The
FBI has seen an increase in cyber criminals who use online photo-sharing
programs to perpetrate scams and harm victims’ computers. These criminals
advertise vehicles online but will not provide pictures in the advertisement.
They will send photos on request. Sometimes the photo is a single file sent as
an e-mail attachment, and sometimes the victim receives a link to an online
photo gallery.
The
photos can and often contain malicious software that infects the victim’s
computer, directing the user to fake websites that look nearly identical to the
real sites where the original advertisement was seen. The cyber criminals run
all aspects of these fake websites, including “tech support” or “live chat
support” and any “recommended” escrow services. After the victim agrees to
purchase the item and makes the payment, the criminals stop responding to
correspondence. The victims never receive any merchandise.
The
FBI urges consumers to protect themselves when shopping online. Here are a few
tips for staying safe:
- Be cautious if you lose an auction on an auction site but the seller contacts you later saying the original bidder fell through.
- Make sure websites are secure and authenticated before you purchase an item online. Use only well-known escrow services.
- Research to determine if a car dealership is real and how long it has been in business.
- Be wary if the price for the item you’d like to buy is severely undervalued; if it is, the item is likely fraudulent.
- Scan files before downloading them to your computer.
- Keep your computer software, including the operating system, updated with the latest patches.
- Ensure your anti-virus software and firewalls are current—they can help prevent malware infections