Binance, Tinder, Costco, and Walmart – Top Phishing Scams of the Week

Author: Trend Micro

March 22, 2023

We’ve found a large number of phishing scams this week, including ones relating to Binance,
Tinder, Costco, and Walmart. Would you have been able to spot all the scams? 

  Phishing Emails/Texts 

Impersonating trusted brands, scammers contact you using excuses like bogus security alerts or
fake notifications via text message or email — always with the goal of getting you to click
on phishing links. 
 
They try to prompt you into completing various tasks after clicking on the links. For example,
“verifying” your account or filling out an online form. These links, in most cases, will lead to fake
login pages that can steal your credentials. 

Binance​ Phishing Email (Binance​ Scam)

We’ve reported on fake Binance text messages in which scammers falsely claim that you need
to secure your account using the attached link before. This week we’ve found several fake
emails using the same excuse:

Scammers instruct you to click on the embedded button to review the “unknown login attempt.” If you fall for it and do as instructed, you will be taken to a fake Binance login page. 


Scammers can collect any credentials you submit on such pages and use your information for their own good — to steal your cryptocurrency and NFTs, or even commit identity theft. Don’t let them! 

Key safety tip: Always double-check the web address before you click! The legitimate Binance website’s domain is binance.com. 

Annoyed With Checking Web Addresses? Try Trend Micro Check 

The best way to prevent phishing scams is to NEVER click on links or attachments from unknown sources. You can try Trend Micro Check, a browser extension and mobile app for detecting scams, phishing attacks, malware, and dangerous links, and surf the web with confidence! (Plus, it’s FREE!).  

After you’ve pinned the Trend Micro Check extension, it will block dangerous sites automatically! (Available on Safari, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge.

You can also download the Trend Micro
Check mobile app for 24/7 automatic scam
and spam detection and filtering. (Available
for Android and iOS).

Check out this page for more information on Trend Micro Check.

Tinder Phishing Email 

“Someone matched with you on Tinder!” Don’t get too excited if you’ve received such a notification because it could be a SCAM! Recently we’ve detected lots of fake Tinder notification emails containing phishing links: 

The button will lead to a fake Tinder login page that will allow scammers to gain access to your personal information. Don’t get scammed! 

In other phishing attempts, like the examples below, the attached links will take you to fake online survey pages.

Costco Text Scam 

As one of the most impersonated brands, it’s no surprise that Costco was featured in lots of phishing attempts this week again: 

  • Amazing iphone 14 winner line : 4236230975 Color: Purple/ 512GB ? <URL> 

Promising you a free iPhone 14, scammers prompt you to claim the gift via the attached link: 

After you fill out the questionnaire, and if you take the bait, you will be asked to provide credit card details as well as other personal information. Of course, these credentials will end up in scammers’ hands. Watch out! 

Walmart Delivery Scam 

Fake Walmart texts are another reoccurring scam. This time scammers use package delivery notifications to try to trick you: 

  • Box for +6421679310: Can you please confirm if this stuck deIivery belongs to you?  <URL> 

Again, the attached link will lead to a bogus survey page that records all your personal data: 

Now you know what will happen: you could end up exposing all your credit card information. Be careful! 

Tips to Stay Safe from Scams 

  • Double-check the sender’s mobile number/email address. 
  • Only use official websites/applications.   
  • Change your password as soon as possible if you’ve already clicked on a suspicious link. Consider using our free online Password Generator to create strong, tough-to-hack passwords.   
  • Finally, add an extra layer of protection to your devices with Trend Micro Maximum Security. Its Web Threat Protection, Ransomware Protection, Anti-phishing, and Anti-spam Protection will help you combat scams and cyberattacks. Click the button below to give it a try. 

If you’ve found this article an interesting and/or helpful read, please SHARE it with friends and family to help keep the online community secure and protected. Also, please consider leaving a comment or LIKE below.   

This article was published in collaboration with Trend Micro.

Report a Scam!

Have you fallen for a hoax, bought a fake product? Report the site and warn others!

Help & Info

Popular Stories

As the influence of the internet rises, so does the prevalence of online scams. There are fraudsters making all kinds of claims to trap victims online - from fake investment opportunities to online stores - and the internet allows them to operate from any part of the world with anonymity. The ability to spot online scams is an important skill to have as the virtual world is increasingly becoming a part of every facet of our lives. The below tips will help you identify the signs which can indicate that a website could be a scam. Common Sense: Too Good To Be True When looking for goods online, a great deal can be very enticing. A Gucci bag or a new iPhone for half the price? Who wouldn’t want to grab such a deal? Scammers know this too and try to take advantage of the fact. If an online deal looks too good to be true, think twice and double-check things. The easiest way to do this is to simply check out the same product at competing websites (that you trust). If the difference in prices is huge, it might be better to double-check the rest of the website. Check Out the Social Media Links Social media is a core part of ecommerce businesses these days and consumers often expect online shops to have a social media presence. Scammers know this and often insert logos of social media sites on their websites. Scratching beneath the surface often reveals this fu

So the worst has come to pass - you realise you parted with your money too fast, and the site you used was a scam - what now? Well first of all, don’t despair!! If you think you have been scammed, the first port of call when having an issue is to simply ask for a refund. This is the first and easiest step to determine whether you are dealing with a genuine company or scammers. Sadly, getting your money back from a scammer is not as simple as just asking.  If you are indeed dealing with scammers, the procedure (and chance) of getting your money back varies depending on the payment method you used. PayPal Debit card/Credit card Bank transfer Wire transfer Google Pay Bitcoin PayPal If you used PayPal, you have a strong chance of getting your money back if you were scammed. On their website, you can file a dispute within 180 calendar days of your purchase. Conditions to file a dispute: The simplest situation is that you ordered from an online store and it has not arrived. In this case this is what PayPal states: "If your order never shows up and the seller can't provide proof of shipment or delivery, you'll get a full refund. It's that simple." The scammer has sent you a completely different item. For example, you ordered a PlayStation 4, but instead received only a Playstation controller.  The condition of the item was misrepresented on the product page. This could be the