Most phishing scams targeting online shoppers originate in the US
Be prepared for a deluge of spam, warn researchers
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
An analysis of spam messages has revealed that mostphishingscams targeting online shoppers originate from the US (44%) in the lead up to the holiday season.
The figure is based on an analysis of global spam telemetry data collected byBitdefenderbetween November 1 and November 11, 2021 in anticipation of the approaching holiday shopping season.
The research reveals that although phishers cast a wide net, their focus is on US shoppers, which emerged as the most attractive target to threat actors, receiving the largest share of spam emails, consisting of 44% of the entire global spam volume.
We’re looking at how our readers use VPNs with streaming sites like Netflix so we can improve our content and offer better advice. This survey won’t take more than 60 seconds of your time, and we’d hugely appreciate if you’d share your experiences with us.
Click here to start the survey in a new window«
The US is followed by the UK (8%), Australia (6%), South Africa (5%), Ireland (4%), Germany (4%), Sweden (3%), Denmark (2%), France (2%), Romania (1%) and Italy (1%).
“With just a little over two weeks before the biggest shopping day of the year, there’s no shortage of fake deals and promotions for keen shoppers to fall for. No stone was left unturned, from household decorations and retail to tech and airplane tickets,”remarkedBitdefender.
Prepare for more
Bitdefender claims that its findings are in line with a recentsurveythat placed the US at the top of the list for the number of people who plan to shop onBlack Fridaythis year.
No surprise then that an overwhelming majority of the spam messages analyzed by Bitdefender were written in English.
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
Based on their analysis of the spam, shopper rewards and gift cards or prizes associated with phony surveys and raffles are among the most commonly used tricks to lure recipients. Furthermore, with the easing travel restrictions, Bitdefender expects scammers to increase their use of travel deals to trick unsuspecting travel planners.
“Bitdefender spam researchers expect more spam campaigns in the coming weeks, with spikes on Black Friday,Cyber Mondayand winter holiday shopping deals. Scammers often take advantage of these events to spread phishing emails and deliver malware to targets in bulk,” warns Bitdefender.
Batten down the hatches with the help of thesebest firewall apps and services, and ensure your computers are protected with thesebest endpoint protection tools.
With almost two decades of writing and reporting on Linux, Mayank Sharma would like everyone to think he’sTechRadar Pro’sexpert on the topic. Of course, he’s just as interested in other computing topics, particularly cybersecurity, cloud, containers, and coding.
Phishing attacks surge in 2024 as cybercriminals adopt AI tools and multi-channel tactics
This new phishing strategy utilizes GitHub comments to distribute malware
Smeg Combi Steam Oven review: a multi-functional countertop oven that looks stunning and cooks well
