New Delhi: Scammers are using two highly anticipated upcoming Hollywood movies — Margot Robbie starrer ‘Barbie’ and Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’– to steal users’ hard-earned money and sensitive personal data.
According to cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, scammers are tricking unsuspecting users by distributing phishing scams that prey on the excitement surrounding movie releases, all with the sole purpose of duping individuals and illegally obtaining their hard-earned money and sensitive personal data.
One of the fraudulent pages discovered lured users with special offers on Barbie dolls that coincided with the movie’s release.
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As well as standard dolls, users are encouraged to buy limited-edition film-related dolls, such as lead actress Margot Robbie, for around £12 sterling.
After deciding what to buy, users are redirected to a purchase form, which requires personal identifying details such as name, address, phone number and banking information.
Unsuspecting users unknowingly send their money and personal information to fraudsters. Apart from the financial risk, the scam raises serious privacy concerns as the stolen data could be sold on the dark web market, the report said.
“While the experience is enjoyable, we must not ignore the risks. By maintaining a vigilant mindset and practicing safe online habits, we can fully enjoy the Barbie and Oppenheimer experience while protecting ourselves from the cyber threats lurking in the digital world,” said Olga Svastunova. , Kaspersky’s security expert.
Furthermore, the report states that the scammers did not miss another popular release, Oppenheimer.
They tricked people by offering to stream movies for free, but their real intention was to steal users’ banking information and money.
Scammers often use this tactic in such situations, requesting a nominal fee of one dollar or one euro for registration. To proceed with registration, they need to link a bank card, which allows unauthorized and difficult-to-cancel debits from users’ accounts, according to the report.
