Beware of new email scams

The company says scammers impersonate well-known hardware and software manufacturers, "warning" users about gaming laptops, Apple Watch and software license purchases. Those alerts are sent to the victim's email with the aim of scaring them off and calling the phone number attached in the email. Whatever the product, the value of the transaction is usually quite large.

When the victim is trapped and makes a phone call, the attackers will try to get any personal information over the phone or try to get the victim to install malware.

'This particular type of spam email doesn't contain a link, but they do contain a phone number that victims are required to call if they want to change or cancel their order. If the victim calls, chances are that the scammers will try to get the login information of the bank card or financial service," explains Kaspersky expert Roman Dedenok.

Dedenok added that the impostors try to trick victims into transferring money or even installing a Trojan on their computers.

So if a user receives an email about an expensive purchase without remembering to have purchased the item, and if the email contains a phone number that you can call to cancel the order, you don't have to. should follow.

Instead of calling the phone number in the email, the victim should log into their account using the service in question, but not via email but directly through the browser. In addition, using a computer with anti-virus software installed with protection against financial attacks, phishing and online fraud is also less likely to cause harm.

Small and medium-sized businesses are often the target of this type of attack, because the company lacks manpower, employees have to work too hard, so it's easy to let off guard.

Kareem Winters

Update 30 August 2021