"We ran a scan of the internet for a few brands that are related to summer fashion, and we found an increase in websites that are scams impersonating the brands or sending counterfeits. We've also seen an increase in travel scams around airlines or known hotel chains," said Yoav Keren.
He's the CEO of BrandShield, a cybersecurity company that detects phishing threats, impersonator websites, and counterfeit sales so they can be removed. If you're shopping online to update your vacation wardrobe or even book a trip, one wrong click could lead to major problems for consumers. "Scammers or the cyber criminals will get their financial information, their credentials, sometimes they'll infiltrate their computers or their networks," Keren warns.BrandShield found imposter websites posing as the popular brands Billabong and Speedo. They also found imposters of major airlines including Jet Blue, Delta, and American.
Imposter websites are becoming more and more convincing as scammers copy the legitimate brand's imaging, even content and verbiage.If you think you've been scammed, contact your bank or financial institution as soon as possible. You can also report fake websites to Google for review.