{"id":225541,"date":"2026-01-16T05:00:04","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T13:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?p=225541"},"modified":"2026-01-15T11:34:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T19:34:24","slug":"this-week-in-scams-fake-brand-messages-and-account-takeovers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/this-week-in-scams-fake-brand-messages-and-account-takeovers\/","title":{"rendered":"This Week in Scams: Fake Brand Messages and Account Takeovers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This week in\u00a0scams, social engineering sits at the\u00a0center\u00a0of several major headlines, from investment platform breaches to social media account takeovers and new warnings about AI-driven fraud.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Every week, this roundup breaks down the\u00a0scam\u00a0and cybersecurity stories making news and explains how they\u00a0actually work, so readers can better recognize risk and avoid being manipulated.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Let\u2019s\u00a0get into it:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"3\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Betterment\u00a0Warns Customers of Breach<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:281,&quot;335559739&quot;:281}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The big picture:<\/span><\/b><br \/>\n<span data-contrast=\"auto\">Attackers accessed\u00a0third-party\u00a0systems\u00a0used by\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Betterment<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, then used\u00a0the information they stole to impersonate\u00a0the company, contact customers, and promise\u00a0scam\u00a0crypto investment opportunities\u00a0with too-good-to-be-true returns.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What happened:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Attackers used\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">social engineering<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0to compromise third-party tools Betterment uses for marketing and operations,\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2026\/01\/12\/fintech-firm-betterment-confirms-data-breach-after-hackers-send-fake-crypto-scam-notification-to-users\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">as reported by\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">TechCrunch<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">With access to internal systems, they sent messages to customers that appeared legitimate.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The messages promised to\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">triple crypto holdings<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0if recipients sent $10,000 to a wallet controlled by the\u00a0attackers, a\u00a0classic \u201csend money to get more back\u201d lure, later\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/news\/860106\/betterment-crypto-scam-notification\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">detailed by\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Verge<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Betterment says no account logins or passwords were compromised, but personal data like names, contact details, and dates of birth were exposed,\u00a0enough to make the messages feel real.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Red flags to watch for:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Promises of guaranteed or multiplied crypto returns<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Requests to send money first to \u201cunlock\u201d a benefit<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Messages tied to a breach but asking for immediate action outside the app<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wpa-warning wpa-suspicious-alt aligncenter size-large wp-image-225542\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_8174-471x1024.png\" alt=\"An image of Betterment's email to customers.\" width=\"471\" height=\"1024\" data-warning=\"Suspicious alt text\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_8174-471x1024.png 471w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_8174-138x300.png 138w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_8174-768x1670.png 768w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_8174-706x1536.png 706w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_8174-942x2048.png 942w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_8174-59x129.png 59w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_8174.png 1206w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 471px) 100vw, 471px\" \/><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">An image of Betterment&#8217;s email to customers<\/div>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How the breach happened:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Social engineering is a type of\u00a0scam\u00a0that targets people rather than software or security systems. Instead of hacking code, scammers focus on\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">tricking someone into giving them access<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Attackers research how a company\u00a0operates, which tools it uses, and who is likely to have permissions. They then impersonate a trusted source, such as a vendor, coworker, or automated system, and send a realistic message asking for a routine action.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">That action might be approving a login, resetting credentials, sharing a file, or clicking a link. Once the person complies, the scammer gains legitimate access and can move through systems using real permissions. Social engineering works because it exploits trust, familiarity, and urgency, making normal workplace\u00a0behavior\u00a0the pathway to a breach.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"3\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Social Engineering Scams\u00a0Fueled\u00a0by AI On\u00a0the\u00a0Rise<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:281,&quot;335559739&quot;:281,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Big picture:<\/span><\/b><br \/>\n<span data-contrast=\"auto\">Fraud is increasingly driven by impersonation, automation, and trust abuse rather than technical hacking, according to new industry forecasts.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What happened:<\/span><\/b><br \/>\n<span data-contrast=\"auto\">A new Future of Fraud Forecast from\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.experianplc.com\/newsroom\/press-releases\/2026\/experian-s-new-fraud-forecast-warns-agentic-ai--deepfake-job-can\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Experian<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0warns that fraudsters are rapidly weaponizing AI and identity manipulation. The report highlights agentic AI systems committing fraud autonomously, deepfake job candidates passing live interviews, cloned websites overwhelming takedown efforts, and emotionally intelligent bots running\u00a0scams\u00a0at scale.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The scope of the problem is already visible.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Federal Trade Commission<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0data shows\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">consumers lost more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024,<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0while\u00a0nearly 60%\u00a0of companies reported rising fraud losses between 2024 and 2025. Experian\u2019s forecast suggests these losses will accelerate as fraud becomes harder to attribute, trace, and interrupt.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Red flags to watch:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Requests or actions\u00a0initiated\u00a0without clear human ownership<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Identity verification steps that feel automated or unusually frictionless<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Transactions triggered by AI systems with unclear accountability<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 aria-level=\"3\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Phishing Scam Locks Users Out of X Accounts<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:281,&quot;335559739&quot;:281}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Big picture:\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Officials are warning of increasing phishing attacks that steal X users\u2019 accounts and then use their profile to sell crypto.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What happened:\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Better Business Bureau<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0issued a warning about phishing messages targeting users on<\/span>\u00a0X<span data-contrast=\"auto\">, particularly accounts with large followings. Victims receive direct messages that appear to come from colleagues or professional contacts, often asking them to click a link to support a contest, event, or opportunity.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Once the link is clicked, victims are locked out of their accounts. The compromised accounts are then used to promote cryptocurrency and other products, while automatically sending the same phishing message to\u00a0additional\u00a0contacts.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Red flags to watch:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Unsolicited direct messages\u00a0containing\u00a0links<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Requests framed as\u00a0favors, votes, or professional support<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sudden loss of account access after clicking a link<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How this happened and what to learn:<\/span><\/b><br \/>\n<span data-contrast=\"auto\">The\u00a0scam\u00a0relies on account impersonation and lateral spread. Instead of reaching strangers, attackers move through existing trust networks, using one compromised account to reach the next.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The takeaway is that familiarity does not equal legitimacy.\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Even messages from known contacts should be treated with caution when links or logins are involved.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">McAfee\u2019s Safety Tips for This Week<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:299,&quot;335559739&quot;:299}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Learn more about spotting phishing emails.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Don\u2019t\u00a0accidentally expose yourself, your friends, family, or workplace to scammers.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/media.mcafeeassets.com\/content\/dam\/npcld\/ecommerce\/en-us\/docs\/guides\/gd-phishing-security-guide.pdf\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Our ultimate phishing guide has real world examples<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and more practical tips.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Verify inside\u00a0official\u00a0apps\u00a0or sites.<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0If you get a security email,\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0click any links. Instead,\u00a0open the official app or type the website address yourself\u00a0for more information.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Watch your exposed data.<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0With tools like\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/google-ends-dark-web-report-what-that-means-and-how-to-stay-safe\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Google\u2019s Dark Web Monitoring going away<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, ongoing identity monitoring matters more than ever.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Stay alert to trending\u00a0scams.<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/tips-tricks\/how-to-spot-a-fake-glp-1-weight-loss-drug-before-you-buy\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Weight-loss drug fraud<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0like\u00a0Ozempic offers\u00a0is already surging in the new year, and awareness is your first\u00a0defense.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">McAfee will be back next week with another roundup of the\u00a0scams\u00a0making headlines\u00a0and the practical steps you can take to stay safer online.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This week in\u00a0scams, social engineering sits at the\u00a0center\u00a0of several major headlines, from investment platform breaches to social media account takeovers&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1440,"featured_media":198642,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10667,13],"tags":[],"coauthors":[16632],"class_list":["post-225541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-security-news","category-privacy-identity-protection"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>This Week in Scams: Fake Brand Messages and Account Takeovers | McAfee Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This week in\u00a0scams, social engineering sits at the\u00a0center\u00a0of several major headlines, from investment platform breaches to social media account takeovers\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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