Recently, the Secretariat of Citizen Security of Mexico City issued an alert about a new type of cyber scam that has spread through WhatsApp, leveraging the themes of 'Halloween' and 'Day of the Dead'. In this deception, cybercriminals promise victims attractive 'Halloween Carnival Gifts', but their goal is to steal personal and financial information. The Cyber Police Unit of the aforementioned capital dependency has investigated and documented this type of fraud.
One of the hooks used in this scheme is the inclusion of fake comments from supposed winners on the site to build trust with the victims. When entering the site, people are invited to complete a survey to access the supposed gifts. Once the survey is finished, the site displays a section that simulates the selection of a prize, assuring that the person has 'won'.
To claim the prize, victims are asked to enter their personal data and share the survey with their contacts, creating a viral effect that spreads the scam to a larger number of people. This method is commonly used by scammers to attract their victims. It is essential to distrust messages offering gifts or unexpected benefits, as well as to be cautious with links and protect personal data.
To avoid falling victim to this type of scam, it is important to verify the sender's identity, distrust unachievable offers, pay attention to errors in fraudulent messages, and avoid sharing sensitive information or forwarding messages without verifying their truthfulness. Additionally, it is recommended to keep applications updated, enable two-step verification in messaging apps, change passwords regularly, and contact the bank immediately if bank information has been accidentally shared.
In summary, in the face of the increasing proliferation of cyber scams like the 'Halloween Carnival Gifts', it is essential to maintain caution and online security to protect against possible fraud and safeguard personal and financial information.
