"We, the Consumers": Malicious emails flood our emails

Malicious people have been attacking people's emails in recent weeks with three main groups of malicious emails, the goal of which is to access the victims' devices and bank accounts. The creator of the online platform "We, the Consumers" Gabriela Rumenova warned about this in a video interview for Studio Aktualno. The forecast is that the trend will deepen during the period of the most active online shopping, when consumers are expecting the delivery of their purchases.

"One group includes letters that are supposedly sent by a company. They contain data about this company, which practically does not exist, as well as an attached invoice in a PDF file. This scam is very appropriate precisely during this period when people have placed an order and are expecting some transaction to be completed. Opening this file, which is most likely a virus, will infect their computer,” explained Rumenova.

The other group of emails sent, which are phishing type, is an invitation to users to follow a given link in order to save their account in the mail. In some cases, the user is known to have allegedly violated the rules for using the service and it will be suspended if they do not confirm their registration. “By clicking on the link, the user gives the person who aims to commit some type of fraud the opportunity to gain access to the device. Files or the device itself can be blocked, locked and a ransom can be demanded to restore the owner’s access to them. This is done for the purpose of blackmail,” the expert also said.

The third type of emails are formatted in such a way that they appear to be sent by an e-commerce merchant or a courier service. Users are asked via a link to visit a platform, enter their details and pay a customs duty for the release of the goods they have ordered, Rumenova revealed, adding that such emails are certainly fraudulent.

A characteristic of phishing attacks is that they usually require urgent action. This aims to create panic in the user, cloud their judgment and limit their ability to seek more information and consult with those more informed than them on these issues.

Gabriela Rumenova recommended that before clicking on a given link, hold the pointer over it to see what address it would lead to. All senders of such messages must be clearly identifiable. She also advised that we carefully monitor what and from whom we have ordered, because receiving a notification to expect a shipment from a merchant from whom we have not shopped, as well as something we have not purchased, is a sure sign that we have been targeted as a victim of an upcoming fraud.