Technology
Google warning: There’s a dangerous new Gmail email you NEED to ignore today
GMAIL and Outlook users are being warned over a dangerous new scam.
Hackers are targeting users in a new way – in a bid to steal your private info, and even raid your bank.
SnopesThis is an example of the Norton scam, as revealed by Snopes[/caption]
Anyone with an email address needs to be aware of this dangerous scam.
It works using emails appearing to be from the cybersecurity company Norton.
The scam – which could cost you thousands – was unveiled by fact-checker organisation Snopes.
So how does the scam work?
The emails claimed that victims had renewed their Norton subscriptions.
Some of these emails would even promise fake products.
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Products listed in the emails included:
Norton Total ProtectionNorton Total All Round SecurityNorton 360Norton 360 Auto EditionNorton PC LifeNorton Family All DeviceNorton LifeLock
The idea is that the victim is promised a refund, and thinks they’re owed money.
This is then used to con users into handing over info.
“Since at least 2021, an email scam has targeted victims with the claim that Norton had renewed their annual membership subscriptions,” said Snopes.
“We looked into these emails, which are in fact part of a known ‘phishing’ operation aimed at tricking recipients into divulging private information.”
Snopes said that it called one of the numbers involved in the scam.
A scammer who “may have been located in foreign call centre” asked for the email invoice number.
But rather than providing refunds, scammers simply use your bank information to steal funds.
Some of the emails claimed that as much as $524 could be refunded.
Sadly for victims, this was a total ruse to hijack their bank accounts.
Anyone with an email address could become a victim of this scam.
So if you have a Gmail or Outlook account, be very wary when receiving unsolicited refund emails from companies.
“The best course of action is to delete scam emails that make claims about Norton, renewals and refunds,” said Snopes.
Norton confirmed that it has several emails for official correspondence:
norton@nortonlifelock.comnorton@secure.norton.comems@norton.com@lifelock@secure.norton.com@information@mail.nortonstore.hk
But if you’re ever sceptical, it’s best to directly contact Norton (or any other brand) through an email or phone number listed on the official website.
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