Why do the Social Engineering, Phishing, and Email Scams work?
They prey on the emotional state of celebrity fans and their natural curiosity to find out more about the person that just died. There can also be a willingness to trust a site or company claiming to have exclusive information and merchandise or that does such a good job with the content and promotion that fans assume the people behind the scam feel the same way they do about the celebrity. Types of Scams Memorabilia – Fraudsters are counting on emotional fans to make impulse purchases. The sites look legitimate and may even have testimonials, however usually no products are delivered. The credit card information provided for the “purchase” is used for fraudulent use, perhaps giving enough info to open other accounts in the consumer’s name. Celebrity Charities – Look legit and are full of emotional appeals such as “keep his vision alive”, “help others get the cure that she so desperately wanted…”. Again, the consumer “donates” online with a credit card and the account info can be used
