Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

Pinterest Exploited by Scammers
Pinterest Exploited by Scammers

What is Pinterest? According to Pinterest.com, it is a virtual pinboard. Pinterest allows you to organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. With Pinterest, you can add a page and pin images from it. Once you pin, others will be able to view your Pins. If persons want to view the source of the images or Pins, they can click on it and will be redirect there.

Now, if a scammer sets up a malicious website and pins an image that will grab a lot of attention;

examples:

  • celebrity photos
  • beautiful women
  • expensive houses and cars
  • people fighting
  • accidents

naturally, people will click on it for more information. Persons who click on the image or Pin (set up by the scammer) will be taken to the malicious website, where their computers can be infected with a malicious software (virus, trojan horse, spyware, malware).

Also, the scammer can Pin images that link back to advertisements and survey websites (where you are asked to complete a form), that the scammers will be paid for.

Be careful when viewing Pins on Pinterest.com. Ensure that you have an updated anti-virus / anti-spyware software installed on your computer.

Report any malicious Pins by clicking the "Report Pin" button.

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