no gift card, and your credentials could end up in scammers’ hands!
#2 Walmart
Similar tactics apply…
