Elections give scammers plenty to work with: urgent deadlines, familiar faces, passionate supporters, and messages asking people to take action.

Some want you to “fix” your voter registration. Others want a donation, an answer to a survey, or payment for merchandise supposedly endorsed by your favorite politician. The details change, but the objective stays the same: get your money, your personal information, or both.

Here are five election-themed scams to watch out for.

Scam 1. “We’ll help you vote”

Not every election-themed lure starts with a threat. Some offer to make voting easier.

“Get your ballot on autopilot,” reads one text message we reviewed. It encourages recipients to join a permanent absentee list so their ballots arrive at home for every election, adding the reassuring words: “Verified. Tracked. Counted.”

The message is a scam, though it borrows the language of a real Minnesota voting service. Minnesota does have a permanent absentee voter list, but the link in this text is fraudulent. To check or sign up, go directly to your election authority’s official website.

Other messages take the opposite approach: instead of offering convenience, they warn that you could lose your chance to vote.

A message might say you are not registered to vote, your details are incomplete, or your registration is about to be cancelled. Then it offers a link to sort everything out.

The FBI recently warned about messages that send recipients to fraudulent voter-registration pages. Instead of helping people vote, these sites collect personal information that criminals can use for further fraud.

In Brazil, scammers used a fake WhatsApp account with the Superior Electoral Court’s logo. It claimed to be the court’s “Customer Service Department” (which doesn’t exist) and told people to download an app called “Soluciona Pendência,” roughly translated as “Resolve an outstanding issue.” The message falsely warned that people could lose access to banking or government services.

Scam 2. “Donate now to help your candidate win”

A fundraising appeal arrives just as an election reaches a critical moment. It uses the candidate’s photograph, familiar campaign language, and an urgent request for money.

That does not necessarily mean the campaign sent it.

The FBI warns that scammers impersonate candidates and political fundraising organizations to collect supposed campaign contributions. Victims believe they are supporting a legitimate organization, but the money goes to criminals instead.

Before donating, find the campaign or organization’s official website yourself and check who will receive the payment. Don’t let a countdown, a matching-donation claim, or a message about an impending defeat rush your decision. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises researching political fundraising requests and resisting pressure to act immediately.

Scam 3. “Take our political survey and claim your reward”

Not every political poll is suspicious. But a request for your opinion can also be an opening for a scam.

The BBB warns about fraudulent polling calls that promise a prize in exchange for answering questions. After the “survey,” the caller asks for credit card information to cover shipping, taxes, or other costs associated with the supposed reward.

At that point, the questions about candidates have served their purpose: keeping you engaged long enough to introduce a payment request.

Other election-themed messages ask people to complete surveys through links. Treat those links with the same caution you would an unexpected donation or registration request. A familiar political organization’s name does not establish who operates the website.

You can decline an unsolicited poll. You should not need to hand over payment details simply to share your political views or claim a surprise reward.

Unsure where a link goes? We’ll check it.

Check now

Scam 4. “Pay this electoral fine” or “Report for election duty”

Few things make a message feel urgent quite like an official-looking demand backed by a possible penalty.

Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court (TSE) has warned about messages falsely claiming people had an unresolved voting issue. The messages link to fake government websites designed to steal personal information or trick people into paying.

Brazil does have legitimate electoral fines, which can be paid through official channels, including Pix. So a fine or Pix request alone doesn’t prove a message is a scam. If a message says you owe money or must perform election duty, check with the relevant authority using contact details from its official website. Don’t use the message’s phone number, link, or QR code.

Scam 5. Your favorite politician “wants you to buy this”

A politician’s name can be used to sell more than a political message.

Criminals use candidates’ names, photographs, logos, and slogans to advertise merchandise that never arrives. What looks like a way to support a candidate becomes an ordinary shopping scam wrapped in campaign branding.

Apply the same skepticism to a “commemorative,” “patriotic,” or supposedly collectible product advertised using a politician’s name. Before buying, ask:

• Is the seller actually affiliated with the politician or campaign?
• What, exactly, are you buying?
• Is there evidence for claims about the product’s quality, usefulness, or future value?
• What are the total price, refund terms, and any recurring charges?

A product does not become useful, valuable, or a sound investment because an ad places it beside a politician’s photograph. Nor does a photograph prove that the politician endorsed it.

There is also a difference between a product you consider poor value and a fraudulent offer. A product being poor value doesn’t automatically make it a scam. Look for clear deception: a fake endorsement, false claims, hidden fees, or an order that never arrives.

How to stay safe from election scams

You don’t need to work out every detail of a suspicious message before deciding whether to act on it. Verify the message through a route the sender does not control.

• Go directly to official election websites to check registration, voting requirements, deadlines, and alleged penalties.
• Verify donation requests independently. Find the campaign or organization yourself and confirm where your money will go.
• Keep payment details out of unsolicited surveys. A political poll that turns into a request to pay for a prize is a red flag.
• Check sellers before buying political merchandise. A candidate’s name or logo does not authenticate the shop.
• Don’t mistake personal details for proof. A message can contain accurate information about you and still be a scam.
• Keep political choices separate from requests for money or personal information. You can support a cause without responding to an unexpected message.
• Use real-time web protection to help block known malicious websites.
  

Pro tip: Unsure whether a message is a scam? Check it with Malwarebytes’ Scam Guard for an assessment and advice on what to do next.

Something feel off? Check it before you click.  

Malwarebytes Scam Guard helps you analyze suspicious links, texts, and screenshots instantly.  

Available with Malwarebytes Premium Security for all your devices, and in the Malwarebytes app for iOS and Android.  

Try it free → 

The warnings are everywhere these days. Don’t click this. Don’t open that. Don’t scan this. Don’t download that. These messages of caution, however well-intended, are so ubiquitous and constant that it should come as no surprise that some people have started to tune them out.

How many people? About one in three, according to our recent study.

Keeping up with every warning can feel exhausting. Meanwhile, scammers are finding new ways to target people and phones give them plenty of opportunities.

Mobile phones give scammers multiple ways to reach people, from text messages and calls to social media posts. According to a 2022 Federal Communications Commission report cited by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), texting is a more common communication method than voice or email.

Criminals appear to be taking advantage of that fact. Consumers reported losing $470 million to text scams in 2024, up 26% from $373 million the year before and more than five times the amount reported in 2020. The FTC cites estimates that text message open rates run as high as 98%, compared to just 20% for email. People’s tendency to open and read their texts helps explain their appeal to scammers.

Meanwhile, AI is making scams harder to detect, but better at impersonating people and companies to steal money, passwords, and identities.

Voice phishing, or “vishing,” was a vanishingly small category of crime just a few years ago, but AI has made it considerably more convincing. Vishing doubled in the first half of 2026, according to CrowdStrike’s 2026 Threat Hunting Report. Meanwhile, 16% of adults in the Malwarebytes survey said they had received a voice-cloned phone call impersonating someone they knew in the past year.

Our data also shows how difficult people find it to recognize scams: 85% of survey respondents said it’s hard to tell a scam from the real thing, up from 66% a year ago. And 84% said convincing video evidence no longer feels like the rock-solid proof it once was.

Here are five ways to protect yourself

1. Treat unexpected texts and social media posts with suspicion

 Legitimate institutions generally won’t ask for payment or personal information through unsolicited texts. And if the message is marked “urgent,” all the more reason to pause. Instead, go directly to the company’s official website and inquire there.

AI-generated images and videos are making it harder to tell what’s real online, so don’t rely on what you see as proof that a request is legitimate. If the content involves someone you know, contact them directly using a number you already trust.

2. Keep your operating system updated

This is one of the most effective things you can do to keep your phone safe. Security updates patch vulnerabilities that malware takes advantage of. Malwarebytes’ threat research found Android malware detections rose 151% in the first half of 2025. On both iPhone and Android, automatic updates help decrease risk.

3. Protect your accounts

Use a strong, unique password for every account. A password manager can create and store them for you. Where available, use a passkey—a way to sign in using your device, often with your fingerprint, face, or PIN—that resists phishing.

Turn on two-factor authentication, also called 2FA, for all your apps that allow it. This one step makes it harder for criminals who have your password to gain access to accounts on your phone.

4. Be skeptical of voice calls, even from your mom

This can be the hardest one to get your head around, but also one of the most dangerous and fastest-growing. AI-synthesized audio fraud has made it easier for scammers to sound convincingly like a loved one in trouble. Agree on a private code word with family members and friends in case of doubt or emergency. If you’re unsure, hang up and call the person on a number you already have. If the caller claims to be your bank, hang up and call back on a number you look up independently.

5. Check links before you tap, including links in QR codes

Before opening a link in a text, email, or social media post, check the web address for misspellings or an unfamiliar domain. You can also copy it into the free Malwarebytes Scam Link Check for help assessing it.

QR codes can hide suspicious links, too. Scammers sometimes place fake sticker overlays on top of legitimate QR codes in public spaces, and QR code phishing is morphing so fast that the FBI issued an alert in January about North Korean hackers using QR codes to target think tanks and government officials. Look for signs of tampering and check the web address your phone displays before opening it. If you’re not sure, don’t open the link. Instead, go directly to the organization’s official website or app.

Scammers rely on speed and pressure, so the best defense is to slow down. If a message or call feels off, step away and check it through a channel you already trust.

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On August 27, YouTube announced that Amazon had joined its Shopping Affiliate Program. Eligible creators can now tag Amazon products in their videos and earn a commission on sales.

Weeks later, we found a wave of sites offering YouTube creators what looks like another Amazon opportunity: an invite-only advertising deal with Amazon Music. The site shows creators their own channel stats, then asks them to “verify” their channel with Google before it reveals a personalized offer.

That verification step is a phishing attempt designed to steal Google sign-in details, putting the creator’s account and YouTube channel at risk.

If you receive one of these offers, don’t enter your Google password or verification codes. If you already have, secure your Google account immediately using the steps below.

What the real Amazon and YouTube partnership looks like

The real partnership lets eligible creators in the YouTube Partner Program and YouTube Shopping affiliate program tag Amazon products in their videos, Shorts, and livestreams, and earn a commission when viewers buy. YouTube’s setup guidance also describes linking Amazon and YouTube accounts, with a notification in YouTube Studio once tagging is enabled.

The real program does include a step where you connect and verify your channel. But it happens inside an Amazon account you already have, on Amazon’s own site, and YouTube confirms it in YouTube Studio. It doesn’t involve invite-only Amazon Music ad campaigns, payout calculators, or a third-party “creator portal.”

An invite-only deal that doesn’t exist

The site, hosted at amazonyt[.]com, calls itself the “Amazon Artists Music — Creator Portal.” The name resembles Amazon’s real Amazon Music for Artists service, helping it feel familiar at first glance.

It promises “advertising collaborations with Amazon and Amazon Music,” describes the program as invitation-only, and tells visitors to use “the link from your Amazon Music Artists outreach email.”

There’s even an earnings calculator. You pick one of four packages (a Shorts package, an integration in a planned video, a dedicated video, or a “full campaign package”), set your average views, add “boosters” like extra Shorts or a livestream mention, and choose how exclusive the deal should be. The page then shows an “estimated payout” and compares it with the “endless back-and-forth and delayed payments” of ordinary brand outreach.

The calculator does real math on the numbers you enter. But a working calculator doesn’t make the payout real. The estimates give creators a reason to keep going before the site asks for their sign-in details.

The site is available in nine languages: English, Spanish, Indonesian, Portuguese, Russian, Urdu, Arabic, Hindi, and Thai, suggesting the operators are targeting creators across multiple countries.

Your own channel, used as bait

Next, the site asks for your YouTube channel link.

Once you paste it, a dashboard displays your real channel data: subscriber count, total views, recent and top-performing uploads, playlists, topics, and thumbnails. Seeing your own data on an Amazon-branded page makes the offer feel tailored to you.

To pull this data, the site queries YouTube’s own public API directly from your browser. The code includes 20 Google API keys and automatically switches to the next one if a key hits its usage limit or is rejected.

This data is public, so looking it up isn’t theft in itself. What it buys the criminals is credibility. A site that knows your subscriber count and your latest upload can look as though someone has already assessed your channel for a deal.

The offer itself stays locked until you “verify” your channel.

The fake “Continue with Google” button

To unlock it, you have to “complete the required step: Verify Your Channel.” The page says you need to sign in with Google to confirm you own the channel and “unlock your Amazon Music collaboration brief,” and shows a familiar white button with the colored Google logo: Continue with Google.

The site does contain genuine Google sign-in code, the same kind legitimate sites use. But it’s inactive: the setting that would connect it to Google is empty, so it never runs.

Instead, clicking the button opens a full-screen frame on top of the page. The frame loads content from a second domain, youtubechannelverification[.]com. Its background is almost completely transparent, so whatever the second site draws appears to sit over the Amazon page. Meanwhile, your browser’s address bar still shows amazonyt[.]com.

This is similar to what we described in our recent look at a fake Claude Max giveaway: when the sign-in window lives inside the page, the criminals control nearly everything you see.

The second-stage code shows what it’s after. In the version we analyzed, it sent the email address and password entered into the form to its own server, and it supported steps for multi-factor authentication (MFA) challenges. In other words, it’s built to collect not just your password but also verification codes that could help the criminals get past an additional layer of account protection.

A fake offer to keep you reassured

What happens next depends on how the second stage responds.

The fake window has no close button of its own. It closes only when the second-stage site tells it to. When that happens, the page displays, “Verification failed. Please try again.”

However, the second-stage configuration we analyzed also pointed to a “success” address back on amazonyt[.]com. Visiting that page marks your channel as verified and returns you to the dashboard, where the offer is now unlocked: a fit score, campaign tier, budget band, estimated reach, and a pitch that quotes your recent average views back to you.

You can even negotiate. A counter-offer editor lets you choose deliverables, toggle social media usage rights, and leave a note for “Amazon Music.” When you click Request this collaboration or submit your counter-offer, a “Request received” screen says the Amazon Music partnership team will review your channel and reach out with next steps.

For the creator who reaches this screen, everything appears to have worked. They verified their channel, saw a convincing offer, and sent a request. That reassuring ending may give the criminals more time before the victim suspects anything.

Why this campaign stands out

Fake sponsorship offers have targeted creators for years. This one combines several features that make the trap more convincing:

• The password collection happens on a second domain. The amazonyt[.]com page itself doesn’t contain the sign-in form. That form is loaded from youtubechannelverification[.]com only after you click. A split like this can make the first page look cleaner to anyone checking it, and it lets the operators change the second stage without touching the lure.
• The success page is designed to evade suspicion. Victims who hand over their details aren’t left at an error page. They’re returned to an unlocked offer and a “Request received” confirmation, giving them a reason to wait for a reply.
• Personalization is automatic. Every visitor gets a dashboard and offer built from their own channel’s real numbers.
• It may be part of a reusable kit. The code contains leftover error messages that have nothing to do with this site, like “Please enter the product ID” and “This channel is not in the list, please connect the invited channel.” The link to the second stage also carries a ref value, which the second-stage code we analyzed stored as a workerCode. That could mean more than one person sends traffic to it, though we can’t confirm how the kit is shared.

Why criminals want YouTube channels

YouTube creators have been a target for years. In 2021, Google’s Threat Analysis Group described a campaign that lured creators with fake collaboration offers, used malware to take over their channels, and then sold them on or used them to broadcast cryptocurrency scams.

A hijacked channel comes with an audience that already trusts it. That gives criminals a ready-made platform for reaching potential victims.

How to spot a fake sponsorship offer

• Treat “verify your channel” requests with caution. Legitimate services may use Google’s official sign-in to confirm channel ownership. The important distinction is where you sign in: Your Google password and verification codes belong on Google’s genuine sign-in page.
• Check the browser’s real address bar. If you’re asked for your Google password, the actual browser tab or separate browser window should show accounts.google.com. An address bar drawn inside the webpage can be faked.
• Check the domain, not the logo. The domains amazonyt[.]com and youtubechannelverification[.]com are part of this phishing campaign. Familiar branding and accurate channel stats don’t make them official.
• Know what the real program offers. The Amazon and YouTube Shopping partnership lets eligible creators earn commissions on tagged products. A supposed Amazon Music sponsorship needs to be verified separately.
• Verify the offer independently. Contact the company through its official website, using contact details you find yourself rather than those supplied in the message.

If you already entered your details

Change your Google password through Google’s official site. Review your devices and sign out of unfamiliar sessions in your Google Account security settings, and remove any third-party apps you don’t recognize. Also check that your recovery email address and phone number haven’t changed.

If you entered an MFA code or approved a sign-in prompt, treat your account as potentially compromised.

In YouTube Studio, check Settings > Permissions for anyone you didn’t add. If your channel is connected to a Brand Account, check that account’s permissions too. If you’ve lost access, follow YouTube’s guidance for recovering a hacked channel, starting with the Google account associated with it.

How Malwarebytes spots scams like this

Once a phishing page loads, the criminals control almost everything you see, which is why it’s best to stop it before it opens. 

Malwarebytes Browser Guard blocks phishing and scam domains before the page can load. If you’re unsure about a sponsorship offer, you can ask Malwarebytes Scam Guard to check it before you reply or click anything.

Indicators of compromise

• amazonyt[.]com
• youtubechannelverification[.]com

Stop threats before they can do any harm.

Malwarebytes Browser Guard blocks phishing pages and malicious sites automatically. Free, one click to install. Add it to your browser →

Free Mobile, one of France’s main cellular providers, was fined €27 million by France’s data protection regulator, the CNIL, in January over failures to protect customer data. The October 2024 breach allowed an unauthorized party to access sensitive customer records, including bank account details and login information. Since the breach, we’ve seen many poorly written scam campaigns targeting Free Mobile customers.

However, over the past few weeks, a well-written scam has appeared, closely copying the design of the official Free Mobile website and email templates.

One of our employees, who is a Free Mobile customer, received this phishing email on Wednesday, September 30. The message used the same logo and template as legitimate emails from the company, but came from the suspicious email address freemobile-regularisation[@]knowledgegrowthcenter[.]help. It included a link that appeared to point to regularisation.free.fr :

The email tells the user that an invoice of €9.99 needs to be paid to avoid having the customer’s service suspended. Clicking the link opens a redirection chain:

1. https://u2l.ai/Q5YwFz301
2. https://espace-free-mobile.pro/Ds41LE/302
3. https://espace-free-mobile.pro/Ds41LE/regularisation/?impaye=92a9e77d…200

This final domain, espace-free-mobile.pro, is hosted by Cloudflare and was registered just a month ago.

The final link opens a convincing page with a form asking for credit card details:

The phishing page looks authentic, which sets this campaign apart from many of the Free Mobile scams we’ve seen since the breach.

We initially saw the same campaign using less convincing redirection chains, like this example from July:

1. https://bly.to/93kie5u
2. https://s1181402.ha026.t.mydomain.zone/mbl/
3. https://s1181402.ha026.t.mydomain.zone/mbl/regularisation/?impaye=505…

More recently, we’ve seen more authentic-looking domains, all hosted by Cloudflare:

1. https://s.ink/jmCnZZ
2. https://freesas.info/Cf4tP/
3. https://freesas.info/Cf4tP/regularisation/?impaye=f13fa919d1a22833557…

And another example:

1. https://bly.to/jabwpf6
2. https://regularisation-free.info/portail/
3. https://regularisation-free.info/portail/regularisation/?impaye=83f91…

How to stay safe

Malwarebytes can help protect you from these threats, but treat unexpected messages about your accounts and invoices with caution:

• Don’t follow links in unsolicited emails. If a message concerns your account, open the official Free Mobile app or website directly, or call the official help line at 3244.
• Check the actual domain in your browser’s address bar to see if it matches what you expect—https://mobile.free.fr in this case.
• Malwarebytes Browser Guard detects and blocks this scam directly in your browser.
• Use an up-to-date, real-time anti-malware solution with a web protection component on all your devices.
• Malwarebytes Scam Guard can help you determine whether an email is a scam and advise you on what to do next.

Stop threats before they can do any harm.

Malwarebytes Browser Guard blocks phishing pages and malicious sites automatically. Free, one click to install. Add it to your browser →

Apple announced its first foldable iPhone on September 9, and scammers were ready to ‘deliver’ one before anyone could buy it.

Most of what we found around the launch of the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro was familiar fraud.

But one fake preorder page was different.

Behind its Apple-style design and $500 voucher, the page uses the leaked DarkSword exploit chain to try to break into vulnerable iPhones. If it succeeds, a separate payload attempts to steal saved credentials, cryptocurrency wallet data, and notes.

You don’t have to fill in the form, tap a download, or approve anything. Opening the page is enough to start the attempt.

The $500 voucher is a distraction

The page looks like Apple’s, down to its logo and “Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc.” footer. It promises an “Authorized Partner Exclusive” $500 voucher and AppleCare+ coverage if you complete a preorder form. The form asks for your name, email, and phone number, with WhatsApp “preferred,” but promises no upfront payment.

But Apple doesn’t open iPhone Duo preorders until October 16. You cannot place an Apple preorder now. It offers 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch models in colors Apple doesn’t sell for the Duo. Its countdown starts over whenever the page loads, and its privacy, terms, and sales policy links go nowhere.

In the version we captured, submitting the form doesn’t place an order. Its submission handler doesn’t read or send the details entered, and the page generates its own “Pre-Order Successful” message. The exploit attempt has already begun in the background.

How the attack starts when the page opens

Visitors using browsers the script doesn’t recognize as Safari see a “Browser Restricted” notice. On iPhones, the page also tries to reopen the link in Safari, the browser the exploit chain targets. That steers visitors toward the intended browser, although background resources may still load in others.

An invisible frame checks the visitor’s iOS version and selects the next code to load. DarkSword then attempts to get past the iPhone’s protections and, if successful, gain deep access to the phone. It doesn’t wait for a button press or form submission.

What attackers could take from an iPhone

If the exploit succeeds, the payload attempts to contact its server. Its first message includes a device identifier, device information, and status. It also attempts to send a list of installed apps and the contents of Apple Notes.

The code looks for cryptocurrency wallets, including MetaMask, Phantom, Trust Wallet, Coinbase Wallet, Exodus, and Tonkeeper. It also attempts to recover saved credentials from the phone’s keychain. If it finds a targeted wallet and the first exchanges with its server succeed, it attempts to upload wallet files, recovered keychain data, and photo thumbnails. Exposure of wallet files or credentials could put funds at risk.

The payload also tries to access files containing messages, call history, contacts, voicemail, email, calendar entries, and cached location data.

The payload can then repeatedly contact its server for instructions. Its commands can list directories, retrieve files and full-size photos, gather app information, and run JavaScript supplied by the server. The payload also tries to cover its tracks by deleting diagnostic reports that could help investigators spot the attack.

The code is designed to run inside a system process, but may stop before the phone restarts. We found no mechanism that automatically brings it back after a reboot.

We analyzed the captured code, but did not test it on an iPhone or observe data leaving one.

Which iPhones could be at risk?

Several parts of the captured code match the DarkSword chain described by Google in March. Apple has patched the vulnerabilities Google reported.

When DarkSword was disclosed in March, iVerify estimated that up to 270 million devices were running the iOS 18.4 through 18.6.2 versions targeted by the variant it analyzed. That is not a current count or a measure of how many phones this page could compromise. We haven’t confirmed this page’s exact range; its files also contain code for older iOS versions.

The lure fits the exploit: someone considering a new iPhone may still be using an older, unpatched one. That could make them vulnerable simply by opening the preorder page.

Safari can report an older iOS version to websites, so an updated iPhone may still load the attack code. That doesn’t mean the exploit can break in: Apple says updated devices are protected against the reported attacks.

How to stay safe

• Keep your iPhone updated. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install the latest version available. Turn on Automatic Updates there too. Apple says updated devices are protected against the reported DarkSword attacks.
• Check offers without opening unfamiliar links. Go directly to Apple or a retailer you know by typing its address yourself. A preorder link in an ad, message, or social post could start an exploit attempt as soon as the page opens.
• Opened this page? Restart your iPhone after updating it. We found no code that automatically brings the payload back after a reboot. Restarting cannot undo any data already taken.
• Keep a cryptocurrency wallet on that phone? Take precautions from a trusted device. If the phone may have been compromised and you keep a wallet on it, create a new wallet with a new recovery phrase and move the funds. For an exchange account, secure the account and contact the exchange.
• Change potentially exposed passwords from a trusted device. Start with email, your Apple Account, banking, and crypto accounts, and turn on two-factor authentication.
• Report the page. Save its URL and any screenshots without reopening it, and report it to your national cybercrime reporting service.
• Check a suspicious offer before you act. Scam Guard can give a verdict on a screenshot or link. On desktop, Browser Guard blocks the fake preorder page we analyzed; web protection in Malwarebytes Premium blocks it too.

Indicators of compromise

• pnmrud[.]cc — command-and-control and collection server
• cloud[.]cmatgldn[.]click — ad click and conversion tracker

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LinkedIn is adding trust and verification features aimed at making fake professional identities, invented work histories, and company impersonation harder to pull off.

The company is responding to an environment in which generative AI enables imposters to create an entirely made-up professional persona. It reduces the cost of creating convincing headshots, biographies, résumés, outreach messages, and recommendations.

LinkedIn’s new features use verified people and company Pages to help check other users’ claims.

Colleague and classmate vouching: People can confirm that they worked or studied with someone during the period listed on that person’s profile. This confirms an affiliation; it does not rate the person’s ability or recommend them.

Employer control over false affiliations: Admins of verified company Pages can remove people who falsely claim to work there from the company’s associated people and search results. This doesn’t remove the person’s profile or erase the claim from it.

Workplace verification requirement (in testing): LinkedIn is testing a setting that would require people who want to associate themselves with a company Page to verify their workplace, for example, through a work email address.

Verified identity beyond LinkedIn: LinkedIn is extending partnerships that let users display their LinkedIn-verified identity elsewhere. New partners include Truecaller and PeerSpot, alongside Adobe and UserTesting.

LinkedIn hopes that multiple visible signals such as identity verification, workplace verification, peer corroboration, and company Page controls will make a fabricated profile less persuasive. It says its existing verification tools have verified 115 million members and more than 700,000 companies.

LinkedIn VP of Product Oscar Rodriguez told TechCrunch:

“We’ve been invested in [verification] because we believe that authenticity will be the single most valuable currency on the internet.”

These new affiliation checks cannot tell a job seeker whether an opportunity is genuine. A scammer does not always need to impersonate a major employer. They can invent a convincing startup, build a polished company Page, and use fake job listings or recruiters to lure applicants. The checks may be less helpful if the supposed employer itself is part of the scam.

As we’ve seen in recent research, criminals pose as both well-known companies and appealing new ventures offering the kind of role a job seeker hopes to find. The new checks may help someone determine whether a supposed recruiter is affiliated with a company they recognize. They may be less helpful when the company itself is part of the scam.

Verification is therefore a useful signal, not a guarantee. Job seekers should still be wary of unsolicited approaches, pressure to move conversations off LinkedIn, requests to install software or share identity documents, and job offers that arrive before a credible interview process. Check a recruiter’s affiliation, visit the employer’s website independently, and confirm that its contact details and job listing match.

LinkedIn’s changes acknowledge a growing problem: AI can make a fake professional identity look remarkably polished. Verified accounts, workplace affiliations, and colleague confirmations may become more valuable to criminals, too. They may try to exploit those signals through stolen accounts, manipulated verification, or carefully constructed networks of fraudulent profiles. Verification can raise the cost of deception, but it cannot replace healthy skepticism.

Scammers don’t need to hack you. They just need you to click once. 

Malwarebytes Identity Theft Protection catches suspicious activity before it becomes a problem.

Phishing follows whatever people want at the moment, and right now that includes AI subscriptions they don’t have to pay for. We recently uncovered a new variation on this theme: A fake Claude Max giveaway that uses a convincing Google sign-in window to steal login information.

Claude’s paid plans start at $20 a month and cost considerably more for higher usage limits, while free accounts have stricter limits. That makes the promise of a free upgrade an attractive lure.

Microsoft reported in June that it had seen a growing number of phishing, malicious advertising, and search-based campaigns impersonating services such as ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek and Copilot. Some claim that a payment has failed and send you to a fake checkout. Others offer an app download that installs malware.

The campaign we found takes a different approach. There is no form to collect card details and no download. Instead, it offers a free upgrade and asks you to sign in with your Google account.

What the page shows you and what it collects

The site announces that Anthropic has passed 100 million users and is thanking people by giving away 10,000 free one-month subscriptions to Claude Max, its highest-usage plan.

The presentation is careful, down to the real logo and colors, invented five-star reviews, and a long footer whose links lead almost entirely to genuine Anthropic pages. This is probably the most effective trust signal on the site, and it cost the operator nothing.

A counter claims that fewer than 750 of the 10,000 slots remain, dropping by a few every several seconds. Nothing is actually being counted. The number is generated inside your browser and resets when you reload the page, so every visitor sees the same manufactured shortage.

The frequently asked questions repeatedly promise that no payment details are needed. That part is true, which helps make the offer persuasive. Many people associate scams with requests for card details, and this page never asks for them.

What it wants instead is your Google login. Two sign-in options appear, but only one works. The Apple button produces a pre-written notice saying that the method is temporarily unavailable. The email box discards whatever you type into it and triggers the Google button instead. Every route leads to the same place, and the prize is far bigger than the lure suggests.

A Google account can provide access to email, documents, and the password-reset messages for other accounts. If you use Google to sign in to Claude, it could also give the criminals a route into your Claude account. Paid AI accounts are valuable in their own right because their usage allowances cost money. Last month, our research covered infostealers hijacking Claude accounts and using the victims’ paid allowances.

Why this sample is notable

Clicking the Google button doesn’t open a real Google sign-in window. Instead, the page draws a browser window inside the existing tab, complete with a padlock and a correctly spelled Google sign-in address. It can even be dragged around the page.

The address bar, padlock, and everything inside the supposed window belong to the phishing page, not Google. It begins with a human-verification step rather than a password box, which may reassure visitors while helping to keep automated scanners away from the next stage.

Researchers have documented this “browser-in-the-browser” technique since 2022. Unit 42 reported a campaign in June that used draggable fake browser windows to target Microsoft 365 users.

What makes this sample instructive is how little the operator had to do. The malicious functionality is loaded through a single line of code from an outside service that presents itself as a reusable sign-in widget and provides installation instructions.

Comments inside the code are written in Russian and refer to the target as the victim. One explains that dark-themed fake windows used to flash white while loading, so the widget now fetches the correct color in advance to remove the flicker. The code appears to be a maintained, reusable product rather than something built for this one campaign.

How to spot a fake browser window

The design assumes you will check the wrong address bar. People have been taught to look for a padlock and the correct address on a login page, so this attack draws both inside a window that does not really exist.

The only address bar that matters is the one belonging to your actual browser at the top of the screen. Throughout this process, it continues to show the phishing site’s domain.

• Try to drag the sign-in window beyond the edge of the webpage. A real popup is a separate browser window and can be moved anywhere on your screen. A fake one is trapped inside the page that created it and stops at its edge. It takes two seconds and is the most reliable test a non-technical user has.
• Let your password manager decide. It checks the real web address rather than what the page displays. It should not offer to fill your Google password on a site that does not belong to Google. If it stays silent where it normally fills, believe it over your own eyes.
• Don’t arrive through links. If a promotion is real, you should also be able to find it on the company’s own site. Type the address or use a bookmark and look for the offer there.
• Treat countdowns and slot counters as decoration. Any page can show a number falling toward zero. It does not prove that an offer is limited.
• Be suspicious when only one sign-in option works. Claiming that one provider is temporarily unavailable can steer everyone toward the path the attacker built.
• If you already signed in, secure the account. Change your password through the provider’s real website, sign out of all other sessions, and review connected apps and unfamiliar devices. Closing the tab does not undo a login.

How Malwarebytes helps

Malwarebytes Browser Guard blocks phishing and scam domains before the page can load. In an attack like this, once the page is open, the criminals control nearly every visual cue you would normally use to judge whether it’s legitimate.

If you’ve been sent an offer and you’re unsure, Scam Guard can assess it before you engage and advise you on what to do next.

“One of the best cybersecurity suites on the planet.” 

According to CNET. Read their review →

We found more than 100 subscription websites linked through the same toolkit and closely related developer details. Some impersonate existing products, including GPT-6 Astra, DaVinci Resolve, PixAI, and OpenCut. Another uses the name of Omegle, the chat service that shut down in 2023. Others promote unfamiliar brands with little verifiable information about who operates them.

The sites we examined did not use fake password forms or push malware downloads. Instead, they used polished product pages and genuine Google sign-in screens before directing visitors to paid plans. Someone visiting an imitation site could believe they were buying from the genuine provider. With the unfamiliar brands, it is difficult to establish who is selling the subscription or independently verify the claims being made.

Despite their different names and designs, the sites share identical underlying files and closely related developer email addresses. This suggests that a single operator, or closely connected group, is behind the network.

What the sites show you

At first glance, these sites don’t look suspicious. They use secure connections, professional designs, and the confident language you would expect from an established software company.

The secure connection and padlock only show that traffic between you and the site is encrypted. They do not confirm who operates it.

Some show performance comparisons, star ratings, and precise user numbers. One claimed to have more than 12 million users. Another displayed the names of well-known companies as customers, although we found no evidence that those businesses were connected to it.

A website owner can add any rating, customer number, testimonial, or test result to a page. None of these claims should be treated as independent evidence that a product is genuine or widely used.

Behind the Sign in or Get started button is a subscription service. Visitors are asked to sign in with Google and are then shown paid plans, usage credits, and payment histories. Prices range from less than $10 a month to more than $2,000 a year. Several sites also ask users to upload documents, recordings, or other files for the advertised service to process.

On the sites we examined, there was no way to test the advertised product before paying. Controls on the landing pages did nothing until we signed in, and signing in led to a pricing page rather than the tool itself.

Many legitimate services require payment before use, so that alone does not prove that a site is unsafe. The concern here is the lack of reliable information about the company selling the subscription. There are no independent reviews or official product listings to compare with the claims on the page.

Different brands, the same website kit

The sites advertise a wide range of products, including voice-cloning tools, video editors, study apps, and general-purpose AI assistants. Underneath their different designs, however, they use the same commercial website starter kit.

The kit is a legitimate product designed to help people launch online services quickly. It includes an account system, billing, file storage, and administrative tools. The buyer supplies the branding and the product being advertised.

This explains why apparently unrelated services have identical checkout pages and account settings. The underlying system is the same even when the colors, typefaces, and product names are different.

The kit costs $249 as a one-time purchase, while additional templates cost about $2 each. Its vendor advertises that customers can launch a product in an hour. Once the first site has been created, producing more versions requires relatively little time or money. Building another site may require little more than a new domain, design, and product description—which might explain how the network grew to this scale.

Several sites still contain demonstration material supplied with the starter kit. This includes the kit’s brand name, promotional banners, generic menu entries, and testimonials from named people and companies with no apparent connection to the advertised service.

One site had relabeled a demonstration list of businesses as its own customers. On another, the word “boilerplate,” a term for reusable starter code, remained in the name of a paid subscription plan.

Signing in with Google

These sites send visitors to a genuine Google sign-in page. The web address belongs to Google, and the password is entered on Google’s website rather than on the service being advertised.

The sites we examined requested basic information such as the user’s name, email address, and profile picture. They did not ask for access to Gmail or Google Drive.

However, a genuine Google sign-in page does not confirm that the service is official or connected to the brand it displays. It only confirms that Google is handling the login and passing the approved information to an outside application.

Google’s consent screen identifies the application requesting access and provides developer details. Check these against the website and product you intended to use. If those names don’t match, you may not be dealing with the company you thought you were.

You can also open the developer information shown by Google. On the sites we examined, the support contacts were free webmail addresses rather than addresses belonging to the brands displayed on the websites.

A free email address is not proof of wrongdoing, but it should raise questions when a service claims to have millions of users or presents itself as an established company.

How the sites are connected

Websites load files containing the code they need to work. The system used by these sites gives some of those files names based on their contents. When the contents change, the filenames generally change too.

Across the sites we examined, many of these filenames were identical. This indicates that the sites were running the same version of the same underlying software. On its own, this could simply mean that different people bought the same starter kit.

The Google developer details provide a stronger connection. The developer contacts use free webmail accounts containing the same name, with only small differences such as the numbers added to the address.

Because these addresses are provided when the applications are registered with Google, rather than being automatically supplied by the starter kit, they suggest that the sites are operated by one party or by closely connected people.

What you agree to when you subscribe

The sites provide little information about the business selling the subscription. We found no registered company names, business addresses, or other independently verifiable ownership details. In many cases, the only contact method was an email address using the site’s own domain.

This could make it difficult to request a refund, challenge a charge, or resolve a problem with the subscription.

Some of the subscriptions are substantial. Alongside monthly plans, the sites sell annual access charged as a single payment, with one plan costing more than $2,000. Some plans state that unused credits expire after a set period.

Depending on the payment system used, card details may be handled by a third-party payment provider rather than given directly to the website operator. Users may still share account information and potentially sensitive material with a service whose owner they cannot identify.

How to spot sites like these

A polished design, real Google sign-in page, and impressive-looking reviews do not prove that a service is trustworthy.

• Check the web address. Make sure it belongs to the company or product you intended to use. Don’t rely on the logo or product name alone.
• Find out who runs the site. Look for a company name, business address, privacy policy, terms, and reliable contact details that can be independently checked.
• Read the Google consent screen. Check the application name, domain, developer details, and information it wants to access before selecting Continue.
• Be cautious if you cannot test the product. A service that offers no trial or working demonstration is asking you to pay before you can confirm that it does what it claims.
• Check independent sources. Search for the product separately and look for an official website or app-store listing. Do not rely on ratings and testimonials displayed by the seller.
• Don’t upload sensitive files until you know who operates the service. Documents, photos, recordings, and prompts may contain private information.
• Check your statements after subscribing. Contact the payment provider or your bank promptly if you see a charge you do not recognize.
• Remove connections you no longer trust. Visit the connections page in your Google Account and remove services you do not recognize or use. This prevents future access, but it does not delete information already shared with the operator.

How Malwarebytes can help

Malwarebytes Browser Guard blocks malicious, phishing, scam, and fraudulent websites, including pages reached through deceptive adverts or search results.

If you’re unsure about a site, Malwarebytes Scam Guard can assess its web address or a screenshot and help you identify warning signs.

These particular sites centred on accounts and subscriptions rather than phone calls. If a suspicious service directs you to a support number, you can check it with Malwarebytes Scam Number Check before calling.

Stop threats before they can do any harm.

Malwarebytes Browser Guard blocks phishing pages and malicious sites automatically. Free, one click to install. Add it to your browser →

Parcel delivery phishing campaigns appear around the world under different courier names. In the United States, the messages commonly impersonate USPS and claim that a package has an invalid address or could not be delivered. Similar messages impersonate Colissimo and Chronopost in France, Correos in Spain, Poste Italiane in Italy, and PostNL in the Netherlands.

The details vary, but the aim is usually the same: to persuade you to visit a fake courier website and provide personal and financial information.

A fake bpost delivery email

A recent campaign targeting customers of the Belgian postal service bpost begins with an email claiming that a package could not be delivered because €4.95 in customs duties has not been paid.

In English, the subject and message read:

Undelivered package—customs duties due (tracking no. 3232116291*******).

Your package could not be delivered on September 9, 2026, because the customs duties (€4.95) have not been paid.

The amount is small enough that recipients may pay without giving it much thought. However, the website does not stop at collecting the supposed fee. It asks for personal information, card details, and banking information.

How the scam works 

The link first passes through a URL-shortening service (hxxps://qr[.]paps[.]jp/1GWsa) before redirecting to a fake bpost site. The campaign used several fake bpost domains, including:

hxxps://bpost[.]be-pakje-ontvangen-nl-recevoir-colis-fr[.]my[.]id/

bpost[.]center, which is the domain shown in the screenshots below.

The page copies bpost’s branding and displays security claims such as “Secure SSL connection,” “256-bit SSL,” “SEPA compliant,” and “Secure payment.” These labels were added by the scammers and do not prove that the page or payment is secure.

We’ve translated the screenshots below from the original Dutch into English.

The first page asks for the recipient’s name, phone number, email address, and age:

That reference to receiving funds does not match the email’s claim that a customs fee must be paid. The next page asks for an IBAN, card number, expiry date, and payment amount:

Then it asks for the real target: full card and bank details. 

The original Dutch version contained another mistake: One of its buttons read “Indian search” instead of “Betaal,” the Dutch word for “Pay.” Mistakes like this can expose a scam, but many phishing pages are built carefully enough that there will be no obvious typo or mistranslation.

Once submitted, card details may be used for fraudulent purchases or sold to other criminals. The personal and banking information may also be used to make later scams more convincing.

How to protect yourself 

• Check delivery claims independently. Open the courier’s official app or type its website address into your browser, then use your tracking number to check the delivery.
• Check the sender and destination. A message may use a courier’s name while coming from an unrelated email address or linking to a different domain.
• Be wary of unexpected fees or refunds. A small payment or promised refund can be used to persuade you to provide much more valuable information.
• Be wary of requests for extensive financial information. A request for an IBAN as well as card details should be treated with suspicion, particularly when it supposedly relates to a small delivery fee.

If you entered your card or banking information on a suspicious site, contact your bank or card provider immediately. Freeze the affected card if your banking app allows it, monitor your accounts for unfamiliar transactions, and change any password you entered on the site.

Malwarebytes tracks and blocks these campaigns as they appear. If you’re unsure about a message, Scam Guard—built into Malwarebytes for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS—can check it for you. Paste in the message or link, or upload a screenshot, for an instant assessment.

Something feel off? Check it before you click.  

Malwarebytes Scam Guard helps you analyze suspicious links, texts, and screenshots instantly.  

Available with Malwarebytes Premium Security for all your devices, and in the Malwarebytes app for iOS and Android.  

Try it free → 

Only days after Revolut acknowledged that it disclosed sensitive customer records to an unauthorized party, affected customers are receiving phishing texts. However, we don’t know yet if the phishing texts are linked to the breach.

The company had accepted fraudulent information requests sent from an email address on a legitimate government agency domain.

Through this social engineering attack, rather than by gaining access to Revolut’s systems, the criminals obtained the following types of information about customers:

• Identity and contact information such as dates of birth, postal addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers
• Copies of IDs such as passports and driver’s licenses
• Verification selfies
• Account statements and transaction histories

Revolut has said only that a “limited” or “very limited” number of customers were affected, and that it contacted them directly.

One affected customer received a phishing text on Monday, September 14, two days after Revolut publicly acknowledged the data breach. The message appeared in the same conversation as other Revolut texts, making it look as though it had come from the bank.

According to VirusTotal, the phishing domain was first scanned that same day.

In a separate example, another customer said that opening the link took them to a web page that requested access to their device’s camera. If you tap Allow, the page reportedly imitates Revolut’s live-video “turn your head” identity check before prompting you to enter a password.

This makes the phishing page appear more authentic. It may also allow the scammers to collect a selfie or video that could be used for further social engineering, identity fraud, or to make subsequent scams more convincing.

A convincing fake liveness check followed by a password screen is a common way to lower suspicion and obtain the information attackers need to attempt a real login or account-recovery flow.

If the campaign is connected to the breach, the information obtained from Revolut, combined with login details entered by victims or their approval of a login request, could be enough to take over their accounts.

How to stay safe

We don’t yet know whether the phishing campaign is using data exposed in the breach or whether unrelated scammers are exploiting news of the incident to target Revolut customers more broadly.

Either way, treat unexpected messages about your account with caution:

• Don’t follow links in unsolicited messages. If a message concerns your account, open the official Revolut app directly.
• Check the actual domain in your browser’s address bar to see if it corresponds with what you expect.
• Use an up-to-date, real-time anti-malware solution on your device, preferably with a web protection component.
• Malwarebytes Scam Guard can help you determine whether a message is a scam and advise you on what to do next.

Stop threats before they can do any harm.

Malwarebytes Browser Guard blocks phishing pages and malicious sites automatically. Free, one click to install. Add it to your browser →

Since early May 2026, we’ve been monitoring a large phishing campaign based on T-Mobile rewards points.

The messages falsely warn that a customer’s rewards points are about to expire. They aren’t legitimate account notices: They use urgency, invented point balances, and phishing links to push recipients into acting before they can verify the claim.

A typical message says that a T-Mobile Rewards account holds 18,400 points, gives an imminent expiry date, and states that unused points will be removed under the program’s terms. These details make the message look as though it was written specifically for the recipient, even though it was sent to many people.

“T-Mobile Rewards Points Reminder: Your Points Are About to Expire

Dear Customer,

We are hereby reminding you that your T-Mobile Rewards account points are about to expire. You currently have 18,400 points, which will expire on June 4, 2026, if unused.

Your Points Overview:

Current Balance: 18,400 Points

Expiry Date: {today or tomorrow}

Points will not be recovered after this date.

Redeem Points:

Visit:

https://t-mobile.{rotating domains}.top/pay

Use the T-Mobile App: Account > Rewards & Benefits

Our points expiry policy aims to ensure the fairness of the program and encourage active participation. Please don’t let these valuable points go to waste.

Thank you for choosing T-Mobile.

Customer Service Team”

This phishing operation does not rely on a single, identical SMS. We found more than 1,000 closely related campaign templates with a semantic similarity score of at least 0.60. The 199 closest matches all scored at least 0.95.

This means the variations only change superficial elements, such as the salutation, headline, expiry date, point balance, and whether the message is called a “reminder,” “alert,” or “important update.” The central story remains the same: T-Mobile rewards points are supposedly expiring, and the recipient must follow a link to redeem them as soon as possible.

The messages use formal but generic language, such as “Dear T-Mobile Customer,” “Dear Valued Customer,” or “T-Mobile User,” rather than naming the recipient or providing verifiable account information.

The campaign began slowly before producing two huge spikes in activity. The green line shows detections of message variants seen previously, while the red line shows messages detected on the first day that particular variant appeared. We’re still seeing messages from the campaign, although activity has fallen considerably since those spikes.

The scam relies on a familiar social engineering formula: a valuable-looking reward, a deadline, and a simple action that supposedly protects the customer from losing out. A recipient who has a T-Mobile account may click first and question the message later.

The links use rotating domains designed to look as though they belong to T-Mobile. Their purpose is to persuade recipients to follow the link to supposedly redeem their points. Do not enter login credentials, personal information, payment details, or verification codes after following a link in an unsolicited message.

How to stay safe

The anonymized data used in this analysis was gathered through Text Protection in Malwarebytes Mobile Security, which alerts users to potentially malicious or scam text messages. 

You can also reduce your risk by following these tips:

• Don’t follow links in unsolicited messages. Instead, open the alleged sender’s website or app independently and check for notifications there.
• Check the domain in your browser’s address bar to make sure it matches the site you expected to visit.
• Use an up-to-date, real-time anti-malware solution with web protection.
• Malwarebytes Scam Guard can help you determine whether a message is a scam and advise you on what to do next.

The URLs in this campaign are very short-lived. The criminals used at least 81 domains over four months, but the domains follow a recognizable pattern that is blocked in Malwarebytes Browser Guard.

IOCs

Example domains showing the pattern used by the campaign:

t-mobile.biktpw[.]top

t-mobile.cugbjl[.]top

t-mobile.cymfjd[.]top

t-mobile.gdikxv[.]top

t-mobile.hdzcnb[.]top

t-mobile.koxetp[.]top

t-mobile.nxdcfp[.]top

t-mobile.pkrbai[.]top

t-mobile.qfrhkt[.]top

t-mobile.qscizj[.]top

t-mobile.tmfncb[.]top

t-mobile.vmnqsu[.]top

Stop threats before they can do any harm.

Malwarebytes Browser Guard blocks phishing pages and malicious sites automatically. Free, one click to install. Add it to your browser →

Antivirus renewal scams often begin with a message claiming that your subscription has automatically renewed. When you follow the instructions to cancel it, you are taken to a fake page designed to collect your contact details. The renewal charge never existed.

Receiving a message that names the antivirus software you use does not necessarily mean the sender has access to your device or account. Scammers impersonate popular brands and send the same message to large numbers of people, knowing that some recipients will be customers.

As we’ve reported before, simply responding to a scam message can make your contact details more valuable because it confirms that your number is active and that you are willing to engage. Filling in this form gives scammers even more: your name, email address, phone number, and an indication that you may respond to a call about a supposed antivirus payment.

Those details can be sold to other scammers or used for the next stage of the scam: a phone call from someone who tries to persuade you to install remote access software or help them reverse a payment that never happened.

A closer look at a fake Avast site

During our scam-hunting activity, we saw one renewal scam site impersonating Avast, aimed at users in Belgium. It was noticeably more polished than most scam sites and contained several signs that it had been produced with the help of AI.

The page tells you that your Avast Premium Security subscription has renewed for €129.99, that it covers five devices, and that it will renew again the following February. There is a green tick, a status badge reading Active, and a tidy summary table laying out the amount, the payment method, and the dates.

None of it is real. There is no subscription and no charge, and the page has no connection to Avast, whose branding is being used without permission.

The page is written in French for a Belgian audience. The screenshots below have been machine-translated into English so the layout and wording are easier for you to follow.

Alongside the renewal summary is the part the scammers actually care about. A cancellation form asks for your full name, email address, and Belgian mobile number, but nothing else.

There is no password field or request for card details, which may be deliberate. A form asking only for a name, email address, and phone number can feel harmless and is far easier to fill in than a login page. A working mobile number attached to a real name is exactly what a scammer needs for the next stage: calling the victim and posing as support staff. The form is the lure, and the call is where the real danger begins.

The signs of AI involvement

The page was left with two notes in its code that were never meant for victims. Both were written in polite French and addressed to whoever had commissioned the work, explaining that the form did not yet send anything anywhere and that a real submission process would need to be connected later.

They read like a contractor handing over an unfinished job rather than a scammer leaving themselves a reminder, and that courteous, second-person summary of what still needs doing is very much how an AI assistant signs off.

Other clues are also consistent with AI-generated code. The code contained unused styling for a section that had been removed, suggesting that the page had been created in stages without a final review. The copy was grammatically correct but vague. It described the benefits of the subscription across four paragraphs without mentioning any specific Avast features, such as its firewall, VPN, or ransomware protection.

Taken together, these signs suggest that the page was built with the help of AI. Generated code carries no watermark, so that cannot be proven from the files alone.

The page was never finished

As the comments in the code explain, the form on this page sent nothing at all. Someone built a convincing fake, got the difficult parts right, and then stopped before connecting the piece that actually sends the data anywhere.

Other signs in the code suggest nobody had even opened the page in a browser to check it, since two pieces of text would have displayed as visible gibberish if they had. What we were looking at was most likely half-built, or possibly a template waiting to be sold on to someone who would add a destination for the stolen details.

Building a page like this used to take a certain amount of skill, which limited how many of them could be made. AI has lowered that barrier. Whoever made this could ask for a version in Dutch or German, or one aimed at an entirely different brand, and have it within minutes.

How to spot an antivirus renewal scam

The old advice was to look for mistakes: bad grammar, the wrong currency, a clumsy layout, or a stretched logo. That advice is less useful now because AI can produce fluent copy and polished layouts, while scammers can easily copy real logos. A page that looks professional is no longer evidence that it is genuine.

But the structure of the scam hasn’t changed. It still needs you to arrive somewhere unexpected, worry about losing money, and provide a way to contact you. Judge the situation rather than the appearance of the page.

• Check whether you were charged. If the message says a payment has already been taken, check your bank or card statement directly. If the payment is not there, there is nothing to cancel.
• Check the subscription through the official app or website. Don’t click the link in the message. Open the company’s app or website independently and sign in. Your account will show whether you have an active subscription and when your next payment is due.
• Be wary of a cancellation form that mainly wants your phone number. Legitimate cancellations usually happen inside your account, and a company you already pay knows how to reach you.
• Treat the follow-up call as the real danger. If you have filled in a form like this, you may receive a scam call next. You are under no obligation to answer or engage.
• Don’t install remote access software for someone who called you. It gives them control of your device and could put your accounts, passwords, and money at risk.

If you have already been on a call and installed something, disconnect the device from the internet, remove the software they asked you to install, and change your passwords from a different device. If you sent money or shared card details, contact your bank straight away.

Block and check suspected scams

The best protection is to stop scam pages before they open. Malwarebytes Browser Guard is a free extension for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari that blocks malicious websites, phishing attempts, and scam ads before they can do any harm.

Not sure whether something is a scam? Share a screenshot, message, phone number, or link with Scam Guard. It checks it in seconds and recommends what to do next. Scam Guard is built into Malwarebytes Premium Security for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.

If you received a call after filling in a form like this, enter the number into Malwarebytes Scam Number Check to see whether it has been linked to scam activity.

“One of the best cybersecurity suites on the planet.” 

According to CNET. Read their review →

Bitrefill is a legitimate company that sells gift cards for popular stores like Amazon, Deliveroo, Apple, Nintendo, and thousands of others. They also sell eSIMs, and mobile top-ups. You can pay on their website for all of these with cryptocurrency.

The scam is designed to catch people searching for Bitrefill or something it sells, like a gift card. Victims see a search result that appears to lead to Bitrefill but actually points to a lookalike domain. The fake site then takes them through what appears to be a normal purchase. The fake sites are not operated by or affiliated with Bitrefill; scammers have copied its branding and checkout process.

The victim chooses an amount and a cryptocurrency before receiving a QR code and payment address. But instead of paying Bitrefill, they send the cryptocurrency directly to an address controlled by the scammers. They receive nothing in return, and recovering the payment is extremely unlikely.

Why fake crypto checkouts work so well

Phishing typically involves several steps. First, an attacker has to steal a password. Then, they may have to get past two-factor authentication (2FA), log in to the account without tripping a fraud check, and find some way to turn account access into money. Plenty of scams fall apart somewhere in that chain.

This payment scam avoids those hurdles by persuading victims to send money directly to the scammers. There is no account to break into and no stolen card to use. The victim sends cryptocurrency straight to an address the scammers control, and cryptocurrency payments generally cannot be reversed or charged back.

The payment request also fits the situation. A demand for cryptocurrency might look suspicious on many websites, but Bitrefill genuinely accepts it. On a convincing copy of its checkout, paying with cryptocurrency appears completely normal.

All this may explain why we found a cluster of fake sites rather than a single page, with checkouts allowing payments of up to $1,990.

What the fake checkout looks like

The site we examined is a close copy of Bitrefill’s checkout, hosted on a domain built by bolting a word onto the brand name. Everything a customer would expect is present. The branding is right, the layout matches, the page is quick and polished, and the payment flow behaves exactly the way the real one does.

You’re asked for an email address for order updates, with links to terms of service and a privacy policy. You then choose how to pay, from a list offering Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC, USDT, Solana, and Litecoin. The site also offers card payments for a small surcharge.

Next, you pick an amount, with preset buttons and a maximum of $1,990, although inconsistent currency symbols offer a small clue that something is wrong.

Finally, you reach a payment screen showing a QR code, an address marked for one-time use, the amount converted into your chosen cryptocurrency, and a countdown clock giving you just under an hour to send the funds.

None of those elements is a red flag on its own. Unique addresses, expiry timers, and currency conversion are all normal for crypto checkouts, which is exactly why the copy is convincing. Every pressure cue on the page is borrowed from legitimate payment systems.

The only meaningful difference is the address the money goes to, and by the time the victim sends the cryptocurrency, getting it back is extremely unlikely.

How people are reaching these pages

The distribution here does not appear to rely on email. Bitrefill has said publicly that sites copying its checkout and using similar names have been turning up in search engine results, and that its security team has been working with takedown specialists to have them removed.

The site’s configuration supports that. The fake checkout hands visitors back to a second domain in the same family, and the link it uses carries a parameter naming a search engine, suggesting the operators are tagging incoming traffic by where it came from.

There’s a detail here that deserves more attention than it usually gets. The fake checkout has commercial analytics software installed on it, the same kind of product a legitimate e-commerce team uses to measure how many visitors abandon a cart. Its presence suggests the operators want to measure and improve the number of visitors who complete a payment.

These campaigns are not opportunistic one-offs thrown together by someone hoping for a lucky hit. They’re run as businesses, measured and tuned like any other funnel, with the victim in the role of the customer.

A brand name is not a destination

The domains in this cluster use several tricks to make their addresses look convincing. Some swap one letter for a visually similar character, making the brand appear correct unless you look closely. Others add a plausible word such as pay or gift, producing addresses that resemble official payment sites. Some do both.

Several use internationalized domain names, which can contain characters from different alphabets or accented versions of Latin letters. Browsers translate these domains into an ASCII format beginning with xn--, known as Punycode. To the eye, the displayed versions can be almost indistinguishable from the genuine name.

The answer is not simply to become better at spotting tiny differences. These domains are designed to defeat visual inspection, and they can be especially difficult to recognize on a phone screen. Recognizing a company name somewhere in a web address does not tell you who owns it.

Remember, seeing the right company name in a URL is not enough. Check that the actual domain is exactly the one the company uses.

What to do

• Start at the website you already trust. Use a saved bookmark or carefully enter bitrefill.com yourself. If you are already making a purchase on the legitimate site, stay within that session instead of opening a checkout page from a separate search.
• Treat search results for payment and checkout pages with suspicion. Scammers can buy search ads or manipulate their sites into appearing prominently. The first result is not necessarily the safest one.
• Check the address bar before you send. Cryptocurrency payments generally cannot be reversed or charged back. Confirm that the main domain is exactly bitrefill.com before approving a payment.
• Be wary of domains containing a brand followed by an extra word. A legitimate subdomain would place the additional wording before the company’s main domain, as in pay.example.com. An address such as example-pay.com is a completely separate domain that anyone could register.
• Don’t approve wallet requests on a site you have not verified. Simply connecting a wallet does not normally transfer funds, but a fraudulent site may ask you to sign a transaction or grant token permissions that allow assets to be stolen.
• If you have already sent funds, act quickly, although recovery is unlikely. Report the destination address to the exchange or wallet provider you used, report the incident to your national fraud reporting service, and notify Bitrefill so it can add the domain to its takedown efforts. Recovery services that promise to retrieve stolen cryptocurrency for an upfront fee are often follow-up scams.

Check before you click

The simplest protection against a page like this is to avoid reaching it. Malwarebytes Browser Guard is a free browser extension that blocks known scam and phishing sites, along with malicious ads and search results that lead to them.

Got a screenshot or URL of a suspected scam? Upload it to Scam Guard—built into Malwarebytes Premium Security on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android—and you’ll get a verdict and safety tips in seconds.

Indicators of compromise (IOCs)

Domains:

biterflll[.]com

bitigift[.]com

bitrefall[.]com

bitrefill-payments[.]com

bitrefill-pays[.]com

bitregift[.]com

bitregill[.]com

bitretill[.]com

bitrgift[.]com

bitrgifts[.]com

bitrnfill[.]com

bitruflli[.]com

butrefill[.]com

pay-bitregill[.]com

pay-bitrgift[.]com

pay-bitrgifts[.]com

pay-butrefill[.]com

pay-bitigift[.]com

xn--bitrefll-71a[.]com

xn--bitrefll-h2a[.]com

xn--bitrefll-pay-kfb[.]com

xn--bitrefll-pay-xfb[.]com

xn--bitrefll-q2a[.]com

xn--bitreill-cz9c[.]com

xn--bitreill-pay-yq4f[.]com

xn--btrefill-l2a[.]com

xn--pay-bitrefll-fgb[.]com

Stop threats before they can do any harm.

Malwarebytes Browser Guard blocks phishing pages and malicious sites automatically. Free, one click to install. Add it to your browser →

An attacker breached an email marketing platform and launched targeted attacks against the newsletter subscribers of some of its customers, especially those working in cryptocurrency and adjacent fields.

The incident was a supply-chain phishing campaign carried out through Brevo, an email marketing provider used by several cryptocurrency companies and other firms.

Brevo initially said an attacker had gained access to 120 customer accounts, some of which were used to send phishing emails to the customers’ contact lists.

Brevo later said 138 customer accounts had been accessed in its postmortem:

“On September 10th at 6:30 AM UTC we identified a security issue where an attacker exploited a flaw in the way Brevo handles SAML SSO to gain access to 138 Brevo accounts. 6 of those accounts were used to send phishing emails to the contacts stored there, and for 43 accounts they exported the contacts. 93 accounts have no meaningful activity.”

According to reports, popular cryptocurrency companies Trezor, CoinTracking, and BitBox confirmed that phishing emails were sent to customers subscribed to their newsletters. Trezor warned its roughly 347,000 newsletter subscribers that a security incident at a third-party provider had resulted in a massive phishing campaign.

Trezor makes hardware wallets that store cryptocurrency private keys offline. Its customers received a phishing email titled “Critical Security Alert: STM32 Entropy Bug Identified.”

The subtitle read: “Urgent update regarding hardware microcontroller vulnerability.”

The email said:

“Dear customer,

We have some difficult news to share. Unfortunately, our engineering team has identified a critical hardware-level vulnerability in the STM32 microcontrollers used in a range of Trezor devices.

Currently we believe the majority of defective devices were initialized prior to 2023, however some newer devices also may be vulnerable. The bug is a hardware factory defect present in an estimated 1 in 4 devices.

The vulnerability results in:

• Insufficient randomness in recovery phrase generation
• Exposure of seeds to brute-force cracking
• Seeds with as little as 40 bits of entropy”

That phishing email also contained a link that prompted recipients to download an app and enter their wallet backup.

CoinTracking said the attackers sent its customers an email titled “Data Breach Notice: Please refresh API Keys as soon as possible,” which also contained a malicious link. 

Because the emails came from legitimate company domains and looked convincing, some recipients may have fallen for them. The exact number is not currently known.

How to stay safe

It can be difficult to recognize a phishing email when it comes from a legitimate company domain and looks convincing. But there are a few things to keep in mind:

• If a company emails you about an urgent security problem, check its official website or app for confirmation.
• Do not install apps through links in unsolicited emails, no matter how urgent the message claims to be.
• Never enter your recovery phrase anywhere other than on your physical device.
• Reputable companies will not ask for recovery phrases, API keys, or login details by email.
• Use Malwarebytes Scam Guard to check whether a message might be a scam and get guidance on what to do next.
• Keep an eye out for further information about other Brevo customers that have been affected. The attackers exported contacts from 43 accounts, which could be used in future targeted phishing attacks.

What to do if you followed the link

Trezor advises moving your funds to a new wallet if you entered your wallet backup in any form. If you followed a link in a similar email from another provider, contact that company directly for advice.

Something feel off? Check it before you click.  

Malwarebytes Scam Guard helps you analyze suspicious links, texts, and screenshots instantly.  

Available with Malwarebytes Premium Security for all your devices, and in the Malwarebytes app for iOS and Android.  

Try it free → 

Fortnite scam pages like the ones below appear by the dozen every day, recycled endlessly under different names and designs.

One version promises $50 from a fake superhero collaboration. Another claims it can calculate what your locker is worth. Both lead to the same destination: a fake Epic Games login page designed to steal your account. It’s an old trick, but it still catches people out.

The short version

If a website promises free V-Bucks, cash, or a tool to calculate your locker’s value, then asks you to log in with your Epic account to get it, it’s not run by Epic.

Epic doesn’t offer an official tool that values accounts, and no legitimate giveaway requires you to sign in through a third-party site. You’re just handing your Epic username and password to scammers.

If you or your child entered your Epic login details on one of these sites, assume the account has been compromised. Change the password immediately, turn on two-factor authentication, and don’t reuse that password on any other accounts.

Why do they want your login?

A stolen Fortnite account can be worth real money. Criminals can take over accounts with rare skins, spend any saved payment methods, sell the account on underground marketplaces, or use it to scam the owner’s friends. They may also try the same username and password on other online accounts, hoping the password has been reused.

Why Fortnite?

Fortnite still attracts around 110 million monthly players and has more than 650 million registered accounts. That alone makes it an attractive target for cybercriminals.

The audience’s age matters too. In December 2022, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) fined Epic Games a record $520 million, after alleging that the company knew children made up a substantial share of its player base and left voice and text chat turned on by default, exposing them to strangers. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) also cites industry experts who say young gamers are especially vulnerable to phishing because they spend more time on social media and are less familiar with social engineering.

The game is also built around visible status. Skins, emotes, and pickaxes cost real money, making the idea that “your locker has a price” feel plausible. Rare or discontinued skins really do sell for hundreds of dollars on unofficial marketplaces, even though Epic offers no official way to cash out V-Bucks and selling accounts violates its terms of service. That kernel of truth is exactly what these locker-value scams exploit.

That’s also what makes them more convincing than a simple V-Bucks giveaway. Instead of promising something for nothing, they play on curiosity about something the player already owns. That’s probably why this version keeps coming back.

How the scam works

Some pages promise rewards:

Others skip the free-reward pitch and frame the locker itself as hidden value the player is owed:

Others frame it as competition instead of currency:

The hook changes, but the fake login page doesn’t. These sites all do the same thing. They ask you to sign in with your Epic account so they can steal your username and password.

Another variant: Fake settlement claims

This one borrows a real story. Epic did settle with the FTC for $520 million, and real payments are still going out in 2026. But the real settlement pays actual dollars through the FTC’s own process, not in-game V-Bucks through an “Epic Games Locker,” and the claim window closed in July 2025.

References to an “EU Regulatory Mandate” and the case number shown on these pages don’t match any genuine legal action.

How to stay safe

Fortnite scams change constantly, but the advice doesn’t.

• Use Malwarebytes Browser Guard to block known phishing sites before they have a chance to steal your login details.
• Only sign in to your Epic account at epicgames.com. If another website asks for your Epic login, leave.
• Be sceptical of offers that sound too good to be true. Free V-Bucks, locker valuations, and surprise rewards are all common phishing lures.
• Verify refunds and settlements on the official source. If a page claims you’re owed money, check the regulator’s website yourself instead of following its links.
• Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA). It can stop attackers from accessing your account even if they steal your password.
• Use Malwarebytes Scam Guard. It can help you identify suspicious links and messages before you click.

What to do if you clicked

• Change the Epic password immediately, going directly to epicgames.com, not through the suspicious link.
• Turn on two-factor authentication if you haven’t already.
• Check your linked email for password reset requests or login alerts you didn’t make.
• Review connected devices/services on the account and remove anything unfamiliar.
• If you entered payment details anywhere, contact your card issuer and monitor your statements.
• Report the page to Epic’s support and flag it as phishing in your browser.
• If the page claims to be part of a settlement or refund, verify it on the regulator’s official website. For the Epic settlement, that’s ftc.gov.

Stop threats before they can do any harm.

Malwarebytes Browser Guard blocks phishing pages and malicious sites automatically. Free, one click to install. Add it to your browser →

A whole industry has sprung up around selling TikTok “growth.”

Cheap views by the hundred, pre-made ad accounts, and polished sales pages promising a repeatable path to serious revenue.

None of it is officially sanctioned by TikTok, and depending on what you’re buying, you could end up wasting money, losing your account, or handing your login details to scammers.

Scam 1: Sites selling cheap likes and engagement

Sites selling bulk engagement all look remarkably similar.

They offer small bundles of views, likes, or followers for a few pounds, usually alongside identical packages for YouTube, Instagram, and other platforms.

The sales pitch is almost always the same: “100% real profiles,” “no bots, no click farms,” and “completely safe.”

Those claims are worth reading carefully because they’re addressing the biggest concern buyers already have.

At this price point, bulk engagement is usually generated through bots, click farms, or other artificial means—the very thing these sites insist they don’t use.

Even if your engagement numbers increase initially, TikTok’s fraud detection systems can remove artificial engagement, and accounts that repeatedly use these services risk being flagged or restricted.

Scam 2: The “aged” ad account marketplace

Another common offer is bulk TikTok Ads accounts sold as “aged” or “trusted,” often bundled with a replacement guarantee if an account stops working. The pitch is that you skip the hassle of setting up and verifying a new advertising account.

The problem is that you don’t know how those accounts were created. Many are built using stolen or synthetic identities, compromised payment details, or other deceptive methods. Buying one means inheriting that history—and the very real risk that TikTok detects it and suspends the account, along with any campaigns or ad budget attached to it. A replacement guarantee won’t help if your advertising is suddenly brought to a halt.

Scam 3: The growth framework

A third type of offer is less obviously a scam and more of a marketing funnel.

Slick landing pages—often hosted on free platforms and paired with an embedded video—promise a “proven blueprint” for turning TikTok into a major source of income, usually backed by impressive but unverifiable claims about past clients.

The immediate goal is usually to collect your email address, and sometimes your phone number, before revealing what’s actually for sale. That might be a paid course, a “done-for-you” management service, or a request for direct access to your TikTok Shop or Ads account.

What happens next varies, but the common thread is the same: you’re being asked to trust an unverified third party with your business, your money, or your account.

What you’re really signing up for

Not every TikTok marketing service is a scam. But if someone’s offering thousands of views for a few pounds, bulk “aged” ad accounts, or guaranteed growth, you’re in a very different part of the market.

These services promise shortcuts. What they often deliver is fake engagement, accounts with questionable histories, or requests for access to your own account.

At best, you’ve wasted your money on engagement TikTok later strips away. At worst, you’re buying an account built on stolen information or giving an untrusted third party full access to your own.

Our advice

• Don’t pay for views, likes, or followers. Artificial engagement isn’t real growth and can put your account at risk under TikTok’s rules.
• Never share your TikTok username and password with a “boosting” service, regardless of how it’s presented.
• Don’t buy or sell TikTok Ads or Business accounts outside TikTok’s own account creation process.
• Treat “guaranteed revenue” frameworks and courses like any other business opportunity: they’re sales pages first, educational content second.

None of this is unique to TikTok. The platform’s explosive growth has simply given a familiar ecosystem of low-effort scams a new audience.

Scammers don’t need to hack you. They just need you to click once. 

Malwarebytes Identity Theft Protection catches suspicious activity before it becomes a problem.

Shoppers browsing on their phones are landing on convincing Walmart lookalike sites offering name-brand liquor at 40% to 70% off, only to be led straight to a checkout page asking for a full credit card number, expiry date, and CVV.

The sites have no connection to Walmart. They’re part of a network of more than 120 near-identical domains built to look like a legitimate retailer just long enough to steal your card details.

Fake Walmart websites

The name “Walmart” is doing most of the work here. It’s one of the most recognized retailers in the world, and it’s that familiarity that makes people lower their guard. A shopper who’d hesitate on an unfamiliar website may think nothing of an unusually large discount because the logo, colours, and layout look familiar.

That trust hasn’t been earned by the site. It’s borrowed from a brand that has nothing to do with it.

If you’ve entered your card details on one of these pages, the safest assumption is that your card has been compromised.

How the scam works

The scam follows a simple pattern: a Walmart-branded homepage, category pages stacked with heavily discounted liquor, and a checkout form asking for full card details.

The discounts do much of the persuading. Seeing premium brands advertised at 60% or 70% off encourages people to buy first and ask questions later.

The same WordPress/WooCommerce template powers every site in the network. They share the same product catalogue, prices, and images. The only differences are fabricated US business addresses and phone numbers that are swapped out for each domain.

How to avoid this scam

• Be sceptical of discounts that don’t match a retailer’s usual promotions, especially on liquor or electronics.
• Check the address bar before entering payment details. A genuine Walmart sale won’t send you to an unfamiliar .shop domain.
• Use tools that can identify scam websites automatically, such as Malwarebytes Browser Guard on desktop, or ask Scam Guard if it thinks a domain is suspicious.
• On mobile, where these sites are designed to work, Malwarebytes Mobile Security can block known phishing and scam domains before you reach the checkout.

If you already entered your card details

• Contact your card issuer immediately. Explain what happened and ask whether the card should be cancelled and replaced.
• Watch your account for unauthorized charges, including small “test” transactions.
• Report the domain through your browser’s phishing reporting feature and to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov if you’re in the US.

The simplest defence is also the most effective: if a retailer needs a lookalike domain to sell you something, it’s probably a scam.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

allgoodscenter.shop, allneedsbay.shop, allneedslane.shop, allneedsmarket.shop, allneedsstore.shop, allpurposebay.shop, basketandmore.shop, broadbasket.shop, broadbasketbay.shop, broadbasketco.shop, broadbasketlane.shop, broadbasketplace.shop, broadbasketway.shop, broadchoice.shop, broadgoodsbay.shop, broadgoodscenter.shop, broadgoodsplace.shop, broadgoodsway.shop, broadmarketplacehub.shop, broadutility.shop, broadutilityhub.shop, broadvalue.shop, broadvaluebay.shop, broadvalueplace.shop, cartandcrate.shop, completehomegoods.shop, dailybasketport.shop, dailybasketway.shop, dailychoiceway.shop, dailycrate.shop, dailyfindslane.shop, dailygoodscrest.shop, dailygoodsfield.shop, dailygoodspark.shop, dailygoodsridge.shop, dailygoodsway.shop, dailygoodswayhub.shop, dailyhomemarket.shop, dailyutilitybay.shop, dailyutilityway.shop, everydaycartshop.shop, everydayneedsco.shop, everydayvaluebay.shop, generalcart.shop, generalcartlane.shop, generalgoodsport.shop, generalgoodsridge.shop, generalgoodsway.shop, generalgoodsyard.shop, generalmarketbay.shop, generalmarketfield.shop, generalneedsplace.shop, generalvaluebay.shop, goodsandhomebay.shop, goodsandhomeco.shop, goodsandhomehub.shop, goodsandlivinghub.shop, goodsandmoreco.shop, goodsandvaluehub.shop, goodsdistrict.shop, goodslanding.shop, goodsmeadow.shop, goodsroute.shop, goodsvalley.shop, homeandutility.shop, homebasketlane.shop, homebasketway.shop, homecartcenter.shop, homefieldmarket.shop, homefindsco.shop, homegoodscrate.shop, homegoodsport.shop, homegoodsway.shop, homelivinggoods.shop, homeneedslane.shop, homeneedsmarket.shop, homeparcel.shop, homesteadmart.shop, homeutilitystore.shop, homevaluebay.shop, homevalueplace.shop, homevalueway.shop, marketbasketcenter.shop, marketcanvas.shop, marketchoicebay.shop, marketchoiceplace.shop, marketfieldhub.shop, marketfindsbay.shop, marketfoundry.shop, marketgrovehub.shop, markethomeplace.shop, marketpillar.shop, marketpine.shop, marketridge.shop, markettrailway.shop, marketwarehouse.shop, modernsupplyhub.shop, smartbasketplace.shop, smartdailygoods.shop, smartneedshub.shop, smartutilityhub.shop, smartvaluebay.shop, trustedgoods.shop, usefulbasketlane.shop, usefulcartcenter.shop, usefulchoicebay.shop, usefuldailyhub.shop, usefulgoodsbay.shop, usefulgoodscenter.shop, usefulgoodspark.shop, usefulgoodsway.shop, usefulgoodswayhub.shop, usefulgoodsyard.shop, usefulmarket.shop, usefulmarketbay.shop, usefulshelf.shop, usefulutility.shop, usefulvalueplace.shop, utilitygoods.shop, valuechoicebay.shop, valuegoodspark.shop, valuegoodsridge.shop, valuegrove.shop, valueparcel.shop

Stop threats before they can do any harm.

Malwarebytes Browser Guard blocks phishing pages and malicious sites automatically. Free, one click to install. Add it to your browser →

Sextortion scammers are using email addresses from data leaked by the ShinyHunters hacking group to add some credibility to their feeble attempts to convince people they have embarrassing information about them.

Sextortion emails are messages claiming that the scammer recorded you through your webcam while you watched pornography and now demand payment. They have been around for years and keep evolving with small changes in wording and fake technical detail.

In this campaign, the scammers pretend to be ShinyHunters. What hasn’t changed is the basic truth: there is no malware, no recording, and no credible evidence behind the threat. Despite seeing countless versions of these emails over the years, I’ve yet to encounter one that was backed up by the evidence the sender claimed to have.

BleepingComputer reports that ShinyHunters data leaks are fueling a $2,000 sextortion email scam and shared the following example:

“Subject: Information about your online security

Hello,

We are the ShinyHunters hacking group.
A few months ago, we gained access to your devices and started monitoring your online activities.

What happened:
We gained access to the Amtrak.com database where you have an account and easily accessed your email.
You weren’t very careful about the links you opened.
A week later, we installed an exploit on your devices, including your phone, giving us access to your microphone,
camera, keyboard, and all your data.
We have your photos, browsing history, conversations, and contact list.

Among other things, we discovered that you frequently visit adult websites and watch explicit videos.
We managed to record you and created videos of you pleasuring yourself.
With a few clicks, we can share these videos with your friends,
colleagues, and family or even make them public.

Proposal:
Send us $2000 in Bitcoin to the following wallet:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

We’ll delete everything immediately.
You have 48 hours from the moment you open this email.
Once the payment is received, we’ll remove the malware from your devices.”

BleepingComputer states it has seen data from the Amtrak, Hallmark, ADT, Substack, Betterment, CarGurus, Panera Bread, and McGraw Hill breaches used to target victims in this sextortion email campaign.

A California community college also issued a warning after seeing the campaign target people affected by the Canvas data breach.

See if your personal data has been exposed.

SCAN NOW

They confirmed that the targeted email addresses had previously appeared in data leaked by ShinyHunters. They also contacted the group, which denied being behind the sextortion emails.

The increase to a $2,000 demand may suggest the scammers paid someone for the email lists. Although it’s more likely they simply downloaded the leaked data after ShinyHunters published it following failed extortion attempts.

A quick check of the Bitcoin address used in the email shows no activity.

Let’s keep it that way. With any luck, these dungeon dwellers will eventually give up trying to scare people out of their hard-earned money.

How to react to sextortion emails

Some sextortion emails are badly written, but many have been polished by AI and look convincing. Regardless of how professional they look, they should be treated the same way: as unsubstantiated threats designed to scare victims into paying.

• First and foremost, never reply to emails of this kind. Responding confirms that someone is actively reading messages sent to that address and may encourage further scam attempts.
• Don’t let yourself be rushed into action. Scammers rely on the fact that you will not take the time to think this through and subsequently make mistakes. Ask for advice if you’re not sure.
• An attachment is not proof. Most sextortion emails contain no evidence at all, and attachments are often used to deliver malware or make the threats appear more convincing.
• If the email includes a password you’ve used before, change it immediately anywhere it’s still in use. Then enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible. If you’re having trouble keeping track of your passwords, consider using a password manager.
• Delete the message, report it as spam, and move on.

Pro tip: Malwarebytes Scam Guard recognized this email for what it is: sextortion. It can recognize scams and advise you how to proceed.

While these sextortion emails are almost always bluffs, if you’re concerned about webcam spying, Malwarebytes Webcam Monitoring can alert you when applications attempt to access your camera.

Scam or legit? Scam Guard knows.

TRY IT NOW

Resin art has become a popular corner of TikTok, with some videos attracting millions of views. But not every glossy, colorful post is what it claims to be. Scammers are using the look of handmade resin art to trick buyers, collectors, and even fellow artists into sending money for work that either doesn’t exist or wasn’t created by the person posting it.

There are plenty of genuine resin artists on TikTok. Unfortunately, the platform has also attracted scammers who steal videos and impersonate legitimate creators.

The scam is fairly straightforward. A TikTok account presents itself as a resin artist, posts satisfying videos, and invites people to “DM to order.” In some cases, the videos are stolen from other creators, the account has no real process footage, and the seller disappears after receiving payment.

One resin artist discovered that scammers were using their videos to impersonate them and scam TikTok users. They shared the following comment:

Ridiculous TikTok scammer…lol. Profile says they’re a resin artist and to DM them to order, but none of the videos are theirs. When I wrote to them asking them to take down the many videos of mine that they posted, passing them off as their own with no credit, their answer was that they aren’t a resin artist and are just sharing videos they like Literally about 1/4 of “their” videos are mine

These scams often rely on trust and urgency. The account may show polished clips of poured resin, finished coasters, trays, jewelry, or wall art, then push buyers to move the conversation into direct messages. Once the buyer moves to a different platform, the scammer typically requests a deposit, full payment, or personal details with little chance of being held accountable.

And real artists don’t just get their work ripped off. A scammer may contact a creator claiming to want to buy, feature, or license their work, but the real goal is to extract fees, banking information, or other sensitive data. Social media art scams are often repetitive because they are built from the same templates and scripts.

How to spot a TikTok resin art scam

The safest approach is the boring one: verify before you pay. If the artwork looks amazing but the seller’s identity is vague, the risk is real.

Check the TikTok account

Before ordering, look for signs that the artist is genuine:

• The account didn’t appear overnight and has a history of original posts.
• The same videos don’t appear under multiple creator names or belong to another artist.
• The creator shows themselves making the artwork, with consistent process videos, a recognizable workspace, and works in progress.
• The videos don’t contain obvious AI artifacts, such as impossible resin effects or objects moving after they’ve supposedly been sealed inside hardened resin.
• Comments raising concerns haven’t been deleted or buried under generic praise.
• The seller isn’t pushing you to order only through direct messages or asking for payment before you’ve verified who they are.

Check the website

If you do click through to a website, spend a few minutes checking it before you buy:

• Look for a genuine returns and refunds policy, a physical business address, company or VAT details (where applicable), and consistent contact information.
• Check how old the website is. Scam sites often use domains that were registered only weeks or months ago, especially when they claim to have been selling handmade products for years.
• Search for recent independent reviews rather than relying on testimonials published on the site itself.
• Run a reverse image search on the product photos to see whether they’ve been copied from another artist.
• Only pay using a method that offers buyer protection, such as a credit card or PayPal. If a seller insists on a bank transfer, cryptocurrency, or another irreversible payment method, walk away.

Not every resin art account is a scam. Many belong to genuine artists, and that’s why impersonation scams can be so convincing.

If you’re unsure, paste the website address into Malwarebytes Scam Guard and ask whether it shows signs of being fraudulent. It can help identify suspiciously new domains and other common scam indicators.

Use real-time web protection to block known fraudulent and malicious websites, like Browser Guard did for this web shop:

Both are free—making them much cheaper than sending money to a scammer.

Something feel off? Check it before you click.  

Malwarebytes Scam Guard helps you analyze suspicious links, texts, and screenshots instantly.  

Available with Malwarebytes Premium Security for all your devices, and in the Malwarebytes app for iOS and Android.  

Try it free →