This DANGEROUS money-stealing Gmail scam is back; Don’t fall for it, protect yourself THIS way

A vicious Gmail scam which used to steal financial data of victims has made its return. The scam uses a very unique method to trap people. Know how it works and how to protect yourself.

A scary money-stealing Gmail scam has come back to haunt users. Know how to protect yourself from it. (HT_PRINT)

Gmail scam: In 2021, during the second wave of the pandemic, a new scam broke out. On the surface, it was just a new take on the classic phishing scam, but it added a new layer to it which made duping people easier. For the unaware, phishing scams are those scams where scammers send a fraudulent message designed to trick a person into revealing sensitive information. In this particular scam, hackers would pretend to be delivery service agents from DHL and request a small payment to confirm the order over email on Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook and other platforms. While it can be difficult to identify whether you are being scammed, there are a few simple steps you can take to ensure protection from scammers. Read on to find out.

Scary Gmail scam makes a return, can steal money from users

As more people have begun purchasing online, doorstep deliveries have become a common affair. People do not even think twice before accepting an order which comes from various delivery services. And this is the space the scammers have decided to target. According to a report by The Express, the Gmail scam begins with the victim receiving an email that appears to be sent by DHL. The email even addresses the victim by the name in the email to appear authentic. Do note that DHL is not involved in this scam in any way and it's the scammers who use the name in order to appear credible.

In the email, the user is given a tracking id for an order and is informed that DHL has received a package which is to be delivered to the recipient of the mail. The email also mentions that before the package can be scheduled for delivery, the company needs to confirm the address. It is followed by a link that the user is supposed to click in order to confirm the address.

If a victim falls for it, they are taken to a fake website where after confirming the address, they are asked to make a small payment as administration fee. Once the victim makes the payment, the scammer is able to collect their full name, credit card details and address of the victim which they can later use to steal money from their bank accounts. If you are concerned about this Gmail scam, then don't be. While the scammers try to make it look authentic, there are some ways you can find out that it is fake. Check below to find out.

How to protect yourself from the Gmail scam

Step 1:

If you do receive an email, always check the link URL. According to The Express, the link says BHL instead of DHL.

Step 2:

The same spelling can also be seen once you visit the website. The website also has a picture of a UPS truck, which DHL would never post as it is a rival company.

Step 3:

Finally, no delivery service ever asks the end customer to pay administration fees. If you’ve been asked it is almost certainly a scam so never make a payment like this.

Step 4:

You should also keep track of all your orders and if you find an email like this, confirm with the retailer first.