Scammers Love Barbie! India Amongst Top 3 Countries Witnessing Malware: McAfee Research

* Free Downloads And Ticketing Scams Leading To Theft Of Personal Data And Financial Information

Researchers from McAfee, an online protection company, have discovered a slew of new online scams as cybercriminals look to cash in on the mega blockbuster. Following a record-breaking opening weekend, McAfee is encouraging caution as consumers search ‘Barbie’-related items online and may be more vulnerable to falling for a scam.

As Barbie makes her debut on the big screen, scammers are aiming to cash in on the blockbuster. A rash of scams have cropped up online, including bogus dubbed downloads of the film that install malware, Barbie-related viruses, and fake videos that point people to free tickets—but lead to links that steal personal info with spyware instead. India was also found to be amongst the top 3 countries facing such scams.

"Cybercriminals are always on the lookout for opportunities to make phishing and other scams more attractive and believable," said Steve Grobman, Chief Technology Officer at online protection company, McAfee, "They often leverage popular and well-publicized events such as movie premieres, concerts, or sporting events to trick users into clicking on malicious links."

Fans lining up to see “Barbie” can steer clear of these attacks if they know what to look for. Here are a few examples of what McAfee researchers have discovered.

Examples of the Barbie fake download scam

In India, McAfee has seen several examples of malicious campaigns that attempt to trick victims into downloading the “Barbie” movie in different languages. By clicking the link, it prompts victims to download a .zip file, which is packed with malware.