Ways to Tell if a Website Is Fake

Unfortunately in today’s world, scammers are coming at us from all angles to trick us to get us to part with our hard-earned money. We all need to be vigilant in protecting ourselves online. If you aren’t paying attention, even if you know what to look for, they can get you. There are numerous ways to detect fake sites or emails, phishing, and other scams.

Before we delve into the signs of fake websites, we will first take a closer look at the common types of scam that use websites, what happens when you accidentally access a fake website, and what you can do in case you unknowingly purchased items from it.

What are fake or scam websites?

Fake or scam websites are fraudulent sites that look legitimate while secretly attempting to steal your personal information, money, or account access.

These deceptive platforms masquerade as trustworthy businesses or organizations, sending urgent messages such as popular shopping websites offering fantastic limited-time deals, banking websites requesting immediate account verification, government portals claiming you owe taxes or are eligible for refunds, and shipping companies asking for delivery fees.

The urgency aims to trick you into logging in and sharing sensitive details—credit card numbers, Social Security information, login credentials, and personal data. Once you submit your data, the scammers will steal your identity, drain your accounts, or sell your details to other criminals on the dark web.

These scam websites have become increasingly prevalent because they’re relatively inexpensive to create and can reach millions of potential victims quickly through email and text campaigns, social media ads, and search engine manipulation.

Cybersecurity researchers and consumer protection agencies discover these fraudulent sites through various methods, including monitoring suspicious domain registrations, analyzing reported phishing attempts, and tracking unusual web traffic patterns. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, losses from cyber-enabled fraud amounted to $13.7 billion, with fake websites representing a significant portion of these losses.

Consequences of visiting a fake website

Visiting a fake website, accidentally or intentionally, can expose you to several serious security risks that can impact your digital life and financial well-being:

• Credential theft: Scammers can capture your login information through fake login pages that look identical to legitimate sites. Once they have your username and password, they can access your real accounts and steal personal information or money.
• Credit card fraud: When you enter your bank or credit card details on fraudulent shopping or fake service portals, scammers can use your payment information for unauthorized purchases or sell these to other criminals on the dark web.
• Malware infection: Malicious downloads, infected ads, or drive-by downloads may happen automatically when you visit certain fake sites. These, in turn, can steal personal files, monitor your activity, or give criminals remote access to your device.
• Identity theft: Fake sites can collect personal information like Social Security numbers, addresses, or birthdates through fraudulent forms or surveys.
• Account takeovers: Criminals can use stolen credentials to access your email, banking, or social media accounts, potentially locking you out and using your accounts for further scams.

Common types of scam websites

Scammers use different tricks to make fake websites look real, but most of them fall into familiar patterns. Knowing the main types of scam sites helps you recognize danger faster. This section lists the most common categories of scam websites, how they work, and the red flags that give them away before they can steal your information or money.

• Fake shopping stores: These fraudulent e-commerce sites steal your money and personal information without delivering products. They offer unrealistic discounts (70%+ off), have no customer service contact information, or accept payments only through wire transfers or gift cards. These sites often use stolen product images and fake customer reviews to appear legitimate.
• Phishing login pages: These sites mimic legitimate services such as banks, email providers, or social media platforms to harvest your credentials. Their URLs that don’t match the official domain, such as “bankofamerica-security.com” instead of “bankofamerica.com” Their urgent messages claim your account will be suspended unless you log in immediately.
• Tech support scam sites: These fake websites claim to detect computer problems and offer remote assistance for a fee. They begin with a pop-up ad with a loud alarm to warn you about viruses, provide you with phone numbers to call “immediately,” or request remote desktop access from unsolicited contacts.
• Investment and crypto sites: These sites guarantee incredible returns on cryptocurrency or investment opportunities, feature fake celebrity endorsements, or pressure you to invest quickly before a “limited-time opportunity” expires.
• Giveaway and lottery pages: You receive notifications with a link to a page that claims you’ve won prizes In contests you never entered, but require upfront fees or personal information to receive them. They will request bank account details to “process your winnings” or upfront processing fees.
• Shipping and parcel update portals: These usually come in the form of tracking pages that mimic delivery services such as USPS, UPS, or FedEx to steal personal information or payment details. The pages ask for immediate payment to release and deliver the packages, or for login credentials to accounts you don’t have with that carrier.
• Malware download pages: These ill-intentioned sites offer “free” but uncertified software, games, or media files that contain harmful code to infect your device once you click on the prominent “Download” button.
• Advance fee and loan scams: These sites guarantee approved loans or financial services regardless of your credit score. But first you will have to post an upfront payment or processing fees before any actual assistance is rendered.

Understanding these common scam types helps you recognize fake sites before they can steal your information or money. When in doubt, verify legitimacy by visiting official websites directly through bookmarks or search engines rather than clicking suspicious links.

For the latest warnings and protection guidance, check resources from the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Recognize a fake site

You can protect yourself by learning to recognize the warning signs of fake sites. By understanding what these scams look like and how they operate, you’ll be better equipped to shop, bank, and browse online with confidence. Remember, legitimate companies will never pressure you to provide sensitive information through unsolicited emails or urgent pop-up messages.

1. Mismatched domain name and brand: The website URL doesn’t match the company name they claim to represent, like “amazoon-deals.com” instead of “amazon.com.” Scammers use similar-looking domains to trick you into thinking you’re on a legitimate site.
2. Spelling mistakes and poor grammar: Legitimate businesses invest in professionally created content to ensure clean and error-free writing or graphics. If you are on a site with multiple typos, awkward phrasing, or grammatical errors, these indicate that it was hastily created and not thoroughly reviewed like authentic websites.
3. Missing or invalid security certificate: The site lacks “https://” in the URL or shows security warnings in your browser. Without proper encryption, any information you enter can be intercepted by criminals.
4. Fantastic deals: Look out for prices that are dramatically low—like designer items at 90% off or electronics at impossibly low costs. Scammers use unrealistic bargains to lure victims into providing payment information.
5. High-pressure countdown timers: The site displays urgent messages such as “Only 2 left!” or countdown clocks with limited-time offers that reset when you refresh the page. These fake urgency tactics push you to make hasty decisions without proper research.
6. No physical address, contact information, legitimate business details: The site provides only an email address or contact form. In the same vein, any email address they provide may look strange like northbank@hotmail.com. Any legitimate business will not be using a public email account such as Hotmail, Gmail, or Yahoo.
7. Missing or vague return policy: Legitimate businesses want satisfied customers and provide clear policies for returns and exchanges. Scams, however, cannot provide clear refund policies, return instructions, or customer service information.
8. Stolen or low-quality images: Scammers often steal images from legitimate sites without permission, making their product photos look pixelated, watermarked, or inconsistent in style and quality.
9. Fake or generic reviews: Authentic reviews include specific details and a mix of ratings and comments. On fake websites, however, customer reviews are overly positive with generic language, posted on the same dates, or contain similar phrasing patterns.
10. Limited payment options: Legitimate businesses offer secure payment options with buyer protection. Fake websites, however, only accept wire transfers, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or other non-reversible or untraceable payment methods.
11. Recently registered domain: The website was created very recently—often just days or weeks ago, whereas established businesses typically have older, stable web presences.
12. Fake password: If you’re at a fake site and type in a phony password, the fake site is likely to accept it.

Recognize phishing, SMiShing, and other fake communications

Most scams usually start out from social engineering tactics such as phishing, smishing, and fake social media messages with suspicious links, before leading you to a fake website.

From these communications, the scammers impersonate legitimate organizations before finally executing their malevolent intentions. To avoid being tricked, it is essential to recognize the warning signs wherever you encounter them.

Email phishing red flags

Fake emails are among the most common phishing attempts you’ll encounter. If you see any of these signs in an unsolicited email, it is best not to engage:

• One way to recognize a phishing email is by its opening greeting. A legitimate email from your real bank or business will address you by name rather than a generic greeting like “Valued Customer” or something similar.
• In the main message, watch for urgent language like “Act now!” or “Your account will be suspended immediately.” Legitimate organizations rarely create artificial urgency around routine account matters. Also pay attention to the sender’s email address. Authentic companies use official domains, not generic email services like Gmail or Yahoo for business communications.
• Be suspicious of emails requesting your credentials, Social Security number, or other sensitive information. Banks and reputable companies will never ask for passwords or personal details via email.
• Look closely at logos and formatting. Spoofed emails often contain low-resolution images, spelling errors, or slightly altered company logos that don’t match the authentic versions.

SMS and text message scams

Smishing messages bear the same signs as phishing emails and have become increasingly sophisticated. These fake messages often appear to come from delivery services, banks, or government agencies. Common tactics include fake package delivery notifications, urgent banking alerts, or messages claiming you’ve won prizes or need to verify account information.

Legitimate organizations typically don’t include clickable links in unsolicited text messages, especially for account-related actions. When in doubt, don’t click the link—instead, open your banking app directly or visit the official website by typing the URL manually.

Social media phishing

Social media platforms give scammers new opportunities to create convincing fake profiles and pages. They might impersonate customer service accounts, create fake giveaways, or send direct messages requesting personal information. These fake sites often use profile pictures and branding that closely resemble legitimate companies.

Unusual sender behavior is another indicator of a scam across all platforms. This includes messages from contacts you haven’t heard from in years, communications from brands you don’t typically interact with, or requests that seem out of character for the supposed sender.

Examples of fake or scam websites

Scammers have become increasingly cunning in creating fake websites that closely mimic legitimate businesses and services. Here are some real-life examples of how cybercriminals use fake websites to victimize consumers:

USPS-themed scams and websites

Scammers exploit your trust in the United States Postal Service (USPS), designing sophisticated fake websites to steal your personal information, payment details, or money. They know you’re expecting a package or need to resolve a delivery issue, making you more likely to enter sensitive information without carefully verifying the site’s authenticity.

USPS-themed smishing attacks arrive as text messages stating your package is delayed, undeliverable, or requires immediate action. Common phrases include “Pay $1.99 to reschedule delivery” or “Your package is held – click here to release.”

Common URL tricks in USPS scams

Scammers use various URL manipulation techniques to make their fake sites appear official. Watch for these red flags:

• Misspelled domains: Sites like “uspps.com,” “uspo.com,” or “us-ps.com” instead of the official “usps.com”
• Extra characters: URLs containing hyphens, numbers, or additional words like “usps-tracking.com” or “usps2024.com”
• Different extensions: Domains ending in .net, .org, .info, or country codes instead of .com
• Subdomain tricks: URLs like “usps.fake-site.com” where “usps” appears as a subdomain rather than the main domain
• HTTPS absence: Legitimate USPS pages use secure HTTPS connections, while some fake sites may only use HTTP

Verify through official USPS channels

Always verify package information and delivery issues through official USPS channels before taking any action on suspicious websites or messages:

• Official USPS website: Report the incident directly to usps.com by typing the URL into your browser rather than clicking links from emails or texts. Use the tracking tool on the homepage to check your package status with the official tracking number.
• Official USPS mobile app: The USPS mobile app, available from official app stores, provides secure access to tracking, scheduling, and delivery management. Verify that you are downloading from USPS by checking the publisher name and official branding.
• USPS customer service: If you receive conflicting information or suspect a scam, call USPS customer service at 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) to verify delivery issues or payment requests.
• Your local post office: When you need definitive verification, speak with postal workers at your local USPS location who can access your package information directly in their systems.

Where and how to report fake USPS websites

Reporting fake USPS websites helps protect others from falling victim to these scams and assists law enforcement in tracking down perpetrators.

• Report to USPS: Forward suspicious emails to the United States Postal Inspection Service and report fake websites through the USPS website’s fraud reporting section. The postal inspection service investigates mail fraud and online scams targeting postal customers.
• File with the Federal Trade Commission: Report the fraudulent website at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, providing details about the fake site’s URL, any money lost, and screenshots of the fraudulent pages.
• Contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation: Submit reports through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, especially if you provided personal information or lost money to the scam.
• Alert your state attorney general: Many state attorneys general offices track consumer fraud and can investigate scams targeting residents in their jurisdiction.

Remember that legitimate USPS services are free for standard delivery confirmation and tracking. Any website demanding payment for basic package tracking or delivery should be treated as suspicious and verified through official USPS channels before providing any personal or financial information.

Tech support pop-up ads scams

According to the Federal Trade Commission, tech support scams cost Americans nearly $1.5 billion in 2024. These types of social engineering attacks are increasingly becoming sophisticated, making it more important than ever to verify security alerts through official channels.

Sadly, many scammers are misusing the McAfee name to create fake tech support pop-up scams and trick you into believing your computer is infected or your protection has expired and hoping you’ll act without thinking.

These pop-ups typically appear while you’re browsing and claim your computer is severely infected with viruses, malware, or other threats. They use official-looking McAfee logos, colors, and messaging to appear legitimate to get you to call a fake support number, download malicious software, or pay for unnecessary services.

Red flags of fake McAfee pop-up

Learning to detect fake sites and pop-ups protects you from scam. Be on the lookout for these warning signs:

• Offering phone numbers to call immediately: Legitimate McAfee software never displays pop-ups demanding you call a phone number right away for virus removal.
• Requests for remote access: Authentic McAfee alerts won’t ask you for permission to remotely control your computer to “fix” issues.
• Immediate payment demands: Real McAfee pop-ups don’t require instant payment to resolve security threats.
• Countdown timers: Fake alerts often include urgent timers claiming your computer will be “locked” or “damaged” if you don’t act immediately.
• Poor grammar and spelling: Many fraudulent pop-ups contain obvious spelling and grammatical errors.
• Browser-based alerts: Genuine McAfee software notifications appear from the actual installed program, not through your web browser.

Properly close a McAfee-themed pop-up ad

If you see a suspicious pop-up claiming to be from McAfee, here’s exactly what you should do:

1. Close the tab immediately: Don’t click anywhere on the pop-up, not even the “X” button, as this might trigger malware downloads.
2. Use keyboard shortcuts: Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete or Command+Option+Escape (Mac) to force-close your browser safely.
3. Don’t call any phone numbers: Never call support numbers displayed on the pop-ups, as these connect you directly to scammers.
4. Avoid downloading software: Don’t download any “cleaning” or “security” tools offered through pop-ups.
5. Clear your browser cache: After closing the pop-up, clear your browser’s cache and cookies to remove any tracking elements.

Verify your actual McAfee protection status

To check if your McAfee protection is genuinely active and up-to-date:

• Open your installed McAfee software directly: Click on the McAfee icon in your system tray or search for McAfee in your start menu.
• Visit the official McAfee website: Go directly to mcafee.com by typing it into your address bar.
• Log into your McAfee account: Check your subscription status through your official McAfee online account.
• Use the McAfee mobile app: Download the official McAfee Mobile Security app to monitor your protection remotely.

Remember, legitimate McAfee software updates and notifications come through the installed program itself, not through random browser pop-ups. Your actual McAfee protection works quietly in the background without bombarding you with alarming messages.

Crush fake tech support pop-ups

Stay protected by trusting your installed McAfee software and always verifying security alerts through official McAfee channels such as your installed McAfee dashboard or the official website.

1. Close your browser safely. If you see a fake McAfee pop-up claiming your computer is infected, don’t click anything on the pop-up. Instead, close your browser completely using Alt+F4 (Windows) or Command+Q (Mac). If the pop-up does not close, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and end the browser process. This prevents any malicious scripts from running and stops the scammers from accessing your system.
2. Clear browser permissions. Fake security pop-ups often trick you into allowing notifications that can bombard you with more scam alerts. Go to your browser settings and revoke notification permissions for suspicious sites. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Notifications, then remove any unfamiliar or suspicious websites from the allowed list.
3. Remove suspicious browser extensions. Malicious extensions can generate fake McAfee alerts and redirect you to scam websites. Check your browser extensions by going to the extensions menu and removing any you don’t recognize or didn’t intentionally install.
4. Reset your browser settings. If fake pop-ups persist, reset your browser to its default settings to remove unwanted changes made by malicious websites or extensions, while preserving your bookmarks and saved passwords. In most browsers, you can find the reset option under Advanced Settings.
5. Run a complete security scan. Use your legitimate antivirus software to perform a full system scan. If you don’t have security software, download a reputable program from the official vendor’s website only, such as McAfee Total Protection, to detect and remove any malware that might be generating the fake pop-ups.
6. Update your operating system and browser. Ensure your device has the latest security and web browser updates installed, which often include patches for vulnerabilities that scammers exploit. Enable automatic updates to stay protected against future threats.
7. Review and adjust notification settings. Configure your browser to block pop-ups and block sites from sending you notifications. You could be tempted to allow some sites to send you alerts, but we suggest erring on the side of caution and just block all notifications.

Steps to take if you visited or purchased from a fake site

Be prepared and know how to respond quickly when something doesn’t feel right. If you suspect you’ve encountered a fake website, trust your instincts and take these protective steps immediately.

1. Disconnect immediately: Close your browser by using Alt+F4 (Windows), Ctrl + W (Chrome), or Command+Q (Mac) on your keyboard.
2. Run a comprehensive security scan: If you suspect a virus or malware, disconnect from the internet to prevent data transmission. Conduct a full scan using your antivirus software to detect and remove any potential threats that may have been downloaded.
3. Contact your credit card issuer: Call the number on the back of your card and report the fraudulent charges for which you can receive zero liability protection. Card companies allow up to 60 days for charge disputes under federal law and can refund payments made to the fake store. Consider requesting a temporary freeze on your account while the investigation proceeds.
4. Cancel your credit card: Request a replacement card with a new number to give you a fresh start. Your card issuer can expedite the request if needed, often within 24-48 hours.
5. Document everything thoroughly: Save all emails, receipts, order confirmations, and screenshots of the fake website before it potentially disappears. This documentation will be crucial for your chargeback and insurance claims, and any legal proceedings.
6. Update passwords on other accounts: Scammers often test stolen credentials across multiple platforms, so if you reused the same password on the fake site that you use elsewhere, change those passwords immediately. Enable two-factor authentication on important accounts like email, banking, and social media.
7. Stay alert for follow-up scams: Scammers may attempt to contact you via phone, email, or text claiming to “resolve” your situation through fake shipping notifications, additional payments to “release” your package, or “refunds” on your money in exchange for personal information.
8. Monitor your credit and financial accounts. Keep a close eye on your bank and credit card statements for several months and place a fraud alert on your credit reports through one of the three major credit bureaus—TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. Consider a credit freeze for maximum protection.
9. Check for legitimate alternatives. If you were trying to purchase a specific product, research authorized retailers or the manufacturer’s official website. Verify business credentials, secure payment options, and return policies before making new purchases.

Report a scam website, email, or text message

• Federal Trade Commission: Report fraudulent websites to the FTC, which investigates consumer complaints and uses this data to identify patterns of fraud and take enforcement action against scammers.
• FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center: Submit detailed reports to the ICc3 for suspected internet crimes. IC3 serves as a central hub for reporting cybercrime and coordinates with law enforcement agencies nationwide.
• State Attorney General: If the fake store claimed to be located in your state, consider reporting to your state attorney general’s office, as these have dedicated fraud reporting systems and can take action against businesses operating within state boundaries. Find your state’s reporting portal through the National Association of Attorneys General website.
• Domain registrar, hosting provider, social media: Look up the website’s registration details using a WHOIS tool, then report abuse to both the domain registrar and web hosting company. Most providers have dedicated abuse reporting emails and will investigate violations of their terms of service. If the fake page is on social media, you can report it to the platform to protect other consumers.
• Search engines: Report fraudulent sites to Google through their spam report form and to Microsoft Bing via their webmaster tools to prevent the fake sites from appearing in search results.
• The impersonated brand: If scammers are impersonating a legitimate company, report directly to that company’s fraud department or customer service. Most brands have dedicated channels for reporting fake websites and will work to shut them down.
• Share your experience to protect others: Leave reviews on scam-reporting websites such as the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker or post about your experience on social media to warn friends and family. Your experience can help others avoid the same trap and contribute to the broader fight against online fraud.
• Essential evidence to gather:

• • Full website URL and any redirected addresses
  • Screenshots of the fraudulent pages, including fake logos or branding
  • Transaction details, if you made a purchase (receipts, confirmation emails, payment information)
  • Email communications from the scammers
  • Date and time when you first encountered the site
  • Any personal information you may have provided

• Additional reporting resources: The CISA maintains an updated list of reporting resources while the Anti-Phishing Working Group investigates cases of the fake sites that appear to be collecting personal information fraudulently. For text message scams, forward the message to 7726 (SPAM).

Final thoughts

Recognizing fake sites and emails becomes easier with practice. The key is to trust your instincts—if something feels suspicious or too good to be true, take a moment to verify through official channels. With the simple verification techniques covered in this guide, you can confidently navigate the digital world and spot fake sites and emails before they cause harm.

Your best defense is to make these quick security checks a regular habit—verify URLs, look for secure connections, and trust your instincts when something feels off. Go directly to the source or bookmark your most-used services and always navigate to them. Enable two-factor authentication on important accounts, and remember that legitimate companies will never ask for sensitive information via email. Maintaining healthy skepticism about unsolicited communications will protect not only your personal information but also help create a safer online environment for everyone.

For the latest information on fake websites and scams and to report them, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s scam alerts or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

The post Ways to Tell if a Website Is Fake appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Scammers aren’t worried about ending up on the naughty list. If anything, they’re doubling down in 2025.  

This year, scammers are impersonating major brands with startling accuracy, from fake delivery updates to cloned checkout pages.

Our McAfee Labs researchers analyzed real scam texts, emails, and URLs from October through early November, along with consumer survey data, to identify the patterns shaping this season’s fraud.

Here’s what shoppers need to know, what’s trending upward, and how to spot the fakes before they reach your cart.

What Is a Holiday Brand-Impersonation Scam?

A brand-impersonation scam is when criminals copy a real brand, like a retailer, tech company, bank, or delivery service, to make fake emails, texts, ads, or websites that look legitimate.

Their goal is to trick shoppers into clicking, entering account details, or making a payment.

McAfee Labs’ brand impersonation analysis shows criminals focusing on the items people shop for most — tech gifts, luxury goods, and high-demand drops.

Fake versions of these brands typically include:

• Copied product photos
• Familiar layouts
• Holiday sale graphics
• Support pages designed to capture logins

Which Brands Are Being Faked the Most This Holiday Season?

Top 5 most impersonated luxury brands

1. Coach
2. Dior
3. Ralph Lauren
4. Rolex
5. Gucci

Top 5 most impersonated mainstream consumer brands

1. Apple
2. Nintendo
3. Samsung
4. Disney
5. Steam

Other Key Research Takeaways US:

• Email scams are exploding, up ~50% in retail and ~85% in tech as the holidays approach.
• Fake storefronts are rising, with technology URL scams up nearly 50% and consumer URL scams up ~5%.
• Trusted brands are the most impersonated, including Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Walmart, and Costco.
• 96% plan to shop online
• 91% see ads from unfamiliar retailers
• 37% may buy from brands they don’t recognize
• AI is reshaping scams, with 46% of Americans encountering fake celebrity or influencer endorsements.

Other Key Research Takeaways UK:

• 97% plan to shop online
• 86% see ads from unfamiliar retailers
• 30% may buy from brands they don’t recognize
• AI is reshaping scams, with 42% of Americans encountering fake celebrity or influencer endorsements.

How to Stay Safe While Brands Are Being Faked This Season

Scammers are getting better at copying the brands you trust, but avoiding the fakes gets much easier when you slow down, verify what you see, and use tools that check links and messages before you click.

Here’s what actually helps during a season when realistic-looking scams are everywhere:

1. Go straight to the source

If you get a message about an order, refund, delivery issue, or account lockout, don’t click the link.

Go directly to the retailer’s app or type the URL manually.

This single habit eliminates most holiday scams.

2. Inspect the sender, not the graphics

Scammers can recreate logos, colors, and templates perfectly.

What they can’t easily mimic:

• A legitimate domain
• A verified phone number
• A support email that matches the company’s format

If the sender looks off, the message is off.

3. Let security tools check the link for you

McAfee’s online protection adds a critical layer of holiday safety, especially when scammers imitate retailers with near-perfect accuracy.

Key protections include:

Web Protection
Blocks malicious or suspicious websites before they load — including fake checkout pages, login portals, and support sites.

Scam Detector
Built into all core McAfee plans. It flags scam texts, emails, and even deepfake-style video promotions, letting you know a link or message is unsafe before you interact with it.

Password Manager
Creates and stores strong, unique passwords so a stolen login from one retailer doesn’t unlock your whole digital life.

Identity & Financial Monitoring
Transaction Monitoring and Credit Monitoring can alert you to unusual activity — a crucial safety net when stolen logins, card numbers, or personal details circulate quickly during the holidays.

These tools help counter the exact tactics scammers rely on: cloned websites, fake brand emails, and phishing links disguised as legitimate retailers.

4. Turn on two-factor authentication everywhere you shop

Even if a scammer gets your password, they can’t get in without your one-time code.

5. Treat urgency as a red flag

Legitimate companies don’t ask you to “act in minutes,” pay fees to “unlock” an account, or claim you must stay on the line.

Pressure is a tactic — not customer service.

6. Keep an eye on your accounts

Check your banking and shopping accounts weekly.

Small unauthorized charges often appear before large ones.

The post The Most Impersonated Brands in Holiday Shopping, Ranked appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Leading off our news on scams this week, a heads-up for DoorDash users, merchants, and Dashers too. A data breach of an undisclosed size may have impacted you.

Per an email sent by the company to “affected DoorDash users where required,” a third party gained access to data that may have included a mix of the following:

• First and last name
• Physical address
• Phone number
• Email address

You might have got the email too. And even if you didn’t, anyone who’s used DoorDash should take note.

As to the potential scope of the breach, DoorDash made no comment in its email or a post on their help site. Of note, though, is that one of the help lines cited in their post mentions a French-language number—implying that the breach might affect Canadian users as well. Any reach beyond the U.S. and Canada remains unclear.

Per the company’s Q2 financial report this year, “hundreds of thousands of merchants, tens of millions of consumers, and millions of Dashers across over 30 countries every month.” Stats published elsewhere put the user base at more than 40 million people, which includes some 600,000 merchants.

The company underscored that no “sensitive” info like Social Security Numbers (and potentially Canadian Social Insurance Numbers) were involved in the breach. This marks the third notable breach by the well-known delivery service, with incidents in 2019 and 2022

What to do if you think you got caught up in the DoorDash breach

While the types of info involved here appear to be limited, any time there’s a breach, we suggest the following:

Protect your credit and identity. Checking your credit and getting identity theft protection can help keep you safer in the aftermath of a breach. Further, a security freeze can help prevent identity theft if you spot any unusual activity. You can get all three in place with our McAfee+ Advanced or Ultimate plans.

Keep an eye out for phishing attacks. With some personal info in hand, bad actors might seek out more. They might follow up a breach with rounds of phishing attacks that direct you to bogus sites designed to steal your personal info. As with any text or email you get from a company, make sure it’s legitimate before clicking or tapping on any links. Instead, go straight to the appropriate website or contact them by phone directly. Also, protections like our Scam Detector and Web Protection can alert you to scams and sketchy links before they take you somewhere you don’t want to go.

Update your passwords and use two-factor authentication. Changing your password is a strong preventive measure. Strong and unique passwords are best, which means never reusing your passwords across different sites and platforms. Using a password manager helps you stay on top of it all while also storing your passwords securely.

Attention travelers: Now boarding, a rise in flight cancellation scams

Even as the FAA lifted recent flight restrictions on Monday morning, scammers are still taking advantage of lingering uncertainty, and upcoming holiday travel, with a spate of flight cancellation scams.

How the scam works

Fake cancellation texts

The first comes via a text message saying that your flight has been cancelled and you must call or rebook quickly to avoid losing your seat—usually in 30 minutes. It’s a typical scammer trick, where they hook you with a combination of bad news and urgency. Of course, the phone number and the site don’t connect you with your airline. They connect you to a scammer, who walks away with your money and your card info to potentially rip you off again.

Fake airline sites in search results

The second uses paid search results. We’ve talked about this trick in our blogs before. Because paid search results appear ahead of organic results, scammers spin up bogus sites that mirror legitimate ones and promote them in paid search. In this way, they can look like a certain well-known airline and appear in search before the real airline’s listing. With that, people often mistakenly click the first link they see. From there, the scam plays out just as above as the scammer comes away with your money and card info.

How to avoid flight cancellation scams

Q: How can I confirm whether my flight is really canceled?
A: Check directly in your airline’s official app or website. Never click links in texts or emails.

Q: How can I spot a fake airline search result?
A: Look for “Ad”/“Sponsored,” confirm the URL, and check that the site uses HTTPS, not HTTP.

Q: Is there a tool that flags fake booking sites?
A: Scam-spotting tools like Scam Detector and Web Protection can identify sketchy links before you click.

In search, first isn’t always best.

Look closely to see if your top results are tagged with “Sponsored” or “Ad” in some way, realizing it might be in fine print. Further, look at the web address. Does it start with “https” (the “s” means secure), because many scam sites simply use an unsecured “http” site. Also, does the link look right? For example, if you’re searching for “Generic Airlines,” is the link the expected “genericairlines dot-com” or something else? Scammers often try to spoof it in some way by adding to the name or by creating a subdomain like this: “genericairlines.rebookyourflight dot-com.”

Get a scam detector to spot bogus links for you.

Even with these tips and tools, spotting bogus links with the naked eye can get tricky. Some look “close enough” to a legitimate link that you might overlook it. Yet a combination of features in our McAfee+ plans can help do that work for you.  Our Scam Detector helps you stay safer with advanced scam detection technology built to spot and stop scams across text messages, emails, and videos. Likewise, our Web Protection will alert you if a link might take you to a sketchy site. It’ll also block those sites if you accidentally tap or click on a bad link.

Scammers Hijack a Trusted Mass Texting Provider

You’ve probably seen plenty of messages sent by short code numbers. They’re the five- or six-digit codes used to send texts instead of by a phone number. For example, your cable company might use one to send a text for resetting a streaming password, the same goes for your pharmacy to let you know a prescription is ready or your state’s DoT to issue a winter travel alert, and so on.

According to NBC News, scammers sent hundreds of thousands of texts using codes used by the state of New York, a charity, and a political organizing group. The article also cites an email sent to messaging providers by the U.S. Short Code Registry, an industry nonprofit that maintains those codes in the U.S. In the email, the registry said attempted attacks on messaging providers are on the rise.

What this means for the rest of us is that just about any text from an unknown number, and now short codes, might contain malicious links and content. It’s one more reason to arm yourself with the one-two punch of our Scam Detector and Web Protection.

What are short codes?
Short codes are 5–6 digit numbers used by pharmacies, utilities, banks, and government agencies to send official alerts.

Why this attack is unusual
Scammers didn’t spoof short codes—they gained access to real ones used by:

• The State of New York
• A charity
• A political organizing group

Why this matters
Even texts from legitimate short-code numbers can no longer be trusted at face value.

What to do now

• Treat any unexpected text—even from a short code—as suspicious.
• Don’t tap links.
• Verify by going directly to the official website or app.

Quick Scam Roundup

Consumers warned over AI chatbots giving inaccurate financial advice 

• Our advice: Always verify recommendations with trusted financial sources

Why our own clicks are often cybercrime’s greatest allies

• Our advice: Many attacks rely on rushed or emotional decisions, slow down before clicking

TikTok malware scam uses fake software activation guides to steal data

• Our advice: Download software only from official sources

 

We’ll be back after the Thanksgiving weekend with more updates, scam news, and ways to stay cyber safe.

The post This Week in Scams: DoorDash Breach and Fake Flight Cancellation Texts appeared first on McAfee Blog.

You’ve seen the videos: a too-perfect Taylor Swift promoting free cookware. A fake Tom Hanks offering dental insurance.

They look real—but they’re not.

New research from McAfee Labs shows just how common these scams have become.

Our 2025 Most Dangerous Celebrity: Deepfake Deception List ranks the stars and influencers whose likenesses are most hijacked by scammers, and reveals a growing market for AI-powered fake endorsements.

At the top of the list? Taylor Swift, followed by Scarlett Johansson, Jenna Ortega, and Sydney Sweeney. Globally, names like Brad Pitt, Billie Eilish, and Emma Watson also appear among the most exploited.

McAfee also released its first-ever Influencer Deepfake Deception List, led by gamer and streamer Pokimane, showing that scammers are now targeting social platforms just as aggressively as Hollywood.

Top 10 Most Dangerous Celebrities (2025): U.S 

Top 10 Most Dangerous Celebrities (2025): Global

Top 10 Most Dangerous Influencers  (2025): Global 

 

Why Scammers Love Famous Faces

The formula is simple: use someone people trust to sell something that doesn’t exist.

Criminals clone celebrity voices and faces with AI to promote fake giveaways, skincare products, crypto investments, or “exclusive” deals that lead straight to malware or payment fraud.

According to McAfee’s survey of 8,600 people worldwide:

• 72% of Americans have seen fake celebrity or influencer endorsements.
• 39% have clicked on one.
• 1 in 10 lost money or personal data, an average of $525 per victim.

Scammers exploit trust. When you see a familiar face, your brain automatically lowers its guard. And that’s exactly what they count on.

How Deepfakes Are Making Headlines

AI has made these scams look frighteningly real.

Modern deepfake generators can mimic voices, facial movements, and even micro-expressions with uncanny precision. Only 29% of people feel confident identifying a fake, and 21% admit to having low confidence spotting deepfakes.

That’s how fake endorsements and AI romance scams have exploded online.

• A woman in France lost nearly $900,000 to a scammer posing as Brad Pitt, complete with AI-generated images and voice messages.
• TV host Al Roker was recently targeted by a fake deepfake video claiming he’d suffered heart attacks.
• Tom Hanks, Oprah, and Scarlett Johansson have all been used in fraudulent ads for products they never touched.

“Seeing is believing” doesn’t apply anymore, and scammers know it.

The Psychology of The Scam

Deepfake scams don’t just rely on technology; they prey on parasocial relationships, the one-sided emotional bonds fans form with public figures.

When a “celebrity” DMs you, it doesn’t always feel strange. It feels personal. That sense of intimacy makes people act before thinking.

It’s the same psychological playbook behind romance scams, now supercharged by AI tools that make fake videos and voice messages sound heartbreakingly real.

How to Protect Yourself

1. Pause before you click. If an ad or post seems out of character or “too good to be true,” it probably is.
2. Verify at the source. Check the celebrity’s verified account on social media. Scammers often copy profile photos and bios but miss subtle details like posting style or engagement patterns.
3. Look for signs of AI manipulation. Watch for off-sync lip movements, robotic tone, or lighting that looks inconsistent.
4. Never share personal or payment details via messages, even if the sender appears to be verified.
5. Use McAfee’s Scam Detector, included in all core plans, to automatically analyze texts, emails, and videos for signs of fraud or deepfake manipulation.

Key Takeaways

Celebrity and influencer culture has always shaped what we buy, but now it’s shaping how scammers deceive. These deepfakes don’t just steal money; they chip away at our trust in what we see, hear, and share online.

The celebrities at the center of these scams aren’t accomplices, they’re victims, too, as criminals hijack their likenesses to exploit the bond between fans and the people they admire. And as deepfake tools become easier to use, the line between real and fake is vanishing fast.

The next viral “giveaway” might not be an ad at all…it could be bait.

You can’t stop scammers from cloning famous faces, but you can stop them from fooling you. Use McAfee’s Scam Detector to scan links, messages, and videos before you click.

The post The Stars Scammers Love Most: McAfee Reveals World’s Most Deepfaked Celebs appeared first on McAfee Blog.

It’s an all-too-familiar trap. You’re scrolling TikTok when an ad for your favorite shoe brand pops up. Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are everywhere, and this one—buy one, get one free—looks completely legit.

The site it links to looks real too. The logo, the product pages, even the checkout cart all match what you’d expect from the brand. You place your order and move on.

A few days later, you notice the charge on your bank statement. It’s the right amount—but the payment didn’t go to the store you thought. Instead, there’s a company name you don’t recognize.

That’s when it hits you: the site wasn’t real at all. You’ve been scammed.

Peak shopping season is peak scam season, with fake deals and ads making up one major tactic used to deceive shoppers.

Nearly all U.S. adults plan to shop online this season, with about half planning to do so daily or more. Scammers know that when people are rushing to buy gifts and click “checkout,” they’re also less likely to slow down and verify what they’re seeing.

That’s when fraudsters strike, often using artificial intelligence to make their fake messages and websites look authentic.

McAfee’s 2025 holiday shopping research revealed that almost half of Americans (46%) say they’ve already encountered these AI-powered scams while shopping.

How AI is Powering Holiday Scammers

The era of “obvious scams” is over.

Generative AI tools have made it simple to clone brand websites, copy influencer voices, and even create realistic video ads promoting fake sales. And our recent State of the Scamiverse research found  people struggle identifying deepfakes, with 39% of people saying deepfake video scams are getting more sophisticated and harder to spot.

That’s why deepfake-driven scams utilizing advanced tactics are multiplying across platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Scammers are impersonating celebrity likenesses, or well-known brands, to advertise “exclusive” promotions or fake giveaways. For holiday shoppers, the line between what is authentic and fraudulent continues to blur.

By the Numbers

• 1 in 5 Americans say they’ve been scammed during a past holiday season
• The average loss per victim is $840
• 57% of those surveyed are more concerned about AI scams this year than last
• 38% of those surveyed believe they can spot scams, yet 22% have fallen for one
• Detected deepfakes surged 1,740% in North America last year

 

What to Watch For in 2025

1. Fake Retail Sites and Counterfeit “Deal” Pages

These scams mimic major brand websites down to the logo, product photography, and even customer service pages. The only difference is the URL—a single extra letter or misplaced period (“target-sale.com” instead of “target.com”).

When shoppers enter their payment details or passwords on these fraudulent websites, that information goes directly to criminals. According to McAfee research, this fear of scams while shopping has stopped 40% of consumers from completing a holiday purchase.

How to spot it: Always check the full web address, look for “https,” and avoid clicking through from an ad or social post. It’s best to just type the retailer’s name directly into your browser instead to reach the official site.

2. TikTok and Social Media Scams

Even cybercriminals follow trends, and short-form videos are scam hotspots. Scammers use deepfakes or stolen influencer content to make “exclusive” deals look legitimate.

For example, a TikTok clip may show a celebrity promoting a discount code that redirects to a counterfeit store.

According to McAfee research, 1 in 5 people (20%) say they or someone they know has fallen victim to a deepfake scam in the past year. And overwhelmingly, respondents said they came across deepfakes on social media.

How to spot it: Check if the creator’s account is verified. Look at past posts and engagement patterns. Real brands rarely share one-off videos with unfamiliar links.

3. Delivery and Shipping Text Scams

You’ll receive a text saying a package can’t be delivered or that a small fee is needed to confirm your address.

McAfee found that 43% of people have encountered fake delivery notifications, and many victims say they entered credit card information thinking they were resolving a legitimate issue.

How to spot it: Real shipping companies rarely send texts with clickable payment links. Visit the carrier’s official website or app to verify any delivery problems.

4. Gift Card and Account Verification Scams

These scams pressure you to “verify” your account or make an urgent payment. Messages may claim your PayPal or Amazon account is locked and request you to confirm details. Others ask for gift cards to “resolve” a billing issue.

Scammers count on urgency—once you send a code or card number, the funds are gone instantly.

How to spot it: No legitimate company will ask for payment in gift cards or ask you to share one-time codes over text. Always log in to your account directly, never through a link sent via message.

How to Shop Safely This Holiday Season

Go straight to the source. If you see an offer on social media, type the retailer’s URL yourself instead of clicking through the post. Fraudulent ads often lead to look-alike domains.

Pause before you click. Take a moment to verify emails and DMs. Check the sender’s address, look for misspellings, and hover over links to preview where they lead.

Use AI to fight AI. McAfee’s Scam Detector can identify suspicious messages, fake websites, and deepfake content before harm occurs.

Keep your software up to date. Many scams exploit outdated browsers or apps. Regular updates patch vulnerabilities before criminals can use them.

Avoid public Wi-Fi while shopping. Public networks are easy for hackers to monitor. Use a secure or mobile connection instead. Check out McAfee’s VPN to stay protected while browsing and shopping.

Never pay with gift cards: Legitimate companies and businesses will never ask for you to pay or verify a purchase in exchange for gift cards.

Be suspicious of requests to pay with crypto: A legitimate company will not force you to pay in crypto or other specific crypto assets.

How McAfee Can Help

McAfee’s Scam Detector uses advanced artificial intelligence to automatically detect scams across text, email, and video. It blocks dangerous links, identifies deepfakes, and stops harm before it happens.

McAfee’s identity protection tools also monitor for signs that your personal information may have been exposed and guide you through recovery steps.

You can sign in to your McAfee account to scan for recent breaches linked to your email, or try a free trial of McAfee antivirus to keep your devices secure throughout the shopping season.

The post Holiday Shopping Scams: What to Watch as Black Friday & Cyber Monday Approach appeared first on McAfee Blog.

We’re back with a new edition of “This Week in Scams,” a roundup of what’s current and trending in all things sketchy online.

This week, we have fake steaks, why you should shop online with a credit card, and a new and utterly brash form of debit card fraud.

Fake steaks from “0maha Steaks”

Yes, the letter “O” for Omaha in the subject line of this email scam is actually a zero. And that’s not the only thing that’s off with this email, it’s a total scam.

 

If you like your choice cuts, the name Omaha Steaks might be a familiar one. They’ve been around for almost 110 years, and since 1953 they’ve been in the mail order meat business. Today, they sell, well, just about anything you can picture in the butcher or seafood case. With that, the company enjoys a premium reputation, so it’s little surprise scammers have latched onto it and built a phishing attack around the brand—one they garnish with a nod to concerns over rising food prices.

A few things can quickly tip you off to this scam. For starters, the scammers oddly spell Omaha with a zero in the subject line, as mentioned. From there, the sender’s email address is a straight ref flag. In this case, it’s the curiously spelled “steaksamplnext” followed by a (redacted) domain name that isn’t the legitimate omahasteaks dot-com address. Also curious is the lack of an actual price for the bogus “Gourmet Box.” And lastly, you might think that a premium foods brand would showcase some pictures of their famous fare in the email. Not so here.

Rounding it out, you’ll see the classic scammer tactics of scarcity and urgency, which scammers hope will pressure people to act immediately. In this case, only 500 of these supposed boxes are available, and the offer “concludes tomorrow.”

How to avoid Omaha Steak scams and phishing scams like them

Even as this scam makes the rounds, it’s easy to spot if you give it a closer look and a little thought—giving it a sort of old-school feel to it. However, more and more of today’s phishing emails look increasingly legit, thanks to AI tools, which might get you to click.

As for phishing attacks like this in general, you can protect yourself by:

Always checking the email address of the sender. If it doesn’t match the proper address of the company or brand that’s supposedly sending the email, it’s a scam. In this case, from the people at Omaha Steaks themselves, “If it doesn’t show OmahaSteaks.com and @OmahaSteaks, it’s not us!”

Looking for addresses and links that look like they’ve been slightly altered so that they seem “close enough” to the real thing. In this case, the scammer didn’t even bother to try. However, you could expect an alteration like “omahasteakofferforyou.com” to try and look legit.

Getting a scam detector. Our Scam Detector, found in all core McAfee plans, helps you stay safer with advanced scam detection technology built to spot and stop scams across text messages, emails, and videos. It’ll also block those sites if you accidentally tap or click on a bad link.

One good reason for using your credit card when shopping online.

What’s the most common kind of fraud? If you said, “credit card,” you’ll find it number five on the list. The top form is debit cards, according to 2025 findings from the U.S. Federal Reserve.

As reported by financial institutions, the Fed found that attempts at debit card fraud rose to 73% with 52% of those attempts being successful.

The post This Week in Scams: Fake Steaks and Debit Card Porch Pirates appeared first on McAfee Blog.

If you’ve been watching the news, you’ve probably seen the headlines out of Paris: one of the most audacious heists in decades took place at the Louvre, where thieves made off with centuries-old crown jewels worth tens of millions of dollars.

But amid the cinematic drama, a quieter detail emerged that’s almost harder to believe—according to French newspaper Libération (via PC Gamer), auditors discovered that the password protecting the museum’s video surveillance system was simply “Louvre.”

While it’s not yet confirmed whether this played a direct role in the robbery, cybersecurity experts point out that weak or reused passwords remain one of the easiest ways for criminals—digital or otherwise—to get inside.

Safety Lessons You Can Learn from The Louvre

The Louvre’s cybersecurity audits, dating back to 2014, reportedly revealed a pattern of outdated software and simple passwords that hadn’t been updated in years. Subsequent reviews noted “serious shortcomings,” including security systems running on decades-old software no longer supported by developers.

That situation mirrors one of the most common security issues individuals face at home. Whether it’s an email account, a social media login, or your home Wi-Fi router, using an easy or repeated password is like leaving the front door open. Hackers don’t need to break in when they can just walk through.

As experts here at McAfee have explained, cybercriminals routinely rely on “credential stuffing” attacks, in which they test stolen passwords from one breach against other sites to see what else they can access. If you’ve used the same password for your streaming account and your online banking, it’s not hard to imagine what could go wrong.

What’s A Bad Password?

• Obvious or guessable: Anything like “password,” “123456,” or even the name of the service (“Louvre,” “Netflix,” “Chase”) can be cracked in seconds.
• Dictionary words: Real words or phrases are easier for hacking programs to guess, even when combined creatively.
• Repeated passwords: Reusing a password across multiple sites means one breach can expose everything.
• Personal details: Pet names, birthdays, and favorite bands can all be scraped from social media—making them the first thing a hacker will try.

What Makes A Strong Password

A strong password is long, complex, and unique. Cybersecurity experts recommend at least 12–16 characters that mix uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. A short password can be guessed in minutes; a long one can take decades to crack.

If that sounds like a lot to juggle, you’re not alone. That’s why password managers exist.

Why A Password Manager Is Your Best Guard

A password manager takes the work—and the guesswork—out of creating and remembering complex passwords. It generates random combinations that are nearly impossible to crack, then stores them securely using advanced encryption.

The added bonus? You’ll never have to reuse a password again. Even if one account is theoretically compromised in a breach, your others remain protected because each password is unique.

McAfee’s password manager also uses multi-factor authentication (MFA), meaning you’ll need at least two forms of verification before signing in—like a code sent to your phone. That extra step can stop hackers cold, even if they somehow get your password.

How to protect yourself

To keep your digital treasures safer than the Louvre’s jewels:

• Use strong, unique passwords for every account. Longer is better.
• Change passwords regularly and especially after any breach or suspicious activity.
• Turn on MFA wherever possible—it’s one of the simplest and most effective protections.
• Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive logins, or use a secure VPN.
• Store passwords safely with a reputable password manager instead of your browser or a notepad.

The bottom line

Reports of the Louvre’s weak password might make for an easy punchline, but the truth is that millions of people make the same mistake every day—reusing simple passwords across dozens of accounts. Strong, unique passwords (and the right tools to manage them) are still one of the most powerful defenses against data theft and identity fraud.

As scams and breaches continue to evolve, your best defense is awareness and protection that adapts just as fast. McAfee’s built-in Scam Detector, included in all core plans, automatically detects scams across text, email, and video, blocks dangerous links, and identifies deepfakes—stopping harm before it happens.

The post The Louvre Used Its Own Name as a Password. Here’s What to Learn From It appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Football season is in full swing — tailgates, rivalries, fantasy leagues, and Sunday afternoons glued to the screen. Alongside the highlights and heartbreaks, there’s another game playing out online: the rush to place bets.

Every break in the action brings another sportsbook promo — risk-free wagers, bonus bets, exclusive odds — flooding your feed and inbox. But what you don’t see between the ads and sponsorships is how much money is really in play, or how scammers have joined the lineup.

Last year, legally licensed online and retail sportsbooks took nearly $150 billion in bets, a 22.2% jump from 2023 according to the American Gaming Association. And with so much of that money flowing through apps and websites, scammers are finding creative new ways to cash in.

They’re setting up fake betting sites, phishing for logins, and spinning up unlicensed offshore platforms that operate without oversight. Even self-proclaimed “insider tipsters” are pitching guaranteed wins that never exist.

If sports betting is legal in your state and you’re planning to make some wagers this season, here’s how to keep your money — and your data — safe.

Is online sports betting legal in my state?

Since a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2018, individual states can determine their own laws for sports betting. Soon after, sports betting became legal in waves. In all, 39 states and Washington D.C. currently offer sports betting through licensed retail locations. Of them, 31 further offer legal sports betting through licensed online apps and websites. The map below offers a quick view as to how all that plays out.

Image from https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/legality-map 

Even as online sportsbooks must be licensed to operate legally, be aware that the terms and conditions they operate under vary from service to service. Per the Better Business Bureau (BBB), that calls for closely reading their fine print. For one, you might come across language that says the company can “restrict a user’s activity,” meaning that they can freeze accounts and the funds associated with them based on their terms and conditions. Also, the BBB cautions people about those promo offers that are often heavily advertised, because “like any sales pitch, these can be deceptive.”

What do online betting scams look like?

Fake betting sites

This form of scam follows the same playbook scammers use for all kinds of bogus sites in general. They cook up a copycat site that looks like a legitimate betting site, create a web address that looks like it could be legitimate, and then flood the web with sponsored search results, ads, and social media posts to drive traffic to them. From there, scammers capture payment info and take bogus bets that they never pay out on. Once the site gets discovered as a scam, they pull it down and spin up other scam sites. With the aid of AI tools to help with the process, scammers can turn around scam sites quickly.

Sports app phishing scams

Scammers piggyback on legitimate betting apps and sites another way. They’ll create phony customer support sites that they promote online, with the addition of scam texts and emails to lure in victims. Under the guise of support, they gain a victim’s login info, hack the account, and clean out the victim’s cash.

Unlicensed offshore platforms

These form a gray area when it comes to scams. Some of these offshore platforms, while unlicensed, are legitimate to varying degrees. What makes them dangerous is that they have no regulatory oversight, which means they can do things like charge hidden costs, lock accounts, and refuse payment without users having any way to dispute those actions. Some of these platforms might have suspect security measures as well, which could lead to account hacks. And of course, some of these offshore platforms are simply fake betting sites, as mentioned above.

Handicapper scams

Earlier this year, the BBB shared word of a growing scam where self-proclaimed experts with “insider information to place sure-thing bets” reach out to victims via email and social media posts. Per the BBB, “A handicapper’s goal isn’t to win bets for their members, it’s to get people to buy their picks. Once you’ve purchased their picks, the handicapper has already won. It doesn’t matter if the pick wins or loses, the handicapper keeps the payment.”

Of course, that “insider info” is entirely fake. It’s all just a smokescreen to draw in victims.

Ready to place your bet online? Keep these things in mind.

1) Stick with legitimate betting sites and apps. Use only legal, regulated sportsbooks when you place a bet.

If you’re a sports fan, you probably know the names, like BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, bet365 and Fanatics Sportsbook. In addition, check out the organization’s BBB listing at BBB.org. Here you can get a snapshot of customer ratings, complaints registered against the organization, and the organization’s response to the complaints, along with its BBB rating, if it has one.

2) Use a secure payment method other than your debit card. Credit cards are a good way to go when buying, or betting, online.

One reason why is the Fair Credit Billing Act, which offers protection against fraudulent charges on credit cards by giving you the right to dispute charges over $50 for goods and services that were never delivered or otherwise billed incorrectly. Your credit card companies may have its own policies that improve upon the Fair Credit Billing Act as well. Debit cards don’t get the same protection under the Act.

3) Protect yourself from fake betting sites and bogus offers.

You can steer clear from all kinds of fake sites and bogus offers with the combination of our Web Protection and Scam Detector, found in our McAfee+ plans. They’ll alert you if a link might take you to a sketchy site, and they’ll block those sites if you accidentally tap or click on a bad link.

In addition to the latest virus, malware, spyware, and ransomware protection, it also includes strong password protection by generating and automatically storing complex passwords to keep your winnings and payment info safer from hackers and crooks.

 

Editor’s Note:

If gambling is a problem for you or someone you know, you can seek assistance from a qualified service or professional. Several states have their own helplines, and nationally you can reach out to resources like http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ or https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/.

The post Kickoffs and Rip-offs—Watch Out for Online Betting Scams This Football Season appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Your digital life is being stitched together—one purchase, one search, one swipe at a time.

Data brokers collect and combine fragments of your personal information to build detailed profiles they can sell to advertisers, employers, and anyone willing to pay.

While you can request that these brokers delete your data, many make it almost impossible to do so.

A joint investigation by CalMatters and The Markup found that 35 data brokers had intentionally hidden their opt-out pages from search results, making it harder for people to remove their information.

The result: a patchwork version of you exists online—a Frankenstein of your data, stitched together without your consent.

Moreover, practically anyone can purchase this sensitive info. That ranges from advertisers to law enforcement and from employers to anyone on the street who wants to know a lot more about you.

Here’s what’s happening, and what you can do about it.

Data brokers making it tougher to remove personal data from their sites

As part of the article, reporters analyzed 499 data broker sites registered in the state of California. Of them, 35 had search-blocking code. Additionally per the article, many opt out pages “required scrolling multiple screens, dismissing pop-ups for cookie permissions, and newsletter sign-ups and then finding a link that was a fraction the size of other text on the page.”[i]

Once the publications contacted the data brokers in question, multiple companies halted the practice, some responding that they were unaware their site had search-blocking code. Several others didn’t respond by the time the article was published and kept their practices in place.

Where do data brokers get such personal info?

There are several ways information brokers can get your info about you …

Sources available to the public: Some of your personal records are easily available to the public. Data brokers can collect public records like your voter registration records, birth certificate, criminal record, and even bankruptcy records. By rounding them up from multiple sources and gathering them in one place, it takes someone seconds to find out all these things about you, rather than spending hours poring over public records.

Search, browsing, and app usage: Through a combination of data collected from internet service providers (ISPs), websites, and apps, data brokers can get access to all kinds of activity. They can see what content you’re interested in, how much time you spend on certain sites, and even your daily travels thanks to location data. They also use web scraping tools (software that pulls info from the web), to gather yet more. All this data collecting makes up a multi-billion-dollar industry where personal data is gathered, analyzed, sold, and then sold again and again—all without a person’s knowledge.

Online agreements: As it is with smartphone apps, you’ll usually have to sign an agreement when signing up for a new online service. Many of these agreements have disclosures in the fine print that give the company the right to collect and distribute your personal info.

Purchase history: Data brokers want to know what products or services you’ve purchased, how you paid for them (credit card, debit card, or coupon), and when and where you purchased them. In some cases, they get this info from loyalty programs at places like supermarkets, drugstores, and other retailers. Kroger, one of the largest grocery chains, is a good example of how purchasing insights end up in the hands of others. According to Consumer Reports, the company draws 35% of its net income from selling customer data to other companies.

What can I do about companies collecting my data?

For starters, there aren’t any data privacy laws on the federal level. That, so far, has fallen to individual states to enact. As such, data privacy laws vary from state-to-state, with California having some of the earliest and strongest protections on record, via the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA).

In all, 20 states currently have comprehensive privacy laws in place, with five others that have put narrower privacy protections in place, covering data brokers, internet service providers, and medical/biometric data.

States with Comprehensive Data Privacy Laws

·       California ·       Virginia ·       Colorado ·       Connecticut ·       Utah ·       Iowa ·       Indiana ·       Tennessee ·       Texas

·       Florida ·       Montana ·       Oregon ·       Delaware ·       New Hampshire ·       New Jersey ·       Kentucky ·       Nebraska ·       Rhode Island

 

For specific laws in your state and how they can protect you, we suggest doing a search for “data privacy laws [your state]” for more info.

Even if your state has no or narrow data privacy laws in place, you still have several ways you can take back your privacy.

How to protect your data from data brokers.

The first thing you can do is keep a lower profile online. That can limit the amount of personal info they can get their hands on:

• Be selective about what you share online.Don’t overshare personal info on social media. Avoid things like online quizzes and sweepstakes. And be aware that some data brokers indeed scour the web with scraping tools that gather up info from things like forum posts.
• Go private. Even better, lock down your privacy on social media. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and others have several settings that keep your profile from being scraped in the ways mentioned above. Features like our
• Use a virtual private network (VPN) whenever possible.A VPN hides your IP address and encrypts your data while you surf the web. McAfee’s Secure VPN protects your personal data and credit card information so you can browse, bank, and shop online without worrying about prying eyes, like data brokers and internet service providers (ISPs) that collect info about what you do online.

Remove your info from data brokers quickly with McAfee.

The list of data brokers is long. Cleaning up your personal data online can quickly eat up your time, as it requires you to reach out to multiple data brokers and opt out.

Rather than removing yourself one-by-one from the host of data broker sites out there, you have a solution: our Personal Data Cleanup.

Personal Data Cleanup scans data broker and people search sites and shows you which ones are selling your personal info. It also provides guidance on how you can remove your data from those sites. And if you want to save time on manually removing that info, you have options. Our McAfee+ Advanced and Ultimate plans come with full-service Personal Data Cleanup, which sends requests to remove your data automatically.

If the thought of your personal info getting bought and sold in such a public way bothers you, our Personal Data Cleanup can put you back in charge of it.

The post Frankenstein Data: How Data Brokers Stitch Together—and Sell—Your Digital Self appeared first on McAfee Blog.

They’re not hiding in dark alleys—they’re hiding in plain sight. Airports, cafés, hotels, even libraries can harbor dangerous Vampire Wi-Fi networks.

These vampires pass themselves off as legitimate public Wi-Fi hotspots, using names that look innocent enough, such as “FREE_WIFI” and “AT&T_FREE_WIFI”.  These can potentially be “evil twin networks,” they often mimic the name of the airport you’re in, or the place where you’re grabbing a quick coffee and some laptop time while you’re on the road. In fact, when you connect to a vampire or evil twin network, you’re connecting to a hacker.

These networks are relatively easy to set up. With just a few hundred dollars of gear, attackers can set up these digital bloodsuckers anywhere. The moment you log on, they begin feeding on your data, using tools called packet sniffers to capture and analyze every bit you send.

So say you’re on the road and log into one of these networks, a hacker on the network can see what you’re connecting to and what data you’re passing along. Your credit card number while you shop. Your password when you bank. That confidential contract you just sent to a client. And your email password when your app regularly checks for mail every few minutes or so.

What tools let hackers snoop? Network analyzers, or packet sniffers as many call them. A bad actor can gather up data with a packet sniffer, analyze it, and pluck out the sensitive bits of info that are of value. Before you know it, you’re a victim of identity theft.

Another common vampire Wi-Fi ploy is to set up a phony login screen that asks for a username and password, often for popular online services like Google and Apple. In this case, the hacker gets the keys to all the personal info, apps, files, and financial info connected to them.

How to spot phony evil twin public Wi-Fi networks

Hackers typically take lengths to make these networks look legitimate, but they may give off signs:

• The Wi-Fi network has no password.
• The Wi-Fi network is not set up with Wi-Fi protected access (WPA) on the router.
• The Wi-Fi network is open to Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) attacks. (An SSL is a digital certificate that authenticates a website’s identity and allows for secure, encrypted connections to banking, shopping, and financial sites, to name a few.)

Still, even with some of these flags, they can be tough to spot. And that’s a reason why our mobile security apps for iOS and Android analyze Wi-Fi networks before you connect to them—letting you know if a connection is Safe, Risky, or altogether Unsafe.

How to stay safe from evil twin networks when using public Wi-Fi

Your best bet when using any public Wi-Fi at all is to use a VPN.

A VPN is an app that you install on your device to help keep your data safe as you browse the internet. With your VPN on, your device makes a secure connection to a VPN server that routes internet traffic through an encrypted “tunnel.” This keeps your online activity private on any network, shielding it from prying eyes.

While you’re on a VPN, you can browse and bank with the confidence that your passwords, credentials, and financial info are secure. If a hacker attempts to intercept your web traffic, they’ll only see garbled content, thanks to your VPN’s encryption functionality.

With that, choosing a secure and trustworthy VPN provider is a must. A VPN like ours has both your security and privacy in mind. In a VPN, look for:

• The same encryption strength that banks use.
• One that doesn’t log or track what you do online, so your online activity remains private. ​
• A VPN that’s independently audited for security and privacy.
• One that covers plenty of devices and that offers unlimited data.
• Automatically connects when you connect to public Wi-Fi.

Not every VPN offers these features. Selecting one that does gives you the protection you want paired with the privacy you want. You’ll find them all in our VPN, which is also included as part of our McAfee+ plans.

More ways you can stay safe on public Wi-Fi

Several other straightforward steps can keep you safer from vampire and evil twin Wi-Fi—and safer while using public Wi-Fi in general:

• Double-check the network name: If you’re at a café, hotel, or airport, check with an employee for the exact name of their official Wi-Fi network before connecting. Don’t automatically trust a network just because its name looks right or has a particularly strong signal. (In fact, some hackers boost their phony Wi-Fi signals to make them look more attractive.)
• Disable auto-join: Turn off the auto-join feature for Wi-Fi on your devices. This prevents your phone or laptop from connecting to malicious networks automatically.
• See if it can wait: If you can wait to bank, shop, check email, or do anything that involves passwords or sensitive info, do it on a secure connection at home. If it absolutely can’t wait, use your VPN or cellular connection.
• Use your own hotspot: Another secure option is to use a personal hotspot from your phone’s cellular data. This gives you a private connection that is much harder for attackers to exploit. That might leave you with a slower connection and possibly eat into your data plan, but those are small concerns compared to the major headache of identity theft.

 

Vampire Wi-Fi networks aren’t going anywhere. Hackers will keep setting up these traps because they work. People see “free Wi-Fi” and click without thinking twice. But now you know better. You’ve got the tools to spot the red flags, the habits to stay protected, and most importantly, you understand why a quality VPN isn’t optional anymore—it’s essential.

McAfee+ gives you everything we’ve talked about: bank-level encryption, zero-logging policies, independent security audits, and that smart auto-connect feature that kicks in when you need it most. Plus, unlimited data across all your devices, because who has time to ration their security?

Your personal information is worth protecting. Your financial data, your work files, your private conversations, they’re all valuable to the wrong people. Don’t hand them over just because someone dangled “free Wi-Fi” in front of you.

Ready to stop gambling with your data? Get comprehensive protection with McAfee+ and never worry about vampire networks again.

The post Vampire Wifi: How Public Wi-Fi Traps Travelers in Cyber Attacks appeared first on McAfee Blog.

They’re not hiding in dark alleys—they’re hiding in plain sight. Airports, cafés, hotels, even libraries can harbor dangerous Vampire Wi-Fi networks.

These vampires pass themselves off as legitimate public Wi-Fi hotspots, using names that look innocent enough, such as “FREE_WIFI” and “AT&T_FREE_WIFI”.  These can potentially be “evil twin networks,” they often mimic the name of the airport you’re in, or the place where you’re grabbing a quick coffee and some laptop time while you’re on the road. In fact, when you connect to a vampire or evil twin network, you’re connecting to a hacker.

These networks are relatively easy to set up. With just a few hundred dollars of gear, attackers can set up these digital bloodsuckers anywhere. The moment you log on, they begin feeding on your data, using tools called packet sniffers to capture and analyze every bit you send.

So say you’re on the road and log into one of these networks, a hacker on the network can see what you’re connecting to and what data you’re passing along. Your credit card number while you shop. Your password when you bank. That confidential contract you just sent to a client. And your email password when your app regularly checks for mail every few minutes or so.

What tools let hackers snoop? Network analyzers, or packet sniffers as many call them. A bad actor can gather up data with a packet sniffer, analyze it, and pluck out the sensitive bits of info that are of value. Before you know it, you’re a victim of identity theft.

Another common vampire Wi-Fi ploy is to set up a phony login screen that asks for a username and password, often for popular online services like Google and Apple. In this case, the hacker gets the keys to all the personal info, apps, files, and financial info connected to them.

How to spot phony evil twin public Wi-Fi networks

Hackers typically take lengths to make these networks look legitimate, but they may give off signs:

• The Wi-Fi network has no password.
• The Wi-Fi network is not set up with Wi-Fi protected access (WPA) on the router.
• The Wi-Fi network is open to Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) attacks. (An SSL is a digital certificate that authenticates a website’s identity and allows for secure, encrypted connections to banking, shopping, and financial sites, to name a few.)

Still, even with some of these flags, they can be tough to spot. And that’s a reason why our mobile security apps for iOS and Android analyze Wi-Fi networks before you connect to them—letting you know if a connection is Safe, Risky, or altogether Unsafe.

How to stay safe from evil twin networks when using public Wi-Fi

Your best bet when using any public Wi-Fi at all is to use a VPN.

A VPN is an app that you install on your device to help keep your data safe as you browse the internet. With your VPN on, your device makes a secure connection to a VPN server that routes internet traffic through an encrypted “tunnel.” This keeps your online activity private on any network, shielding it from prying eyes.

While you’re on a VPN, you can browse and bank with the confidence that your passwords, credentials, and financial info are secure. If a hacker attempts to intercept your web traffic, they’ll only see garbled content, thanks to your VPN’s encryption functionality.

With that, choosing a secure and trustworthy VPN provider is a must. A VPN like ours has both your security and privacy in mind. In a VPN, look for:

• The same encryption strength that banks use.
• One that doesn’t log or track what you do online, so your online activity remains private. ​
• A VPN that’s independently audited for security and privacy.
• One that covers plenty of devices and that offers unlimited data.
• Automatically connects when you connect to public Wi-Fi.

Not every VPN offers these features. Selecting one that does gives you the protection you want paired with the privacy you want. You’ll find them all in our VPN, which is also included as part of our McAfee+ plans.

More ways you can stay safe on public Wi-Fi

Several other straightforward steps can keep you safer from vampire and evil twin Wi-Fi—and safer while using public Wi-Fi in general:

• Double-check the network name: If you’re at a café, hotel, or airport, check with an employee for the exact name of their official Wi-Fi network before connecting. Don’t automatically trust a network just because its name looks right or has a particularly strong signal. (In fact, some hackers boost their phony Wi-Fi signals to make them look more attractive.)
• Disable auto-join: Turn off the auto-join feature for Wi-Fi on your devices. This prevents your phone or laptop from connecting to malicious networks automatically.
• See if it can wait: If you can wait to bank, shop, check email, or do anything that involves passwords or sensitive info, do it on a secure connection at home. If it absolutely can’t wait, use your VPN or cellular connection.
• Use your own hotspot: Another secure option is to use a personal hotspot from your phone’s cellular data. This gives you a private connection that is much harder for attackers to exploit. That might leave you with a slower connection and possibly eat into your data plan, but those are small concerns compared to the major headache of identity theft.

 

Vampire Wi-Fi networks aren’t going anywhere. Hackers will keep setting up these traps because they work. People see “free Wi-Fi” and click without thinking twice. But now you know better. You’ve got the tools to spot the red flags, the habits to stay protected, and most importantly, you understand why a quality VPN isn’t optional anymore—it’s essential.

McAfee+ gives you everything we’ve talked about: bank-level encryption, zero-logging policies, independent security audits, and that smart auto-connect feature that kicks in when you need it most. Plus, unlimited data across all your devices, because who has time to ration their security?

Your personal information is worth protecting. Your financial data, your work files, your private conversations, they’re all valuable to the wrong people. Don’t hand them over just because someone dangled “free Wi-Fi” in front of you.

Ready to stop gambling with your data? Get comprehensive protection with McAfee+ and never worry about vampire networks again.

The post Vampire Wifi: How Public Wi-Fi Traps Travelers in Cyber Attacks appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Remember that website where you bought a T-shirt in 2013? No?

Hackers do. And it’s one way they can steal your personal info. 

Consider this website, and other forgotten sites like it, an example of a “Ghost Account,” a place where one of your long-unused logins lives on and puts your identity at risk. 

Ghosts aside, old accounts like these are very real.

Think of all the times you’ve created a one-off account to make a single purchase, take an online quiz, or get more information about an event or a sale. For all the accounts you remember, there are plenty more you’ve probably completely forgotten about.

Even as estimates vary, it’s likely the average person has somewhere between 100 to 200 online accounts, where varying degrees of their personal and financial info are stored. 

And all those accounts add up to plenty of exposure. Those companies still have your address, payment information, and other personal details in their system. 

In a time where data breaches of varying sizes hack 3.5 million accounts on average each day, the odds of an old account of yours getting compromised are higher than you may realize. The more places your info resides, the more exposure to risk you have, namely data breaches, which can quickly lead to identity theft and fraud.

Compounding the problem is human nature. People tend to reuse passwords, or use highly similar passwords, all in an effort to maintain some degree of sanity across all the accounts they’re juggling. Hackers love that too. With one password in hand, they potentially get the keys to several other accounts, also with varying levels of personal and financial info, which (again) can lead to identity theft and fraud.

How to track down and close old accounts

Our Online Account Cleanup can do the work for you, which you can find in all our McAfee+ plans. 

It finds and deletes old accounts to reduce your risk of data exposure. In our McAfee+ Ultimate plans, you get full-service Online Account Cleanup, which sends the data deletion requests for you.

With each scan, you get an all-up view of accounts in your name. From there, it shows which are riskiest to keep, along with a look at what personal info is typically included in those accounts, which helps you decide what you’d like to keep and what you’d like to delete. Again, with McAfee+ Ultimate, you can request to delete accounts with a single click.

And because you add accounts and passwords from time to time, Online Account Cleanup gives you a monthly report. That way, you can keep tabs on your ever-evolving list of accounts and delete any you don’t want over time.

And while you’re at it, don’t forget your passwords.

Yes, with all those accounts come passwords. While you’re cleaning up your old accounts, you can better protect the ones you keep with our Password Manager. It’s a simple and highly secure way you can create strong, unique passwords for each and every one of your accounts. That offers you yet one more line of defense against data breaches, because hackers know so many people reuse their passwords.

Lastly, it’s convenient. You only need to remember one password. Our password manager securely stores all your passwords, where one primary password grants access to them all.

Removing unused ghost accounts can make you far safer from identity crimes

Whether it’s for an old online gaming account, a streaming service you never use anymore, or a login for a doctor’s office you don’t visit anymore, delete it. The less personal and financial info you have sitting in a database somewhere is less info a hacker can steal and use to commit identity theft or fraud.

We all have our “ghosts” floating around online, and today you have an easy way to get rid of them for good.

The post Ghost Accounts: How Old, Forgotten Logins Put You at Risk for Identity Theft appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Cybercriminals are turning to TikTok to spread new scams that promise “free upgrades” or access to premium versions of popular apps.

According to Bleeping Computer, scammers are posting videos that look like tech tutorials, offering so-called activation hacks for software like Windows, Adobe Premiere, or Photoshop, and even fake “premium” services for Netflix and Spotify.

But instead of unlocking anything, these videos trick people into running hidden malware on their devices. Once that happens, attackers can steal passwords, cryptocurrency wallet details, or access to social media and bank accounts.

These “ClickFix” scams, as researchers call them, are spreading quickly because they rely on trust and curiosity. The videos look legitimate. Many use the same tone and layout as real how-to tech content, but behind the scenes, they’re designed to take control of your device and your data.

How the scam works

• A TikTok creator posts a short “activation” video claiming to unlock expensive software for free.
• The video includes a simple “step-by-step” guide that encourages viewers to follow along on their own computer.
• Once viewers download or click what they think is a harmless tool, malware silently installs in the background, giving hackers access to saved passwords, private accounts, and even payment information.

The scam works because it blends the look and feel of ordinary TikTok tutorials with social proof, think comments, hashtags, and even fake success stories, that make it seem credible.

Security researchers say the same technique has been spotted in similar scams spreading via fake CAPTCHA pages and cracked game downloads. The goal is always the same: convince users to “verify,” “activate,” or “fix” something, when in reality, they’re opening the door to attackers.

What McAfee’s Researchers Have Found

McAfee Labs has been tracking a related wave of attacks using fake CAPTCHA pages and cracked download sites to deliver info-stealing malware. In both campaigns, scammers prey on everyday habits such as downloading software, clicking “I’m not a robot,” or following quick tech fixes that seem safe.

Our researchers found that these scams spread through multiple channels, including phishing emails and fake support sites, all designed to look familiar. The end result is the same: stolen credentials, compromised devices, and exposed personal information.

These patterns mirror the rise of TikTok-based scams reported by Bleeping Computer. The methods may evolve, but the psychology is the same: social engineering that turns trust into a weapon.

How to Protect Yourself

1. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. There are no free unlocks for paid apps or streaming services.
2. Don’t follow tech “hacks” from unknown creators. Even if they have thousands of views, scammers can fake credibility.
3. Use official download sources. Only get software and updates directly from verified developer sites.
4. Watch for red flags. Phrases like “free activation,” “pro version unlock,” or “verify you’re human” are often scam signals.
5. Use trusted security protection. Security software that spots scams before they spread can help block malicious links and videos automatically.

The bigger picture

Scammers are getting smarter about how they reach people. They’re blending into everyday content like short-form videos, social challenges, and viral tips. Then they’re using those moments of distraction to plant malware.

Tools like McAfee’s built-in Scam Detector, included in all core plans, are designed to spot this new kind of threat early. It automatically detects scams across text, email, and video, blocks dangerous links, and even identifies AI-manipulated content like deepfakes, helping stop harm before it happens.

As scammers adapt, your best defense is awareness and technology that adapts just as fast.

The post This New “Verification” Trick Fools You Into Installing Malware appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Amazon Web Services (AWS), one of the world’s largest cloud providers, recently experienced a major outage that disrupted popular websites and apps across the globe—including Snapchat, Reddit, Fortnite, Ring, and Coinbase, according to reports from CNN and CNBC.

The disruption began out of Northern Virginia, where many of the internet’s most-used applications are hosted.

AWS said the problem originated within its EC2 internal network, impacting more than 70 of its own services, and was tied to DNS issues, the system that tells browsers how to find the right servers online.

A few hours after the initial reports of outages, AWS said the problem had been “fully mitigated,” though it took several more hours for all users to see their systems stabilized, according to CNBC.

There is no indication the outage was caused by a cyberattack, and Amazon continues to investigate the root cause.

Why So Many Apps Went Down

When Amazon Web Services falters, the ripple effects reach far beyond businesses. Millions of consumers suddenly lose access to everyday apps and tools, including everything from banking and airline systems to gaming platforms and smart home devices.

“In the past, companies ran their own servers—if one failed, only that company’s customers felt it,” said Steve Grobman, McAfee’s Chief Technology Officer. “Today, much of the internet runs on shared backends like Amazon Web Services or Google Cloud. That interconnectedness makes the web faster and more efficient, but it also means one glitch can impact dozens of services at once.”

Grobman noted the issue was related to a capability called DNS within AWS, he described DNS as providing the directions on how systems find each other and even if those systems are operational, it can be detrimental.. It’s analogous to  “tearing up a map or turning off your GPS before driving to the store.” The store might still be open and stocked, he explained, but if you can’t find your way there, it doesn’t matter.

“Even with rigorous safeguards in place, events like this remind us just how complex and intertwined our digital world has become,” Grobman added. “It highlights why resilience and layered protection matter more than ever.”

Outages Create Confusion—And Opportunity for Scammers

Events like this sow uncertainty for consumers. When apps fail to load, people may wonder: Is my account hacked? Is my data at risk? Is it just me?

Cybercriminals exploit that confusion. After past outages, McAfee researchers have seen phishing campaigns, fake refund emails, and malicious links promising “fixes” or “status updates” appear within hours.

Scammers often mimic legitimate service alerts—complete with logos and urgent wording—to trick users into entering passwords or payment information. Others push fake customer-support numbers or send direct messages claiming to “restore access.”

How to Protect Yourself During a Major Outage

Here’s how to stay secure when the :

1. Pause before you click. Be skeptical of any unsolicited message about outages, refunds, or account verification.
2. Go straight to the source. Check the official app or website status pages—don’t follow links in emails or texts.
3. Ignore urgent “fix” offers. Legitimate companies won’t ask you to download tools or send payment to restore access.
4. Watch for red flags. Requests for money via gift cards, crypto, or wire transfers are almost always scams.
5. If you clicked a suspicious link:
   1. Change your password immediately (and for any accounts using the same one).
   2. Turn on or refresh two-factor authentication (2FA).
   3. Monitor recent transactions and set up alerts.
   4. Run a trusted security scan to remove any unwanted apps or remote-access tools.

How McAfee Can Help

Using advanced artificial intelligence, McAfee’s Scam Detector automatically detects scams across text, email, and video, blocks dangerous links, and identifies deepfakes, stopping harm before it happens.

McAfee’s identity protection tools also monitor for signs that your personal information may have been exposed and guide you through steps to recover quickly.

Sign in to your McAfee account to scan for recent breaches linked to your email. You can also sign up for a free trial of McAfee antivirus to protect your devices.

The post AWS Outage Disrupts Major Apps Like Reddit and Snapchat—What Happened and How to Stay Safe appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Cybercriminals tricked employees at major global companies into handing over Salesforce access and used that access to steal millions of customer records. 

Here’s the McAfee breakdown on what happened, what information was leaked, and what you need to know to keep your data and identity safe: 

What’s Happening 

Hackers claim they’ve stolen customer data from multiple major companies, including household names like Adidas, Cisco, Disney, Google, IKEA, Pandora, Toyota, and Vietnam Airlines. Security Week has reported throughout 2025 on a wave of social-engineering attacks exploiting human – rather than platform – vulnerabilities. 

According to The Wall Street Journal, the hacking group has already released millions of Qantas Airlines customer records and is threatening to expose information from other companies next.  

The data reportedly includes names, email addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and loyalty program details. While it doesn’t appear that financial data was included, this kind of personal information can still be exploited in phishing and scam campaigns. 

Salesforce has issued multiple advisories stressing that these attacks stem from credential theft and malicious connected apps – not from a breach of its infrastructure. 

Unfortunately, incidents like this aren’t rare, and they’re not limited to any one platform or industry. Even the most sophisticated companies can fall victim when hackers rely on social engineering and manipulation to breach secure systems. 

How the Hackers Did it 

Hackers reportedly called various companies’ employees pretending to be IT support staff—a tactic known as “vishing”—and convinced them to share login credentials or connect fake third-party tools, essentially handing the criminals the keys to their accounts. Once inside, they accessed customer databases and stole the information stored there. 

Think of it less like a burglar breaking a lock, and more like someone being tricked into opening the door. 

What data was leaked 

So far, leaked data appears to include: 

• Names and email addresses 
• Phone numbers 
• Dates of birth 
• Home or mailing addresses 
• Loyalty or frequent-flyer numbers 

There’s no indication of credit card or banking data in the confirmed leaks, but that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.  

Why this matters to you 

Even if your financial information isn’t exposed in a data breach, personal details like name and address can still be used for targeted scams and phishing.  When that information is stolen and sold online, scammers use it to: 

• Send realistic phishing emails or texts that reference real details about you. 

• Try to log into your other accounts if you reuse passwords. 

• Launch “refund” or “account verification” scams tied to brands you trust. 

Even if your data isn’t part of this specific leak, these attacks highlight how often your information moves through third-party systems you don’t control. 

How to find out if you’ve been affected 

• Check your email: If you’re a member or customer of one of the named companies, watch for official notifications.  

• Use a trusted breach-checking site: Visit Have I Been Pwned or sign in to your McAfee account to scan for recent breaches linked to your email. You can also sign up for a free trial of McAfee antivirus to protect your devices. 

• Avoid “dark web lookup” services: Some of these are scams themselves. Stick to legitimate sources. 

What to do now 

1) Change your passwords—today.
Use strong, unique passwords for every account. McAfee’s password manager can help. Try our random password generator here. 

2) Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA).
Even if a hacker has your password, they can’t get in without your code. 

3) Monitor your financial and loyalty accounts.
Watch for strange charges, redemptions, or password reset emails you didn’t request. 

4) Freeze your credit.
It’s free and prevents new accounts from being opened in your name. You can unfreeze it anytime. McAfee users can employ a “security freeze” for extra protection. 

5) Be extra cautious with “breach” emails or calls.
Scammers often pretend to be from affected companies to “help you secure your account.” Don’t click links or give information over the phone. Go directly to the company’s website or app or your own IT team if a breach happens at your workplace. 

6) Consider identity protection.
McAfee’s built-in identity monitoring can monitor your personal info across the dark web, send alerts if your data appears in a breach, and include up to $1 million in coverage for identity recovery expenses. 

 

What scams to expect next 

• Fake refund or compensation offers. “We noticed your account was impacted. Claim your refund here.” Don’t click. 

• Loyalty-point phishing. Emails that look like they’re from an airline or retailer asking you to log in to “protect your rewards.” 

• MFA fatigue scams. Attackers repeatedly send login codes to wear you down, then call pretending to be support asking you to read one aloud. Don’t. 

 

Need ongoing protection? 

Your data could already be out there, but you don’t have to leave it there. 

McAfee helps you take back control. Using advanced artificial intelligence, McAfee’s Scam Detector automatically detects scams across text, email, and video, blocks dangerous links, and identifies deepfakes, stopping harm before it happens. 

And McAfee’s Personal Data Cleanup can help you check which data brokers have your private details and request to have it removed on your behalf. 

Stay ahead of scammers. Check your exposure, clean up your data, and protect your identity, all with McAfee. 

Learn more about McAfee and McAfee Scam Detector.  

 

More reading: 

What to do if you’re caught up in a data breach 

How to delete yourself from the internet 

How to spot phishing emails and scams  

The post Hackers Trick Staff Into Exposing Major Companies’ Salesforce Data–Find Out if You’re Safe appeared first on McAfee Blog.

by Harshil Patel and Prabudh Chakravorty

*EDITOR’S NOTE: Special thank you to the GitHub team for working with us on this research. All malicious GitHub repositories mentioned in the following research have been reported to GitHub and taken down.

Digital banking has made our lives easier, but it’s also handed cybercriminals a golden opportunity. Banking trojans are the invisible pickpockets of the digital age, silently stealing credentials while you browse your bank account or check your crypto wallet. Today, we’re breaking down a particularly nasty variant called Astaroth, and it’s doing something clever: abusing GitHub to stay resilient.

McAfee’s Threat Research team recently uncovered a new Astaroth campaign that’s taken infrastructure abuse to a new level. Instead of relying solely on traditional command-and-control (C2) servers that can be taken down, these attackers are leveraging GitHub repositories to host malware configurations. When law enforcement or security researchers shut down their C2 infrastructure, Astaroth simply pulls fresh configurations from GitHub and keeps running. Think of it like a criminal who keeps backup keys to your house hidden around the neighborhood. Even if you change your locks, they’ve got another way in.

Key Findings 

• McAfee recently discovered a new Astaroth campaign abusing GitHub to host malware configurations. 
• Infection begins with a phishing email containing a link that downloads a zipped Windows shortcut (.lnk) file. When executed, it installs Astaroth malware on the system. 
• Astaroth detects when users access a banking/cryptocurrency website and steals the credentials using keylogging.  
• It sends the stolen information to the attacker using the Ngrok reverse proxy. 
• Astaroth uses GitHub to update its configuration when the C2 servers become inaccessible, by hosting images on GitHub which uses steganography to hide this information in plain sight. 
• The GitHub repositories were reported to GitHub and are taken down. 

Key Takeaways  

• Don’t open attachments and links in emails from unknown sources. 
• Use 2 factor authentication (2FA) on banking websites where possible. 
• Keep your antivirus up to date. 

Geographical Prevalence 

Astaroth is capable of targeting many South American countries like Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Panama. It can also target Portugal and Italy. 

But in the recent campaign, it seems to be largely focused on Brazil. 

Figure 1: Geographical Prevalence 

 

Conclusion 

Astaroth is a password-stealing malware family that targets South America. The malware leverages GitHub to host configuration files, treating the platform as resilient backup infrastructure when primary C2 servers become inaccessible. McAfee reported the findings to GitHub and worked with their security research team to remove the malicious repositories, temporarily disrupting operations. 

 

Technical Analysis 

Figure 2 : Infection chain 

 

Phishing Email 

The attack starts with an e-mail to the victim which contains a link to a site that downloads a zip file. Emails with themes such as DocuSign and resumes are used to lure the victims into downloading a zip file. 

Figure 3: Phishing Email

Figure 4: Phishing Email

Figure 5: Phishing Email

 

JavaScript Downloader 

The downloaded zip file contains a LNK file, which has obfuscated javascript command run using mshta.exe. 

 

This command simply fetches more javascript code from the following URL: 

 

To impede analysis, all the links are geo-restricted, such that they can only be accessed from the targeted geography. 

The downloaded javascript then downloads a set of files in ProgramData from a randomly selected server: 

Figure 6: Downloaded Files

Here,  

”Corsair.Yoga.06342.8476.366.log” is  AutoIT compiled script, “Corsair.Yoga.06342.8476.366.exe” is AutoIT interpreter, 

“stack.tmp” is an encrypted payload (Astaroth), 

 and “dump.log” is an encrypted malware configuration. 

AutoIt script is executed by javascript, which builds and loads a shellcode in the memory of AutoIT process. 

 

Shellcode Analysis 

Figure 7: AutoIt script building shellcode

The shellcode has 3 entrypoints and $LOADOFFSET is the one using which it loads a DLL in memory. 

To run the shellcode the script hooks Kernel32: LocalCompact, and makes it jump to the entrypoint. 

Figure 8: Hooking LocalCompact API 

 
Shellcode’s $LOADOFFSET starts by resolving a set of APIs that are used for loading a DLL in memory. The API addresses are stored in a jump table at the very beginning of the shellcode memory. 

Figure 9: APIs resolved by shellcode 

 

Here shellcode is made to load a DLL file(Delphi) and this DLL decrypts and injects the final payload into newly created RegSvc.exe process. 

 

Payload Analysis 

The payload, Astaroth malware is written in Delphi and uses various anti-analysis techniques and shuts down the system if it detects that it is being analyzed. 

It checks for the following tools in the system: 

Figure 10: List of analysis tools 

 

It also makes sure that system locale is not related to the United States or English. 

Every second it checks for program windows like browsers, if that window is in foreground and has a banking related site opened then it hooks keyboard events to get keystrokes. 

Figure 11: Hooking keyboard events 

Programs are targeted if they have a window class name containing chrome, ieframe, mozilla, xoff, xdesk, xtrava or sunawtframe.

Many banking-related sites are targeted, some of which are mentioned below:
caixa.gov.br 

safra.com.br 

Itau.com.br 

bancooriginal.com.br 

santandernet.com.br 

btgpactual.com 

 

We also observed some cryptocurrency-related sites being targeted: 

etherscan.io 

binance.com 

bitcointrade.com.br 

metamask.io 

foxbit.com.br 

localbitcoins.com 

 

C2 Communication & Infrastructure 

The stolen banking credentials and other information are sent to C2 server using a custom binary protocol. 

Figure 12: C2 communication  

 

Astaroth’s C2 infrastructure and malware configuration are depicted below. 

Figure 13: C2 infrastructure 

Malware config is stored in dump.log encrypted, following is the information stored in it: 

Figure 14: Malware configuration 

 

Every 2 hours the configuration is updated by fetching an image file from config update URLs and extracting the hidden configuration from the image. 

hxxps://bit[.]ly/4gf4E7H —> hxxps://raw.githubusercontent[.]com//dridex2024//razeronline//refs/heads/main/razerlimpa[.]png 

Image file keeps the configuration hidden by storing it in the following format:

We found more such GitHub repositories having image files with above pattern and reported them to GitHub, which they have taken down. 

Persistence Mechanism  

For persistence, Astaroth drops a LNK file in startup folder which runs the AutoIT script to launch the malware when the system starts.  

McAfee Coverage 

McAfee has extensive coverage for Astaroth: 

Trojan:Shortcut/SuspiciousLNK.OSRT 

Trojan:Shortcut/Astaroth.OJS 

Trojan:Script/Astaroth.DL 

Trojan:Script/Astaroth.AI 

Trojan:Script/AutoITLoader.LC!2 

Trojan:Shortcut/Astaroth.STUP 

Indicator Of Compromise(s) 

IOC	Hash / URL
Email	7418ffa31f8a51a04274fc8f610fa4d5aa5758746617020ee57493546ae35b70 7609973939b46fe13266eacd1f06b533f8991337d6334c15ab78e28fa3b320be 11f0d7e18f9a2913d2480b6a6955ebc92e40434ad11bed62d1ff81ddd3dda945
ZIP URL	https://91.220.167.72.host.secureserver[.]net/peHg4yDUYgzNeAvm5.zip
LNK	34207fbffcb38ed51cd469d082c0c518b696bac4eb61e5b191a141b5459669df
JS Downloader	28515ea1ed7befb39f428f046ba034d92d44a075cc7a6f252d6faf681bdba39c
Download server	clafenval.medicarium[.]help sprudiz.medicinatramp[.]click frecil.medicinatramp[.]beauty stroal.medicoassocidos[.]beauty strosonvaz.medicoassocidos[.]help gluminal188.trovaodoceara[.]sbs scrivinlinfer.medicinatramp[.]icu trisinsil.medicesterium[.]help brusar.trovaodoceara[.]autos gramgunvel.medicoassocidos[.]beauty blojannindor0.trovaodoceara[.]motorcycles
AutoIT compiled script	a235d2e44ea87e5764c66247e80a1c518c38a7395291ce7037f877a968c7b42b
Injector dll	db9d00f30e7df4d0cf10cee8c49ee59a6b2e518107fd6504475e99bbcf6cce34
payload	251cde68c30c7d303221207370c314362f4adccdd5db4533a67bedc2dc1e6195
Startup LNK	049849998f2d4dd1e629d46446699f15332daa54530a5dad5f35cc8904adea43
C2 server	1.tcp.sa.ngrok[.]io:20262 1.tcp.us-cal-1.ngrok[.]io:24521 5.tcp.ngrok[.]io:22934 7.tcp.ngrok[.]io:22426 9.tcp.ngrok[.]io:23955 9.tcp.ngrok[.]io:24080
Config update URL	https://bit[.]ly/49mKne9 https://bit[.]ly/4gf4E7H https://raw.githubusercontent[.]com/dridex2024/razeronline/refs/heads/main/razerlimpa.png
GitHub Repositories hosting config images	https://github[.]com/dridex2024/razeronline  https://github[.]com/Config2023/01atk-83567z  https://github[.]com/S20x/m25  https://github[.]com/Tami1010/base  https://github[.]com/balancinho1/balaco  https://github[.]com/fernandolopes201/675878fvfsv2231im2  https://github[.]com/polarbearfish/fishbom  https://github[.]com/polarbearultra/amendointorrado  https://github[.]com/projetonovo52/master  https://github[.]com/vaicurintha/gol

 

The post Astaroth: Banking Trojan Abusing GitHub for Resilience appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Latest research from McAfee Labs just announced and the numbers are staggering. If you think you’re immune to scams because you’re “too smart” or “too careful,” you might want to think again. Scammers have stepped up their game in 2025, and they’re coming for everyone. 

The Job Scam Tsunami That’s Crushing Dreams

Let’s start with the most shocking stat: job-related scams exploded by over 1,000% from May through late July 2025. Yes, you read that right. One thousand percent. 

Think about that for a moment. In a world where finding decent work feels harder than ever, scammers are weaponizing our most basic need for employment. They’re not just sending random “work from home” nonsense anymore. These criminals are getting sophisticated, using terms like “resume,” “recruit,” “maternity,” and “paternity” to exploit our hopes around benefits and career opportunities. 

Here’s the brutal reality: Nearly 1 in 3 Americans have received a job offer scam by text message. That means if you’re in a group of three people, at least one of you has been targeted. Even more disturbing? 45% of Americans have either experienced a job search scam personally or know someone who has. This isn’t some distant threat anymore, it’s hitting close to home. 

Shopping Scams Are Playing the Long Game

Amazon Prime Day was a goldmine for scammers. Text scams in the shopping category jumped 250% from May to late July, with much of that spike happening right around Prime Day. Coincidence? Absolutely not. 

Scammers know exactly when we’re most vulnerable. They know we’re hunting for deals, expecting delivery notifications, and clicking faster than we’re thinking. Amazon and Apple are the top brand names being impersonated because, let’s face it, we all interact with these companies constantly. 

Shopping email scams climbed 60% during this same period, with Amazon holding the top spot, Target moving into second place, and Apple rounding out the top three. The fact that Target surged into the number two spot tells us something important: scammers are diversifying their approach and studying our shopping habits more carefully than we might be studying theirs. 

Your Money Is Under Siege

Personal finance scams aren’t just growing, they’re surging nearly 150% from May to late July. Email scams in this category literally doubled between June and July. The top bait words? “Loan” and “money.” Because nothing says desperation like targeting people who are already financially stressed. 

Credit cards topped the list of email scam keywords, which makes perfect sense. In an economy where everyone’s feeling pinched, the promise of easy credit or debt relief hits different. URL-based finance scams rose 10% in July alone, proving that scammers are hitting us from every digital angle. 

Tech Scams Are Getting Personal

Here’s what’s really clever (in a completely evil way): technology scams grew 40% in text messages and saw a staggering 160% increase in email scams across June and July. Apple dominated the scam landscape, but here’s the kicker: Nvidia drove much of the late-July growth. 

Think about why that matters. Nvidia isn’t just any tech company; it’s the company behind the AI revolution everyone’s talking about. Scammers are literally using our fascination with AI and cutting-edge tech against us. They’re banking on our FOMO around technology trends. 

The Psychology Behind the Surge

Let’s step back and think critically about what’s really happening here. These aren’t random increases. Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, more targeted, and more successful because they’re exploiting fundamental human psychology: 

Economic anxiety: With inflation concerns and job market uncertainty, financial scams hit when people are most vulnerable. 

Technology overwhelm: As tech evolves rapidly, scammers exploit our confusion and excitement about new developments. 

Social proof manipulation: Using trusted brand names like Apple, Amazon, and Target because we’ve been conditioned to trust these companies. 

Timing exploitation: Hitting during Prime Day, benefit enrollment periods, and job hunting seasons when our guard is down. 

But there’s another layer we need to call out, the long-term impact of falling for a fake job. When you’re unemployed, every lead matters. Chasing a fraudulent one doesn’t just waste time; it effectively pauses your real job search. Many people say job hunting is a full-time job in itself, so losing that time can feel like being pushed back to square one. That setback compounds stress and deepens the economic anxiety you were already feeling. It’s not just about losing money, it’s about losing momentum, confidence, and critical opportunities in a competitive market. 

What This Means for You Right Now

Advice like “just be careful” doesn’t cut it anymore. Scammers have leveled up, and their tactics are sophisticated enough to fool even the smartest of people. That’s why having the right tools and awareness matters more than ever. Staying informed isn’t about fear, it’s about empowerment. The more you know, the harder it is for scammers to win. 

For job seekers: If someone contacts you about a job you didn’t apply for, especially mentioning benefits or asking for personal information upfront, pump the brakes. Real recruiters don’t typically lead with benefit details or ask for sensitive data in initial communications. 

For online shoppers: Those delivery notifications and deal alerts you’re getting? Slow down before clicking. Go directly to the retailer’s official website or app instead of clicking links in texts or emails. 

For anyone with financial concerns: If an offer sounds too good to be true (instant loans, credit repair miracles, investment opportunities), it probably is. When you’re stressed about money, that’s exactly when scammers strike hardest. 

For tech enthusiasts: Being excited about new technology is great, but scammers are counting on that excitement to make you click faster than you think. Always verify tech-related communications through official channels. 

The Bottom Line

The data is crystal clear: scams aren’t just increasing, they’re exploding across every category that matters to everyday people. Job hunting, shopping, managing money, staying current with technology. These criminals are systematically targeting the most essential aspects of modern life. 

But here’s what the scammers don’t want you to know: awareness is your best defense. They rely on speed, emotion, and distraction. The moment you slow down, verify independently, and think critically, their whole game falls apart. 

The 2025 scam landscape isn’t just more dangerous, it’s more personal. These aren’t random attempts anymore. They’re calculated attacks designed to hit you exactly when and where you’re most likely to let your guard down. To help job hunters and others, McAfee has launched Scam Detector, an all-in-one protection solution to help keep you safer across text, email and video. McAfee’s Scam Detector runs continuously in the background across all your devices, analyzing incoming emails, texts, and videos to detect potential scams in real-time. When it detects something suspicious, you get an instant alert that explains what raised the red flag and walks you through the specific tactics scammers use, so you can spot similar attempts on your own. For job seekers, Scam Detector can be an invaluable tool to help prevent fraudulent scams.

Stay sharp out there. Your financial security, career prospects, and digital safety depend on it. 

 

The post Scam Alert: The Alarming Reality Behind 2025’s Explosion in Digital Fraud  appeared first on McAfee Blog.

I think I could count on one hand the people I know who have NOT had their email hacked. Maybe they found a four-leaf clover when they were kids! Email hacking is one of the very unfortunate downsides of living in our connected, digital world. And it usually occurs as a result of a data breach – a situation that even the savviest tech experts find themselves in.

What is a data breach?

In simple terms, a data breach happens when personal information is accessed, disclosed without permission, or lost. Companies, organisations, and government departments of any size can be affected. Data stolen can include customer login details (email addresses and passwords), credit card numbers, identifying IDs of customers e.g. driver’s license numbers and/or passport numbers, confidential customer information, company strategy, or even matters of national security.

Data breaches have made headlines, particularly over the last few years. When the Optus and Medibank data breaches hit the news in 2022 affecting almost 10 million Aussies apiece, we were all shaken. But then when Aussie finance company Latitude was affected in 2023 with a whopping 14 million people from both Australia and New Zealand, it almost felt inevitable that by now, most of us would have been impacted.

The reality is that data breaches have been happening for years. In fact, the largest data breach in Australian history happened in 2019 to the online design site Canva which affected 139 million users globally. In short, it can happen to anyone, and the chances are you may have already been affected.

Your email is more valuable than you think

The sole objective of a hacker is to get their hands on your data. Any information that you share in your email account can be very valuable to them. Why do they want your data, you ask? It’s simple really – so they can cash in!

Some will keep the juicy stuff for themselves – passwords or logins to government departments or large companies they may want to ’target’ with the aim of extracting valuable data and/or funds. The more sophisticated ones will sell your details including name, telephone, email address, and credit card details to cash in on the dark web. They often do this in batches. Some experts believe they can get as much as AU$250 for a full set of details including credit cards. So, you can see why they’d be interested in you.

The other reason why hackers will be interested in your email address and password is that many of us re-use our login details across our other online accounts. Once they’ve got their hands on your email credentials, they may be able to access your online banking and investment accounts, if you use the same credentials everywhere. So, you can see why I harp on about using a unique password for every online account!

How big is the problem?

There is a plethora of statistics on just how big this issue is – all of them concerning. According to the Australian Institute of Criminology, of all the country’s cybercrime reports in 2024, about 21.9% involved identity theft and misuse. The Australian Bureau of Statistics adds that the identity theft victimisation rate has steadily increased from 0.8% to 1.2% from 2021 to 2024, respectively.

Meanwhile, The Australian Government revealed that at least one cybercrime is reported every 6 minutes, with business email compromise alone costing the national economy up to $84 million in losses. Regardless of which statistic you choose to focus on, we have a big issue on our hands.

How does an email account get hacked?

Hackers use a range of techniques—some highly sophisticated, others deceptively simple—to gain access. It is important to know how these attacks happen so you can stay ahead and prevent them.

• Phishing scams: These are deceptive emails that trick you into entering your login details on a fake website that looks legitimate.
• Data breaches: If a website where you used your email and password gets breached, criminals can use those leaked credentials to try and access your email account.
• Weak or reused passwords: Using simple, easy-to-guess passwords or the same password across multiple sites makes it easy for hackers to gain access.
• Malware: Malicious software like keyloggers can be installed on your computer without your knowledge, capturing everything you type, including passwords.
• Unsecure Wi-Fi networks: Using public Wi-Fi without a VPN can expose your data to criminals monitoring the network.

From email hack to identity theft

Yes, absolutely. An email account is often the central hub of your digital life. Once a cybercriminal controls it, they can initiate password resets for your other online accounts, including banking, shopping, and social media. They can intercept sensitive information sent to you, such as financial statements or medical records.

With enough information gathered from your emails, they can commit identity theft, apply for credit in your name, or access other sensitive services. If you suspect your email was hacked, it’s crucial to monitor your financial statements and consider placing a fraud alert with credit bureaus.

Signs that your email has been hacked

• You can no longer log in. The most obvious sign of an email hack is when your password suddenly stops working. Cybercriminals often change the password immediately to lock you out.
• Friends receive strange messages from you. If your contacts report receiving spam or phishing emails from your address that you didn’t send, it’s a major red flag that someone else has control of your account.
• Unusual activity in your folders. Check your “Sent” folder for messages you don’t recognize. Hackers might also set up forwarding rules to send copies of your incoming emails to their own address, so check your settings for any unfamiliar forwarding addresses.
• Password reset emails you didn’t request. Receiving unexpected password reset emails for other services (like your bank or social media) is a sign that a hacker is using your email to try and take over your other online accounts.
• Security alerts from your provider. Pay attention to notifications about new sign-ins from unfamiliar devices, locations, or IP addresses. These are often the first warnings that your account has been compromised.

Steps to email recovery

If you find yourself a victim of email hacking, these are a few very important steps you need to take. Fast.

Change your password

Using a separate, clean device, this is the very first thing you must do to ensure the hacker can’t get back into your account. It is essential that your new password is complex and totally unrelated to previous passwords. Always use random words and characters, a passphrase with a variety of upper and lower cases, and throw in some symbols and numbers.

I really like the idea of a crazy, nonsensical sentence – easier to remember and harder to crack! But, better still, get yourself a password manager that will create a password that no human would be capable of creating. If you find the hacker has locked you out of your account by changing your password, you will need to reset the password by clicking on the ‘Forgot My Password’ link.

Update other accounts that use the same password

This is time-consuming, but essential. Ensure you change any other accounts that use the same username and password as your compromised email. Hackers love the fact that many people use the same logins for multiple accounts, so it is guaranteed they will try your info in other email applications and sites such as PayPal, Amazon, Netflix – you name it!

Once the dust has settled, review your password strategy for all your online accounts. A best practice is to ensure every online account has its own unique and complex password.

Sign out of all devices

Most email services have a security feature that lets you remotely log out of all active sessions. Once you’ve changed your password, signing out from your email account also signs out the hacker and forces them to log-in with the new password, which fortunately they do not know. These, combined with two- or multi-factor authentication, will help you to regain control of your account and prevent further compromise.

Inform your email contacts

A big part of the hacker’s strategy is to get their claws into your address book to hook others as well. Send a message to all your email contacts as soon as possible so they know to avoid opening any emails—most likely loaded with malware—that have come from you.

Commit to multi-factor authentication

Two-factor or multi-factor authentication may seem like an additional, inconvenient step to your login, but it also adds another layer of protection. Enabling this means you will need a special one-time-use code to log in, aside from your password. This is sent to your mobile phone or generated via an authenticator app. So worthwhile!

Check your email settings

It is common for hackers to modify your email settings so that a copy of every email you receive is automatically forwarded to them. Not only can they monitor your logins to other sites; they can also keep a watchful eye on any particularly juicy personal information. So, check your mail forwarding settings to ensure no unexpected email addresses have been added.

Also, ensure your ‘reply to’ email address is actually yours. Hackers have been known to create an email address that looks similar to yours, so that when someone replies, it will go straight to their account, not yours.

Don’t forget to check your email signature to ensure nothing spammy has been added, as well as your recovery phone number and alternate email address. Hackers also change these to maintain control. Update them to your own secure details.

Scan your computer for malware and viruses

Regularly scanning your devices for unwanted invaders is essential. If you find anything, please ensure it is addressed, and then change your email password again. If you don’t have antivirus software, please invest in it.

Comprehensive security software will provide you with a digital shield for your online life, protecting all your devices – including your smartphone – from viruses and malware. Some services also include a password manager to help you generate and store unique passwords for all your accounts.

Consider creating a new email address

If you have been hacked several times and your email provider isn’t mitigating the amount of spam you are receiving, consider starting afresh. Do not, however, delete your old email address because email providers are known to recycle old email addresses. This means a hacker could spam every site they can find with a ‘forgot my password’ request and try to impersonate you and steal your identity.

Your email is an important part of your online identity so being vigilant and addressing any fallout from hacking is essential for your digital reputation. Even though it may feel that getting hacked is inevitable, you can definitely reduce your risk by installing some good-quality security software on all your devices.

Trusted and reliable comprehensive security software will alert you when visiting risky websites, warn you when a download looks dodgy, and block annoying and dangerous emails with anti-spam technology. It makes sense really – if you don’t receive the dodgy phishing email – you can’t click on it. Smart!

Finally, don’t forget that hackers love social media – particularly those of us who overshare on it. So, before you post details of your adorable new kitten, remember it may just provide the perfect clue for a hacker trying to guess your email password!

Report the incident

Reporting an email hack is a crucial step to create a necessary paper trail for disputes with banks or credit agencies. When reporting, gather evidence such as screenshots of suspicious activity, unrecognized login locations and times, and any phishing emails you received. This information can be vital for the investigation.

• Your email provider: Use their official support or recovery channels immediately. They can help you investigate and regain control of your account. Do not use links from suspicious emails claiming to be from support.
• Financial institutions: If you’ve disclosed sensitive financial information or use the email for banking, contact your bank and credit card companies immediately. Alert them to potential fraud and monitor your statements.
• Friends, family, and contacts: Send a message to your contacts warning them that your account was compromised. Advise them not to open suspicious messages or click on links sent from your address during that time.
• Your employer: If it’s a work email, or if your personal email is used for work purposes, notify your IT department immediately. They need to take steps to protect company data and systems.
• Relevant authorities: For financial loss or identity theft, you can report the incident to authorities like the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center or Action Fraud in the UK. This creates an official record and aids in wider law enforcement efforts.

Check if online accounts linked to your email were compromised

• Prioritize critical accounts: Immediately check your online banking, financial, and government-related accounts. Review recent activity for any unauthorized transactions or changes.
• Review social media and shopping sites: Check your social media for posts or messages you didn’t send. Review your online shopping accounts like Amazon for any purchases or address changes you don’t recognize.
• Enable alerts: Turn on login and transaction alerts for your sensitive accounts. This will give you real-time notifications of any suspicious activity in the future.

Should you delete your hacked email account?

Generally, no. Deleting the account can cause more problems than it solves. Many online services are linked to that email, and deleting it means you lose the ability to receive password reset links and security notifications for those accounts.

More importantly, some email providers recycle deleted addresses, meaning a hacker could potentially re-register your old email address and use it to impersonate you and take over your linked accounts.

The better course of action is to regain control, thoroughly secure the account with a new password and multi-factor authentication, and clean up any damage. Only consider migrating to a new email address after you have fully secured the old one.

Future-proof your email after reclaiming control

• Run a full security scan: Before doing anything else, run a comprehensive scan with a trusted antivirus program on all your devices to ensure no malware or keyloggers remain.
• Double-check security settings: Confirm that your recovery email and phone number are correct and that multi-factor authentication is enabled, preferably using an authenticator app rather than SMS.
• Review account permissions: Check which third-party apps and websites have access to your email account. Revoke access for any service you don’t recognize or no longer use.
• Set periodic reminders: Make it a habit to review your account’s security logs and settings every few months to catch any potential issues early.

• Learn to spot phishing: Be skeptical of unsolicited emails asking for personal information or creating a sense of urgency. Check the sender’s address and hover over links before clicking.
• Keep software updated:Regularly update your operating system, web browser, and security software to protect against the latest vulnerabilities.
• Secure your devices: Use comprehensive security software like McAfee+ on all your devices—computers, tablets, and smartphones—to protect against malware, viruses, and risky websites.

Provider-specific email recovery

Each email provider has a specific, structured process for account recovery. It is vital to only use the official recovery pages provided by the service and be wary of scam websites or third-party services that claim they can recover your account for a fee. Below are the official steps of the major providers that you can follow.

Gmail

1. Go to Google’s official Account Recovery page.
2. Enter your email address and follow the on-screen prompts. You will be asked questions to confirm your identity, such as previous passwords or details from your recovery phone number or email.
3. Once you regain access, you will be prompted to create a new password.
4. Immediately visit the Google Security Checkup to review recent activity, remove unfamiliar devices, check third-party app access, and enable 2-step verification.

Yahoo email

1. Navigate to the Yahoo Sign-in Helper page.
2. Enter your email address or recovery phone number and click “Continue.”
3. Follow the instructions to receive a verification code or account key to prove your identity.
4. Once verified, create a new, strong password.
5. After regaining access, go to your Account Security page to review recent activity, check recovery information, and turn on 2-step verification.

Outlook or Hotmail

1. Go to the official Microsoft account recovery page.
2. You’ll need to provide your email, phone, or Skype name, and verify your identity using the security information linked to your account.
3. If you cannot access your recovery methods, you will be directed to an account recovery form where you must provide as much information as possible to prove ownership.
4. After resetting your password, visit your Microsoft account security dashboard to review sign-in activity, check connected devices, and enable two-step verification.

Final thoughts

Your email account is the master key to your digital kingdom, and protecting it is more critical than ever since many of your other accounts are connected with your email. Realizing “my email has been hacked” is a stressful experience, but taking swift and correct action can significantly limit the damage.

By following the recovery steps and adopting strong, ongoing security habits like using a password manager and enabling multi-factor authentication, you can turn a potential crisis into a lesson in digital resilience. Stay vigilant, stay proactive, and keep your digital front door securely locked.

To add another wall of defense, consider investing in a trusted and reliable comprehensive security software like McAfee+. Our solution will help you dodge hacking attempts by alerting you when visiting risky websites, or downloading questionable apps, and blocking malicious emails with anti-spam technology.

The post What to Do If Your Email Is Hacked appeared first on McAfee Blog.

When news of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement broke recently, fans around the world celebrated this real-life love story. Unfortunately, cybercriminals saw something else entirely: a golden opportunity to exploit millions of devoted Swifties and NFL fans through sophisticated scams that blend AI technology with classic fraud tactics.

The Perfect Storm for Scammers

The engagement of two mega-celebrities creates an ideal environment for scammers. With millions of fans eager for content, merchandise, and insider information about their favorite stars, fraudsters have crafted elaborate schemes that prey on this enthusiasm. What makes these recent scams particularly dangerous is their use of cutting-edge AI technology that makes fake content increasingly difficult to detect.

Deepfakes Flood Social Media

McAfee threat researchers have identified a deepfake video circulating across social media platforms, all capitalizing on the engagement buzz. These AI-generated videos, some featuring a likeness of Selena Gomez, are commenting on the engagement, overlayed on video clips of Taylor Swift, but they’re entirely fabricated.

Figure 1 – Examples of deepfakes on social media

The sophistication of these deepfakes is concerning. They feature realistic facial movements and convincing audio that can fool even discerning viewers. Fortunately, McAfee’s Scam Detector technology has been successfully identifying these fraudulent videos, alerting users with notifications that read “Deepfake detected” and advising viewers to “take a moment to double-check if the video is real and accurate.”

Deepfake videos can serve several malicious purposes:

• Spreading misinformation about the engagement or the celebrities involved
• Generating ad revenue through increased views and engagement
• Building credibility for other scam operations by creating fake celebrity endorsements

The Fake Merchandise Gold Rush

Perhaps even more concerning than the deepfakes is the explosion of fraudulent merchandise capitalizing on the engagement. Scammers have quickly pivoted to creating fake commemorative items, with one of the most prominent examples being counterfeit “Taylor Swift Funko Style Collectible Engagement Edition Dolls.”

 

 

Figure 2 – AI-Generated Funko Style Doll with AI-Generated Text

McAfee threat researchers recently investigated a website selling unauthorized Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Funko Pop-style dolls. At first glance, the site appears legitimate, complete with professional product photography and detailed descriptions. However, closer inspection reveals several red flags:

AI-Generated Product Image: The most telling sign of fraud lies in the product images themselves. Researchers discovered that the Funko doll boxes contained misspelled words and incorrect text placement – classic indicators that the images were generated by AI rather than photographed from real products. These imperfections are common in AI-generated content, where text rendering often fails to produce accurate spelling or realistic placement. However, AI image generation tools are rapidly improving and are getting better at generating text.

Fraudulent Security Badges: The website goes to extraordinary lengths to appear legitimate, even displaying a fake “McAfee Secure” badge. This is particularly brazen, as scammers are literally using McAfee’s trusted brand to legitimize their fraudulent operation. Consumers should always verify security badges by clicking on them to ensure they lead to official verification pages. The McAfee SECURE seal was replaced by TrustedSite in 2013.

Too-Good-To-Be-True Pricing: The dolls are priced at $26.98, marked down from $49.99 – a classic pricing strategy designed to create urgency and the perception of a great deal.

The Broader Impact of Celebrity Exploitation

These scams represent more than just financial fraud; they’re part of a larger ecosystem of misinformation and exploitation that damages both fans and the celebrities themselves. When deepfakes spread false information or when unauthorized merchandise floods the market, it can:

• Confuse fans about authentic vs. fake content
• Damage celebrity reputations through false associations
• Undermine legitimate businesses selling official merchandise
• Erode trust in social media content generally

Protecting Yourself from Engagement-Related Scams

As these scams continue to evolve, consumers need to stay vigilant. Here are key steps to protect yourself:

For Social Media Content:

• Look for verification indicators: Many platforms now include deepfake detection warnings
• Check the source: Verify that celebrity content comes from official, verified accounts
• Be skeptical of sensational claims: If content seems designed purely for shock value or clicks, question its authenticity
• Cross-reference information: Check multiple reliable news sources before believing or sharing celebrity news

For Merchandise Purchases:

• Buy only from official sources: Stick to verified celebrity merchandise stores or authorized retailers
• Examine product images carefully: Look for spelling errors, misaligned text, or other signs of AI generation
• Verify security badges: Click on security indicators to ensure they’re legitimate
• Research the website: Check domain registration dates, customer reviews, and business information
• Be wary of limited-time offers: Scammers often create artificial urgency to pressure quick purchases

The Technology Arms Race

The Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce engagement scams highlight a broader trend in cybercrime: the democratization of sophisticated fraud tools. AI technology that once required significant technical expertise is now accessible to everyday scammers, making it easier than ever to create convincing fake content.

However, the same technology enabling these scams is also being used to combat them. Detection tools like McAfee’s Scam Detector are becoming more sophisticated at identifying AI-generated content, providing crucial protection for consumers.

The Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce engagement should be a celebration of love and happiness. Instead, it’s become another reminder of how quickly scammers adapt to exploit major news events and celebrity culture. By staying informed about these tactics and maintaining healthy skepticism about online content, fans can protect themselves while still enjoying legitimate coverage of their favorite celebrities.

Remember: if something seems too good to be true – whether it’s exclusive celebrity content or amazing merchandise deals, it probably is. In the age of AI-generated scams, a moment of caution can save you from becoming the next victim in this digital love story gone wrong. The best way to show love for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce isn’t by clicking on suspicious links or buying questionable merchandise – it’s by being smart, careful consumers who don’t give scammers the attention and money they’re seeking.

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