FTC Warns of New Phishing Scam Disguised as CAPTCHA Requests

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reported a new phishing scam that resembles CAPTCHA requests. Real CAPTCHAs are image- or text-based tasks that verify a user is not a robot, such as typing letters and numbers or matching pictures of objects. The fake CAPTCHA requests are designed to deceive users into installing malware on their devices.

These scams often start with a prompt that seems legitimate, asking the user to complete a task to prove they are human. However, instead of the usual CAPTCHA challenges, the user may be directed to download software or click on a link that installs malware. The FTC advises users to be cautious when encountering CAPTCHA requests and to never download software or click on links from unfamiliar sources.

To avoid falling victim to these scams, it is essential to be aware of the differences between real and fake CAPTCHA requests. Legitimate CAPTCHAs are typically simple tasks that do not require users to download software or click on suspicious links. If a CAPTCHA request seems suspicious or asks for sensitive information, it is best to err on the side of caution and avoid interacting with it.