SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
Cyber Criminals Are Impersonating Brands Consumers Trust Using Search Engine Advertisement Services to Defraud The Public
The FBI is warning the public that cybercriminals are using search engine advertisement services to impersonate brands and direct users to malicious fake websites that host ransomware or steal login credentials and other financial information.
The scammers are actually paying to create these advertisements since the public believes that advertisements are generally not scams. No one can afford to believe that anymore!
How These Scams Work
Cyber criminals purchase advertisements from Google and other search engines (such as Bing, etc) that appear within internet search results using a domain that is similar to an actual business or service (typo domains).
When a user searches for that business or service, these advertisements appear at the very top of search results with a minimal distinction between an advertisement and an actual search result. These advertisements link to a webpage that looks identical to the impersonated business’s official webpage.
In instances where a user is searching for a program to download, an e-commerce store, or something else they want or need are taken to the fraudulent webpage via that advert. If it was for software it has a link to download software that is actually malware. The download page looks legitimate and the download itself is named after the program the user intended and expected to download.
These advertisements have also been used to impersonate websites involved in finances, particularly cryptocurrency exchange platforms. These malicious sites appear to be real exchange platforms and prompt users to enter login credentials and financial information, giving criminal actors access to steal funds.
NOTE: they tend to be impersonating companies and brands that do little to police the links that appear on search engines. Major brands like COCA-COLA for example, meticulously police their brands looking for fakes.
While search engine advertisements are not malicious in nature, it is important to practice caution when accessing a web page through an advertised link. You are better looking at the add and then looking below for the actual company, brand, or product link.
Tips To Protect Yourself
We recommend individuals take the following precautions:
- Before clicking on an advertisement, check the URL to make sure the site is authentic. A malicious domain name may be similar (can be almost identical) to the intended URL but with typos or a misplaced letter.
- Rather than search for a business or financial institution, type the business’s URL into an internet browser’s address bar to access the official website directly. Except, you have to be careful because a mistyped address can often lead to a fake website too!
- Try searching of the name of the brand or company and add “official website” to the search.
- Use an ad-blocking extension in your browser (EDGE browser has this built-in) when performing internet searches. Most internet browsers allow a user to add extensions, including extensions that block advertisements. These ad blockers can be turned on and off within a browser to permit advertisements on certain websites while blocking advertisements on others.
We also recommend businesses take the following precautions:
- Use domain protection services to notify businesses when similar domains are registered to prevent domain spoofing.
- Educate your friends and family, and co-workers about spoofed websites and the importance of confirming destination URLs are correct.
- Educate your friends and family, and co-workers about where to find legitimate downloads for programs provided by a business.
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
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Table of Contents
- Impersonating Brands Consumers Trust
- In Search Engine Advertisements
- Cyber Criminals Are Impersonating Brands Consumers Trust Using Search Engine Advertisement Services to Defraud The Public
- How These Scams Work
- Tips To Protect Yourself
- Statement About Victim Blaming
- Scam Victim Self-Help Do-It-Yourself Recovery Books
- SCARS Printed Books For Every Scam Survivor From SCARS Publishing
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Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- Enroll in FREE SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.
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