That campaign, which has been active for months, involves thousands of phishing websites that mimic the design and product listings of well-known retailers — including Apple, PayPal, Nordstrom, Hermès, and Michael Kors — to trick users into entering their credit card information. Researchers at Bahrain-based cybersecurity firm CTM360 said they identified more than 17,000 such sites, which publish fake stories featuring prominent public figures, including national leaders and central bank governors. Earlier in July, researchers uncovered a sprawling network of fraudulent retail websites impersonating major global brands in an effort to steal payment data from online shoppers. Clicking these articles leads to fraudulent investment platforms — often branded as Eclipse Earn, Solara or Vynex — that promise high returns through automated crypto trading, the researchers said. These platforms are professionally designed to appear legitimate, featuring fake dashboards, manipulated profit data and fabricated testimonials, CTM360 said. While it is unclear how much money the criminals have stolen, researchers noted that the personal and financial data collected is often resold on the dark web or reused in future phishing and fraud campaigns. The scam spans more than 50 countries, with websites tailored to local audiences by using native languages, regional celebrities and well-known financial institutions to appear credible, CTM360 said. Cybercriminals are faking popular news websites such as CNN, BBC and CNBC to trick people into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes, according to a new report. The articles falsely linked those figures to “fabricated investment schemes in order to build trust and get engagement from victims,” the researchers said. When users attempt to withdraw their supposed earnings, they encounter a series of delays and obstacles, including demands for additional fees, new minimum balance requirements, or extended verification procedures. The scheme typically begins with ads placed on platforms like Google and Meta, which redirect users to bogus news articles.
This Cyber News was published on therecord.media. Publication date: Wed, 09 Jul 2025 13:40:14 +0000