Scammers using new enhanced phishing emails with malicious links to hack victims, security experts tell ABC7 I-Team
Share this @internewscast.com

CHICAGO (WLS) — Scammers are upping their game with more sophisticated phishing emails. One tech security group is alerting the ABC7 I-Team about the new problem.

The new, more enhanced phishing attempts could look exactly like the login page of an email when the link is clicked.

Security experts say they are so convincing that even well-trained users and experts can be vulnerable.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Check Point Research said in a recent 30-day period, it uncovered 200,000 of the new phishing emails that can fool users and their computer’s security systems, mostly in the U.S.

“What they’re doing is manipulating the URL to make something that is bad look good,” said Jeremy Fuchs with Check Point Software. “So when you click on it, you’re none the wiser that this is actually a bad website, and your security systems are also likely none the wiser. So it takes you to a site that, for all intents and purposes looks good, but, in fact is not.”

If the link is clicked, hackers can install malware onto devices and even hold it hostage, or they try to get users to give up personal login information. The new phishing links can look like landing pages to email accounts, an important “document” to review or a request for signatures.

“If there’s ever any suspicion… obviously report it… whether it’s your IT team or to, you know, Gmail or Microsoft,” Fuchs said. “And it’s tricky, because the idea is to make it look legitimate, and so we always sort of unfortunately have to have our guards up.”

South suburban Romeoville resident Mark Geary said he’s avoided several phishing attempts. One asked him to click on a link to get an auto insurance “refund,” which he knew wasn’t real because he wasn’t supposed to be getting any refund and the email wasn’t even from the same company he is under.

“I called my insurance agent as soon as I got it, and he said it was a scam, so don’t click on it,” Geary said. “And they can literally wipe out so many savings accounts. It’s pretty dangerous, actually.

What can be done to stop enhanced phishing?

All software, including email systems and web browsers, should be kept up to date with the latest security patches. This will prevent cyber criminals from exploiting vulnerabilities through which phishing attacks can be executed.

“Advanced email security solutions” like spam filtering, anti-phishing and malware detection can also be implemented. This will detect and block the most sophisticated of phishing attempts.

Email users should also consider updating “redirection rules.” This is a set of instructions that dictates how the server should handle certain requests or messages.

It may seem like a long list, but it may be worth it. Experts say AI is making it easier for criminals to code and enhance the phishing links.

“It is now significantly easier, much more efficient and cost effective,” Fuchs said. “And you don’t need as much technical knowledge as you might have. Now, you know, with a few simple prompts… and that’s what’s accelerating this.”

The best rule to remember is to not click on any link in an inbox unless something specific is expected. Even if it looks like it is coming from a coworker or employer, people should reach out to that person directly to make sure they sent it.

Geary said he reported his phishing emails to the Better Business Bureau. People can also report them to the Federal Trade Commission, or if money is lost, it can be reported to the FBI.

Resources

Better Business Bureau: https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam#::text=Report%20a%20Scam,at%20BBB.org%2Fscamtracker.

Federal Trade Commission: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/

FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: https://www.ic3.gov/

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Chris Philp, Shadow Home Secretary, speaking to reporters.

Calls for a National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs Intensify as Conservatives Push for Investigation into ‘Horrendous’ Offenses

LABOUR MPs will be put under pressure as Tories force a vote…
South Dakota is on track to spend $2 billion on prisons in the next decade

South Dakota Set to Allocate $2 Billion for Prisons Over the Next 10 Years

In Sioux Falls, S.D., two years after implementing a stringent crime sentencing…
Protestors at night burning debris in a city street.

Resistance Fighter Warns that Iran’s Brutality is Surging – Regime Approaching a Breaking Point

THERE is “no doubt” Iran would use a nuclear bomb on its…
American Airlines plane landing.

American Airlines Plane Forced to Make Emergency Landing Due to ‘Mechanical Failure’; Investigation Uncovers Loose Parts on Another Jet

AN American Airlines jet was forced to make an emergency landing just…
Tony Awards cap a record-breaking post-pandemic Broadway season

Record-Setting Broadway Season Concludes with Tony Awards Celebration

The New York theater community concludes a record-breaking season by presenting the…
Tony Awards 2025: Cynthia Erivo to host Broadway's biggest night

Cynthia Erivo Set to Host the 2025 Tony Awards: Celebrating Broadway’s Premier Event

Broadway has had a stuffed season with seemingly something for everyone and…
Stream It Or Skip It?

Watch or Pass?

Providing context in the debut episode of a series can be one…
Family calls for release of Sarasota honor student detained by ICE

Family Urges Release of Sarasota Honor Student Held by ICE

Maria “Lulu” Martinez moved to the U.S. with her family when she…
Iran rapper Tataloo, Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, faces death penalty

Iranian Rapper Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, known as Tataloo, could receive death sentence

The tattoos on Iranian rapper Tataloo’s face are prominent against the gray…
Judge approves athlete payment plan in landmark college sports decision

NCAA House Settlement: What It Means for the Future of College Sports

The agreement marks a pivotal change for schools, acknowledging that their athletes…
Salmonella outbreak linked to egg recall sickens dozens

Dozens Fall Ill Due to Egg-Related Salmonella Outbreak

The recall covers Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington…
What to know about Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to LA protests

Understanding Trump’s Decision to Deploy National Guard Troops to LA Protests

President Donald Trump has announced the deployment of 2,000 California National Guard…