Scammers using Amazon Prime scam
 | Author:
Victor Sample
Vic Sample: MT43 News Treasurer |
Scammers using Amazon Prime scam Victor Sample This article was originally published by the US Sun:
Charlotte Edwards, Assistant Technology and Science Editor
The US Sun
An email scam has been revealed that affects users of all email services, including Gmail and Outlook.
The email may look convincing, but it is fake - and could see your bank account emptied if you fall for it.
Scammers have been caught using a shortened Linkedin URLs trick, also known as Slinks (smart links).
The Slinks trick users into thinking they're going to a legitimate website when they're actually going to a fraudulent site.
A Slink can be legitimate when used correctly.
They create a clean Linkedin URL that sends people who click on it to another site and are popular for senders who want to avoid messy-looking URLs.
LinkedIn provides this feature to certain customers.
Malware Bytes revealed that this Slinks trick is being used as part of an Amazon Prime membership scam to make malicious links look convincing.
If you search "Amazon" in your email account you may spot the scam popup.
Scammers make the email appear to have been sent from Prime
The subject states: "New Membership Statement: Renewal Prime Membership statement was ended - Your renewal scheduled on February 21, 2023."
It claims that there's been a problem with your card and that your Amazon membership benefits are now on hold.
It then threatens readers that they must take action within the next 24 hours.
Scammers often add time pressure into phishing emails so victims act without thinking.
The scam email then asks recipients to update their payment information.
This is where the "Slinks" come in so they can make links in the email look convincing.
If you hover over the URL link that you're being directed to it will appear just like a short standard link but it will mention LinkedIn.
Some people may think this is odd but, experts fear that a lot of people won't notice.
The link will then take victims to a fake Amazon page that's convincing enough to steal bank information once it's entered.
