This artticle is from Trend Micro.
Snake oil salesmen have been selling their “miracle cures” since long before the internet was
even a dream. But the quack industry has skyrocketed in the age of digital communication, with
infinite advertisements seemingly at the bottom of every webpage and in the headlines of
every dodgy news site. This week we’ve found scams related to keto diet and CBD gummy
supplements.
Scam Advertisements
Consumers have been receiving SMS text messages containing phishing links. The advertised
product is a gummy supplement that supposedly aids weight loss by promoting a ketogenic, fat-
burning environment in the human body (keto diet). Of course, it is just the latest quack
product that aims to make a profit out of people’s insecurities.
SMS Content:
Clicking the phishing link will take you to phishing page where your personal information will be
harvesting, potentially leading to all kinds of threats — such as theft or identity fraud. If you
want to lose weight, healthy exercise and a varied diet is the way to go. Fall for these gummies
and the only thing you’ll lose is your money!
Consumers have also been receiving similar phishing texts advertising CBD (cannabidiol)
gummies. CBD is a chemical extract from the cannabis plant. While there’s a lot of exciting
research into its medicinal effects — e.g., pain relief and depression — these gummies are likely
fakes.
More Dubious Advertisements
SMS Content:
Following the phishing links will likely result in compromising your personal details. There’s no
guarantee you’ll receive the product — and even less that they will work. If you are interesting
in CBD (and it’s legal in your area), it would be best to check with local health services and
reputable, established companies.
After you’ve pinned the Trend Micro Check
extension, it will block dangerous sites
automatically! (Available on Safari, Google
Chrome, and Microsoft Edge).
You can also download the Trend Micro
Check mobile app for 24/7 automatic scam
and spam detection and filtering. (Available
for Android and iOS).
Check out this page for more information on Trend Micro Check. And as ever, if you’ve found
this article an interesting and/or helpful read, please do SHARE it with friends and family to help
keep the online community secure and protected. Happy summer shopping!
Source: pexels.com
Have you fallen for a hoax, bought a fake product? Report the site and warn others!
As the influence of the internet rises, so does the prevalence of online scams. There are fraudsters making all kinds of claims to trap victims online - from fake investment opportunities to online stores - and the internet allows them to operate from any part of the world with anonymity. The ability to spot online scams is an important skill to have as the virtual world is increasingly becoming a part of every facet of our lives. The below tips will help you identify the signs which can indicate that a website could be a scam. Common Sense: Too Good To Be True When looking for goods online, a great deal can be very enticing. A Gucci bag or a new iPhone for half the price? Who wouldn’t want to grab such a deal? Scammers know this too and try to take advantage of the fact. If an online deal looks too good to be true, think twice and double-check things. The easiest way to do this is to simply check out the same product at competing websites (that you trust). If the difference in prices is huge, it might be better to double-check the rest of the website. Check Out the Social Media Links Social media is a core part of ecommerce businesses these days and consumers often expect online shops to have a social media presence. Scammers know this and often insert logos of social media sites on their websites. Scratching beneath the surface often reveals this fu
So the worst has come to pass - you realise you parted with your money too fast, and the site you used was a scam - what now? Well first of all, don’t despair!! If you think you have been scammed, the first port of call when having an issue is to simply ask for a refund. This is the first and easiest step to determine whether you are dealing with a genuine company or scammers. Sadly, getting your money back from a scammer is not as simple as just asking. If you are indeed dealing with scammers, the procedure (and chance) of getting your money back varies depending on the payment method you used. PayPal Debit card/Credit card Bank transfer Wire transfer Google Pay Bitcoin PayPal If you used PayPal, you have a strong chance of getting your money back if you were scammed. On their website, you can file a dispute within 180 calendar days of your purchase. Conditions to file a dispute: The simplest situation is that you ordered from an online store and it has not arrived. In this case this is what PayPal states: "If your order never shows up and the seller can't provide proof of shipment or delivery, you'll get a full refund. It's that simple." The scammer has sent you a completely different item. For example, you ordered a PlayStation 4, but instead received only a Playstation controller. The condition of the item was misrepresented on the product page. This could be the