Bitdefender Antispam Lab has tracked these tailor made scams starting from June 23
The recent search for the Titanic-bound submersible operated by OceanGate Expeditions ended in tragedy for the five explorers involved. Unfortunately, scammers wasted no time in exploiting the incident for their own gain.
Shortly after the US Coast Guard announced the discovery of the submersible’s debris, fraudulent individuals began orchestrating scams related to the tragedy. Bitdefender Antispam Lab, an organization focused on combating cyber threats, tracked these tailor-made scams starting from June 23.
In one version of the scam, fraudsters impersonated Christine Dawood, who allegedly lost her husband Shahzada and son Suleman in the OceanGate submersible incident. The scam emails, originating from IP addresses in the US, targeted English-speaking countries such as the US, UK, Australia, and Ireland.
The emails introduced Dawood and her alleged decision to donate a significant sum of money ($US18.5 million) deposited by her late husband in a Canadian bank for charitable purposes. The scammers exploited media articles and rumours about Dawood’s health to add credibility to their scheme.
In another version of the scam, individuals posing as lawyers representing the late Shahzada Dawood contacted users, promising them a share of the family’s fortune. To facilitate the transfer of funds, recipients were asked to provide personal information, including their name, phone number, address, and a separate email address for further communication.
These email-based scams highlight how fraudsters continuously update their tactics, tailoring their attacks to exploit current events and add new twists to existing scams.
Unfortunately, this ongoing campaign taking advantage of the OceanGate incident is yet another iteration of the traditional advance fee scheme, where victims are tricked into wiring money for various reasons, such as bank guarantees, taxes, legal fees, or other banking requirements, with the promise of receiving a promised reward.
Recipients who respond to the emails or provide their contact information may be persuaded to continue the conversation on instant messaging apps like WhatsApp. Through these platforms, scammers will attempt to extract sensitive information and convince victims to transfer money.
Tragic and cataclysmic events have become prime targets for cybercriminals in recent years, with scams exploiting topics ranging from the pandemic to conflicts in Ukraine, and humanitarian crises in Turkey and Syria.
It is crucial for individuals to remain vigilant, exercise caution, and verify the authenticity of any unexpected or suspicious emails or messages they receive, especially in the wake of significant events that may be exploited by scammers.
