Researchers have uncovered a rise in phishing campaigns exploiting spoofed email addresses to evade detection. By leveraging old and neglected domains lacking DNS records, attackers bypass security mechanisms like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. These domains, often unused for decades, make phishing emails appear more legitimate and less likely to be flagged as malicious. The emails frequently contain lures such as tax-related themes written in Mandarin or QR codes that direct victims to phishing sites designed to steal sensitive information.
One campaign, active since late 2022, distributes emails with QR code attachments urging recipients to scan the codes using apps like AliPay or WeChat. These phishing sites often lock documents behind passwords provided in the email, tricking users into entering personal and financial details. Other campaigns impersonate popular brands like Amazon, Mastercard, and SMBC, redirecting victims to fraudulent login pages to harvest credentials. These tactics also include traffic distribution systems (TDSes) to increase the effectiveness of the attacks.
Extortion phishing is another significant trend, with attackers sending emails that claim a recipient’s device has been compromised. The emails spoof the recipient’s own address as “proof” of the hack and demand Bitcoin payments to prevent the release of fabricated compromising material. These campaigns prey on users’ fear and attempt to coerce them into transferring money under false pretenses.
Additionally, a phishing campaign named “Butcher Shop” has targeted legal, government, and construction sectors, focusing on stealing Microsoft 365 credentials. Attackers use trusted platforms like Canva, Dropbox DocSend, and Google AMP to redirect victims to malicious sites. Some campaigns also exploit compromised WordPress sites and use Cloudflare Turnstile pages to evade detection. Meanwhile, SMS phishing, particularly in the UAE, has impersonated law enforcement, sending fake traffic violation requests linked to phishing sites controlled by a group known as Smishing Triad.
