Security software vendor AppRiver this week is warning Internet users of a new phishing scam disguised as a benign public opinion poll that’s actually a ruse designed to perpetrate identity theft.
As eSecurity Planet reports, the scam is contained in an unsolicited email offering a $150 reward for filling out a survey and submitting a bunch of personal information including users’ driver’s license numbers and credit card details.
Security researchers at AppRiver said the campaign appears to be a cut-and-paste version of a previous phishing campaign that used McDonald’s as the false front. Instead of submitting the questionnaire to Coca-Cola, the information is actually transmitted via a malicious website to hackers who most likely intend to use the data to steal victims’ identity, spread more malware or other nefarious purposes.
Scams of this sort have become an almost daily occurrence, according to leading antivirus software vendors, targeting the likes of PayPal, Whole Foods, Apple and dozens of other popular online and bricks-and-mortar retailers.
In almost every instance, the come-on offers people either cash or gift cards in exchange for filling out forms requesting a variety of personal data including their mother’s maiden names, driver’s license numbers and credit card or bank account details.