DHL: The Most Imitated Brand in Phishing
The proliferation of online shopping during the pandemic has facilitated the need for commerce to adapt and has given rise to the dependence on companies such as Amazon, UPS and Fed-Ex. They provide the comfort of delivering packages, food and a breadth of other items directly to your door without ever having to step outside.
This, of course, has given rise to many phishing scams taking advantage of the convenience these companies offer when making everyday purchases. In fact, many of the top brands impersonated over the past year have been shipping companies including the #1 spot on that list.
The international shipping company, DHL, has quickly become the most targeted company for phishing scams over the past year accounting for roughly 23% of all phishing scams on a global scale, pushing them past the typical leader, Microsoft, by a few percentage points.
What the scam looks like
In this scam, hackers utilize a technique called brand impersonation to disguise themselves as a trusted company. When hackers use brand impersonation, they take advantage of your trust in a recognizable company name. They also use various social engineering tactics to get you to lower your guard. The most important tactic at play is creating a sense of urgency. Scammers know that if you feel rushed to take action, you are more likely to look past any red flags, and ultimately fall victim to their con.
In this particular scam, the victim receives an email that includes the DHL logo and mimics the brand’s style informing them of a mistake with their address. In order for their package to arrive that day, they need to follow the provided link to re-enter their correct address.
This link, of course, sends victims to a fake page where any information entered would go directly to the hackers. All of which is used to develop a more comprehensive profile on you in order to commit fraud.
How to combat this type of scam
Be hyper-vigilant when shopping online
It’s a lot harder to determine if a product purchased online is real or as described, so being a keen internet shopper is key to avoiding scams and getting the best deals. After the purchase, be sure to keep track of which packages you’re expecting and when.
Double check where the package(s) will be shipping from and which service will be shipping them
DHL and other shipping companies ship products all around the globe, making it easier for hackers to take advantage of your shopping habits since there are so many more places where they can intercept without ever being noticed. Checking the original tracking number of the product should help fight some of the misdirection created by a scammer.
Check the URL of any link in an email to make sure it is legitimate
Inspecting the URL is a simple and effective way for determining whether you are being sent to an actual site or one intending to steal your information.
Look for spelling errors, grammar mistakes, falsehoods or other suspicious material
Most reputable companies have their documents reviewed by numerous people before their customers see them. If anything seems suspicious or off about the material you receive in an email, it probably means it is.
The ease of use and expedited nature of online shopping make it one of the go-to means for getting many products these days. With that comes hackers looking to make you their next victim, but if you follow these simple steps, you’ll know what to look for. From there, you can take the appropriate action to avoid being another scam victim.
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