Adware is a type of software that's purpose is advertising.
Many of these programs are distributed all over the Internet as free
applications. Although some adware products are legitimate, a lot of fraudsters
are continuing to create their own adware applications, mainly for perpetrating
online payment fraud. These are often bundled with illegal content downloads
like copyrighted materials in P2P (peer to peer) sites, or injected into
popular software products and websites.
Today, there are numerous reports of malicious adware
programs, some of which are falsely promoted as legitimate advertising-powered
productivity tools. Many users recently posted complaints in Big Scammers,
claiming that their mobile devices have been compromised by adware applications
designed to log all their inputs. They later realized that their stolen details
were used to commit online payment fraud. This caused them to rack up huge
debts, and some who have yet to report the incident ended up with ruined credit
scores.
Since mobile payment processing is rapidly being adopted by a
lot of countries all around the world, more users are expected to end up with
stolen financial accounts, which can then be used to commit online payment fraud. Upon observing relevant trends in the mobile market for the past few
years, lots of cyber security experts claim that more than 50% of the world's
total mobile user population would most likely be victimized by some sort of
scam or malware program at one time or another by the end of 2018.
How is Adware Used for Online Payment
Fraud?
Some adware programs are designed to place fake ads of wildly
popular products, irresistible money-making offers and the like. Users are
taken to fake websites that look exactly like widely used Web platforms.
For example, users with compromised devices who regularly shop
in Amazon are shown bogus ads of products that are relevant to their most
recent searches. When unsuspecting users click the ad, they're taken to a site
that looks exactly like Amazon. They're then asked to send money through
cash-only remittance outlets and money transmitters, in order for them to get a
huge discount on their purchase. That's one of the many ways how adware is
currently being used to trick users and lure them into this online payment
fraud.
Rogue system security tools are also classified as malicious
adware programs. These are distributed all over the Internet as
advertising-powered online privacy and system security applications. Many users
are tricked into installing these products, which are promoted as free tools
for defending popular devices against malware, spyware, worms and the like.
What unsuspecting users don't know is that these fake tools are designed to
perpetuate online payment fraud.
Once installed, users get messages that are laced with scare
rhetoric and fake urgency claims. These are displayed prominently in their
devices. They're alerted about non-existent security breaches and privacy
risks. To remove the bogus threats, users are forced to pay for the premium
version of the fake product. Many variants of this online payment fraud have
surfaced over the years, such as fake tech support schemes.
To learn more about the latest malicious adware programs on
the Internet today, you can sign up at BigScammers.Com. you'll receive timely
email alerts from this website whenever a user posts or updates a scam
complaint in Big Scammers. You can also readily access a repository of updated
guides and resource materials, which are designed to help you recognize
possible malware programs that are designed to commit online payment fraud.
