"Costco Issues Scam Warning"
Costco Wholesale Corporation is warning its customers to be wary of more than a dozen digital scams. On its website, they published screenshots of 14 "prominent fraudulent emails, texts, and posts" in which cyber-criminals are impersonating Costco. The majority of the traps use financial benefits to lure victims, promising free products, financial reimbursements, exclusive offers, cash-back rewards, and gift cards worth $50. Many try to trick victims into sharing their personal information by asking them to take a short survey to claim a prize. Cyber-criminals impersonating Costco are also exploiting the coronavirus pandemic as well. One scam tells shoppers that a Covid-19 stimulus package consisting of $130 of free merchandise will be given to "loyal Costco members" who fill in a customer survey. Other social engineering tactics deployed by threat actors include the exploitation of Americans seeking employment. One scam email falsely told the recipient that Costco was "currently taking interviews for positions in your area that pay up to $21.00 per hour." After sharing their personal details, the adversary told the target that they would receive confirmation of a job interview with the company. Costco stated that one should not visit any links provided in messages such as these and that people should not give the sender any personal information.