Scammers Use Fake MegaUpload Sites to Spread Phishing Scams

One of the largest file sharing sites on the Internet, Megaupload.com, was recently shutdown by the U.S. government. Reasons for shutting down Megaupload comes about as government agencies start to crackdown on online piracy in an attempt to 'govern' scammers on the Internet.

Government agencies can do what they want to govern the Internet, but we know first-hand how scammers are always one step ahead. In knowing this, it does not surprise us to discover that scammers have recently taken advantage of the closing of Megaupload to carryout clever phishing scams.

Cybercriminals are now jumping through hurdles to exploit the closing of Megaupload through witty phishing scams. These phishing scams come about from fake news stories about a supposed re-launch of Megaupload. Because Megaupload.com was one of the Internet's largest file sharing sites, there are potentially thousands of users who wish to retrieve their files uploaded to the service. Additionally, Megaupload is a very hot topic on the Internet right now. You may not be able to decipher a legitimate news story about Megaupload from a fake one.

Wouldn't it be good news for file sharers to hear that Megaupload.com may be re-launched? Unfortunately, that news is part of a scam that ultimately leads curious users to phishing sites designed to pilfer personal data. Those who may run across fake news about Megaupload re-launching, may find themselves being redirected to a phishing site through a link. The phishing sites are known not only to steal personal information, but some of them allegedly promote being an anti-spyware program.

How to Recognize Phishing Sites Exploiting the Shutdown of Megaupload

The good news to come out of scammers flooding the Internet with clever phishing scams that exploit a re-launch of Megaupload, is that you can easily recognize such sites by trying a couple of things. One way to determine if a site is a phishing site is by looking for spelling errors. Another way is to see if the site accepts fake login credentials. If a site continues to load accepting a bogus (made-up) login and password, then chances are it is a phishing site designed to steal login data.

File sharing over the Internet has received more than its fair share of scrutiny lately due to the controversy over SOPA/PIPA (the Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Act bills). Even though those bills gained worldwide attention and a new-found opposition by many virtually stopping it dead in its tracks, there are still forces at work attempting to shutdown file sharing sites such as Megaupload. It seems scammers will always have something new up their sleeves no matter how government agencies across the world attempt to control malicious activities over the Internet.