Fake gift card scams impersonate trusted brands for subscriptions
Original title: CTM360 Exposes Fake Gift Card Scams Exploiting Trusted Brands
Campaigns trick users with celebrity ads into fake reward portals that lead to mobile subscriptions and app installs instead of delivering cards.
CTM360 documented over 1,000 incidents of fake gift card giveaways impersonating brands such as Amazon, Walmart, PlayStation and Sephora. Victims are redirected to fraudulent portals displaying fake progress bars and codes before being funneled into verification loops that result in paid subscriptions and unwanted app installs. No rewards are ever provided and campaigns use affiliate tracking to monetize conversions.
- 1,000+ incidents identified globally
- Relies on social media ads and influencer endorsements
- Operates through modular affiliate tracking URLs
- Uses fake testimonials and countdown timers
- No gift cards are ever delivered
- Vendors
- CTM360
From the original article
3 min read at bleepingcomputer.com
Scammers are impersonating major brands and celebrities to lure consumers into fake gift card giveaways that collect personal information and trigger unwanted subscriptions. CTM360 reveals how these campaigns use deceptive verification steps and affiliate networks to generate revenue without delivering the promised rewards. [...]
By Sponsored by CTM360 · bleepingcomputer.com
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