TxTag Takedown: Busting Phishing Email Schemes
Summary:
The Cofense Phishing Defense Center has identified a new phishing campaign that impersonates government toll services to trick recipients into providing personal and financial data. The attack uses a .gov-looking email (iot@subscriptions[.]in[.]gov) sent via GovDelivery (a legitimate tool used by government agencies to communicate broadly with the public across a variety of topics) to falsely claim the recipient has unpaid toll fees. It instills urgency by warning of penalties or vehicle registration holds if immediate action isn't taken. Despite inconsistencies, such as the use of Indiana’s GovDelivery system for a message claiming to be from Texas, the phishing email mimics the branding of legitimate toll services and uses a deceptive domain (txtag-help[.]xyz). Victims who click the link are directed through a series of realistic-looking webpages that request personal details and credit card information, ultimately designed to harvest sensitive data under the guise of resolving a toll balance.
Security Officer Comments:
This type of phishing tactic is effective in incorporating both a sense of authority and urgency, effectively luring recipients. By impersonating a government entity and using tools commonly associated with official communications such as GovDelivery, the attackers establish trust and legitimacy. The inclusion of realistic branding and a professional layout further lowers suspicion. Simultaneously, the threat of fines or legal consequences creates a time-sensitive dilemma, prompting users to act quickly without verifying the message’s authenticity. This sense of urgency short-circuits rational thinking, making users more susceptible to manipulation.
Suggested Corrections:
Users should always be cautious of individuals or organizations that ask for personal information. Most companies will not ask for sensitive data from their customers. If in doubt, users should verify with the company itself to avoid any potential issues.
Users should always take a close look at the sender’s display name when checking the legitimacy of an email. Most companies use a single domain for their URLs and emails, so a message that originates from a different domain is a red flag.
As a general rule, users should not click links or download files even if they come from seemingly “trustworthy” sources.
Check for mismatched URLs. While an embedded URL might seem perfectly valid, hovering above it might show a different web address. In fact, users should avoid clicking links in emails unless they are certain that it is a legitimate link.
Users should always be on the lookout for any grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Legitimate companies will often employ proofreaders and editors who ensure that the materials they send out are error-free.
Users should not be frightened or intimidated by messages that have an alarmist tone. They should double check with the company if they are uncertain about the status of their accounts.
Phishing emails are designed to be sent to a large number of people, so they need to be as impersonal as possible. Users should check whether the message contains a generic subject and greeting, as this can be a sign of a phishing attempt.
Although not every end user has access to advanced anti-phishing software, they can still use the built-in protection of their email clients to filter messages. One example is setting the email client to block all images unless approved.
Legitimate companies will never send confirmation emails unless there are specific reasons for doing so. In fact, most companies will avoid sending unsolicited messages unless it’s for company updates, newsletters, or advertising purposes.
Users should always take the context of an email or message into account. For example, most online accounts do away with viewable member numbers, so users should be wary if they receive emails containing a “member number” for services that generally don’t use them.
It is important to take note of unusual information in the text of the message. Any mentions of operating systems and software that are not typically used by consumers can often be indicators of a phishing attempt.
If it seems suspicious, it probably is. Users should always err on the side of caution when it comes to sending out personally identifiable information through messages and emails.
Link(s):
https://cofense.com/blog/txtag-takedown-busting-phishing-email-schemes
The Cofense Phishing Defense Center has identified a new phishing campaign that impersonates government toll services to trick recipients into providing personal and financial data. The attack uses a .gov-looking email (iot@subscriptions[.]in[.]gov) sent via GovDelivery (a legitimate tool used by government agencies to communicate broadly with the public across a variety of topics) to falsely claim the recipient has unpaid toll fees. It instills urgency by warning of penalties or vehicle registration holds if immediate action isn't taken. Despite inconsistencies, such as the use of Indiana’s GovDelivery system for a message claiming to be from Texas, the phishing email mimics the branding of legitimate toll services and uses a deceptive domain (txtag-help[.]xyz). Victims who click the link are directed through a series of realistic-looking webpages that request personal details and credit card information, ultimately designed to harvest sensitive data under the guise of resolving a toll balance.
Security Officer Comments:
This type of phishing tactic is effective in incorporating both a sense of authority and urgency, effectively luring recipients. By impersonating a government entity and using tools commonly associated with official communications such as GovDelivery, the attackers establish trust and legitimacy. The inclusion of realistic branding and a professional layout further lowers suspicion. Simultaneously, the threat of fines or legal consequences creates a time-sensitive dilemma, prompting users to act quickly without verifying the message’s authenticity. This sense of urgency short-circuits rational thinking, making users more susceptible to manipulation.
Suggested Corrections:
Users should always be cautious of individuals or organizations that ask for personal information. Most companies will not ask for sensitive data from their customers. If in doubt, users should verify with the company itself to avoid any potential issues.
Users should always take a close look at the sender’s display name when checking the legitimacy of an email. Most companies use a single domain for their URLs and emails, so a message that originates from a different domain is a red flag.
As a general rule, users should not click links or download files even if they come from seemingly “trustworthy” sources.
Check for mismatched URLs. While an embedded URL might seem perfectly valid, hovering above it might show a different web address. In fact, users should avoid clicking links in emails unless they are certain that it is a legitimate link.
Users should always be on the lookout for any grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Legitimate companies will often employ proofreaders and editors who ensure that the materials they send out are error-free.
Users should not be frightened or intimidated by messages that have an alarmist tone. They should double check with the company if they are uncertain about the status of their accounts.
Phishing emails are designed to be sent to a large number of people, so they need to be as impersonal as possible. Users should check whether the message contains a generic subject and greeting, as this can be a sign of a phishing attempt.
Although not every end user has access to advanced anti-phishing software, they can still use the built-in protection of their email clients to filter messages. One example is setting the email client to block all images unless approved.
Legitimate companies will never send confirmation emails unless there are specific reasons for doing so. In fact, most companies will avoid sending unsolicited messages unless it’s for company updates, newsletters, or advertising purposes.
Users should always take the context of an email or message into account. For example, most online accounts do away with viewable member numbers, so users should be wary if they receive emails containing a “member number” for services that generally don’t use them.
It is important to take note of unusual information in the text of the message. Any mentions of operating systems and software that are not typically used by consumers can often be indicators of a phishing attempt.
If it seems suspicious, it probably is. Users should always err on the side of caution when it comes to sending out personally identifiable information through messages and emails.
Link(s):
https://cofense.com/blog/txtag-takedown-busting-phishing-email-schemes