Beware Of Barbie Scams - What You Should Know After The Recent Movie Release
The Barbie movie has captivated audiences around the world, breaking box office records and generating tremendous excitement and enthusiasm among fans. However, as with any major news story, cybercriminals are quick to exploit the fervor surrounding the film for their own malicious gain.
The Barbie movie, given its immense popularity, has become an ideal bait for cybercriminals looking to exploit the frenzy that surrounds it. Reports have surfaced of scams involving fake offers, related merchandise or products, and behind-the-scenes footage of the film, all designed to lure fans into compromising their data.
Phishing sites selling limited edition Barbie dolls
Demand for limited edition Barbie dolls has always been high, and cybercriminals have seized this opportunity to create fake websites claiming to offer exclusive dolls from the movie. Fans, unsuspecting and eager to acquire these collectibles, could unknowingly fall into the trap set, risking their personal and financial information. These scam websites mimic the look and functionality of legitimate online stores, making it difficult for users to spot the scam. To protect themselves, users should always verify the authenticity of websites before making any purchases and ensure that they are using secure payment gateways.
Watching "Barbie movie online for free" can be very expensive.
The attackers also offer to stream the Barbie movie online for free, with the intention of obtaining users’ banking access credentials. As irresistible bait they will offer the ability to watch the Barbie movie almost for free by only paying a small fee (~$1) for registration, where users link their bank card. Then, they will use the access credentials to the victim’s bank account to schedule unauthorized payments or make transfers from said account to wallets or accounts that are difficult to trace.
"Redline Stealer" malware from Barbie movie videos
But this does not happen only with the premiere of Barbie and the desire to watch online or download Barbie online, this type of scam can be extrapolated to any other film or series that is a trend. As excitement builds around the release of a major movie, fans will be looking for leaked behind-the-scenes videos and exclusive content.
Cyber criminals are well aware of this behavior and have embedded malware, such as Redline Stealer, into fake video links to the movie. When users click these seemingly authentic video links to download the clips, the malware is installed on their devices, giving attackers unauthorized access to sensitive information such as login credentials, financial data, and personal files. .
More than 100 instances of these fake links have been observed in the last month. 37% of these attacks have focused on the US and 6% on Australia. These direct unsuspecting victims to a website or a Discord server. There, victims unknowingly download “Redline Stealer” malware (other malware is also being used) disguised as an .exe file. This malware then extracts personal information, login information, and more from the victim’s device.
Preventing Phishing Attacks: Stay One Step Ahead
People and organizations must implement security measures to protect themselves against phishing attacks, in this article we talk about Barbie phishing scams but regardless of the bait you have to be forewarned. Here are some proactive steps to protect yourself and your business from falling victim to these scams:
- Employee training and awareness: Education is the first line of defense against phishing attacks. Organizations should conduct awareness sessions to keep employees informed about the latest phishing tactics and how to recognize suspicious emails, websites, or messages. Simulated phishing exercises can also help identify areas that need improvement.
Multi-Factor - Authentication (MFA): Enabling multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to user accounts by requiring additional verification beyond passwords. Even if attackers manage to obtain login credentials, MFA makes it significantly more difficult for attackers to gain unauthorized access.
- Robust email security measures: Email remains one of the main avenues for phishing attacks. Implementing advanced email security solutions that include anti-phishing filters and domain authentication protocols can help prevent malicious emails from reaching users’ inboxes.
- Ensure safe downloads: If employees cannot technically be prevented from accessing unauthorized websites, we advise organizations to proactively direct their users to official platforms where they can download legitimate company programs and files, advising that the use of any other means, on corporate devices, is totally prohibited.
Remember that Kymatio® is the “all-in-one” solution for employee cyber risk management, information security awareness and credential exposure risk management, rely on the most advanced solution on the market to minimize risks.
