Hackers Using Fake Valentine’s Day Websites for Cyber Attacks

Cybercriminals are creating fake Valentine’s Day-themed websites using words like “love,” “gift,” and “Valentine” to steal personal and financial information. These scams include phishing emails, fake online stores, and romance frauds, tricking people into revealing sensitive data or downloading malware.

Surge in Fake Valentine’s Websites

  • Over 18,000 new Valentine’s Day-related domains were registered in January.
  • A 39% rise compared to the previous month.
  • 1 in 8 of these websites is malicious or suspicious.

How Cybercriminals Are Attacking Users:

  • Fake Online Stores: Imitating real websites to steal credit card details.
  • Phishing Emails & Messages: Scammers send emails titled “Exclusive Valentine’s Deals” leading to fake pages.
  • AI-Powered Romance Scams: Fake dating profiles use AI chatbots to gain trust and steal money.
  • Malware-Infected Links: Clicking on fake “Valentine’s Gift” links may download malware to your device.

Common Phishing Traps:

  •  “Get a Free Valentine’s Gift – Click to Claim!”
  •  “Romantic Getaway Special Offer – Book Now”
  •  “Win a Surprise Valentine’s Gift – Limited Time!”

How to Stay Safe:

  • Verify Websites: Only shop from official and well-known online stores.
  • Avoid Clicking Unknown Links: If you receive an email or message about a Valentine’s offer, double-check the sender.
  • Beware of Fake Profiles: Romance scammers pretend to be interested before asking for money.
  • Use Strong Cybersecurity Tools: NPAV’s Anti-Phishing & Fraud Protection can block fake websites and prevent scams.

Hackers are exploiting the Valentine’s Day season to launch phishing and romance scams. To stay safe, always verify websites, avoid clicking unknown links, and use a trusted cybersecurity solution like Net Protector Antivirus (NPAV) to protect your data.

Stay Secure This Valentine’s Day with NPAV!