World Cup Woes: Don’t Be Conned By Spammers And Scammers This Summer

Major sporting events always attract the attention of cybercriminals, and there’s no reason to think the Brazil World Cup will be any different. With group stage matches kicking off in early June, the event has already drawn the attention of phishers attempting to cash-in on the huge interest surrounding the championship, and exploiting the interest of soccer fans keen to obtain match tickets online.

Malware beware

They do this by sending out emails containing malicious attachments or links. Those tempted to click end up becoming infected with malware, or being redirected to a fake website that captures their personal data – bank or credit card information. We currently block between 40 and 50 fraudulent sites every day in Brazil alone. Most of the attacks we’re blocking are phishing, fake giveaways and fraudulent websites selling tickets.

Protect yourself against online fraud with our top tips

We all need to be alert to the dangers. No one is immune to online fraud, so here are some helpful tips to keep you safe:

1. When opening an email, remember to ask yourself whether or not you know the sender. If not, be extra sensitive to the fact that it might be a spam or a phishing email.
2. Don’t be caught off-guard by an email that looks official, or seems to be from a legitimate organisation, if it sounds remotely dubious – not all fraudsters generate badly-written messages. If you are in any doubt whatsoever, don’t open the email but contact the organisation directly and ask for their advice.
3. Be on your guard for anyone asking you for money, or requesting an unusual amount of personal information, especially bank account or credit card details.
4. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

David Emm, Senior Security Researcher, Kaspersky Lab