Escalating tensions and conflicts in the Middle East are causing strong fluctuations in global oil prices. Domestically, fuel prices have begun to rise. These developments have quickly become widely discussed topics. Taking advantage of users’ interest in monitoring the market, scammers exploit topics such as gasoline prices, global oil prices, or the trend of switching to electric vehicles to spread fake websites containing viruses, malware, and phishing links aimed at stealing money and personal data.

A common scam scenario is inviting users to “invest based on oil price fluctuations.” Hackers create websites or platforms with interfaces identical to international financial exchanges, posting content such as “fuel price forecasts,” “crude oil investment,” or “profit from oil price fluctuations,” and calling for investment with promises of high returns. By following these “investment” instructions, victims not only lose all their money but also risk having their personal information and bank accounts compromised.

In addition, there are many fake websites impersonating electric vehicle brands, copying logos, images, and content from major companies, and advertising programs such as “discounted electric vehicles” or “low-cost electric vehicle deposits” to lure users into transferring money in advance. Scammers even distribute fake “electric vehicle apps” or “investment apps” in the form of external installation files. Once installed on a device, these malicious programs silently collect personal data, login information, or take control of the device.

Bkav experts recommend that people:

• Do not access links related to investment, fuel price forecasts, or electric vehicle trading shared from unverified sources on social media.

• Only download applications from official stores such as App Store or Google Play; do not install APK files sent via the internet.

• Carefully check website addresses and official contact channels of businesses before making transactions. It is best to visit stores, dealers, or official transaction points directly to learn about and purchase products.

• Do not transfer deposits or provide personal information to unknown accounts on social media.

• Prioritize installing email monitoring systems, antivirus software, and comprehensive anti-malware solutions, as built-in operating system protections are only designed to meet basic security needs and are not sufficient to defend against ransomware and modern viruses designed to persist long-term and deeply embed in systems.

Bkav