The films Barbie and Oppenheimer quickly rose to the top of the list of the year's most anticipated films.
Unfortunately, scammers seized the opportunity to use Barbie and Oppenheimer's enormous popularity for their own nefarious purposes right away, as is sometimes the case with such well-liked subjects.
Kaspersky has now discovered that con artists are misleading unwary users by disseminating phishing scams that take advantage of the excitement around movie debuts, all with the purpose of stealing their hard-earned money and sensitive personal information.
Modus operandi
Users are lured to one of the fake pages with special Barbie doll offers timed to the release of the movie. A limited-edition doll of the lead actress Margot Robbie, which costs about £12 (GBP), is among the movie-related dolls that are being offered to customers in addition to the standard dolls. For an additional £56 (after an "exclusive" discount), they can add a helicopter, bringing the total cost of the purchase to £60.
Users are then brought to a purchase form after choosing an item to buy, where they must enter personal identification information like their name, address, phone number, and banking credentials. Oblivious users unknowingly submit money and confidential information to fraudsters. The possibility of the stolen data being sold on the dark web market, in addition to the financial threats, makes this fraud a severe privacy issue.
Another well-liked release, Oppenheimer, which is due out on the same day, was not missed by the fraudsters. By promising a free movie stream, they deceived consumers into giving them financial information and money. Scammers frequently use the strategy of requesting a little registration fee, such as one dollar or one euro, in such circumstances. This seemingly insignificant payment obligation, however, might raise questions. They demand that a bank card be attached in order to move forward with the registration, allowing for illegal and difficult-to-cancel debits from consumers' accounts.
Mitigation tips
Beware of phishing scams: Be wary of questionable emails, messages, or websites that offer special offers or freebies. Check the source's legitimacy before disclosing personal information or conducting online transactions.
Verify website security: When purchasing items or viewing related content online, be sure the website has a secure connection. To identify a secure website, look for "https://" in the URL and a padlock icon in the address bar.
Be cautious when disclosing personal information online, especially sensitive information such as your address, phone number, or financial information. Such information should only be shared on verified and secure platforms.
Count on trusted sources: For purchasing items, viewing movie content, or acquiring information about the premiere, use official websites, approved stores, and trusted sources.