The FBI's Denver Office has issued a warning about an increase in scams involving free online file conversion tools. These tools, that promise to convert documents from one format to another, are being used by cybercriminals to infect victims' devices with malware, including ransomware.
Scammers employ websites that offer services such as converting .doc files to .pdf or combining multiple images into a single document. Although these tools seem to do their job, The resulting files may contain malicious software that allows criminals to access sensitive user information, such as personal data, Banking information and cryptocurrency credentials.
The Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Denver Office, Mark Michalek, emphasized the importance of education to prevent these scams: “The best way to thwart these scammers is to educate people so that they don't fall victim in the first place”. Anyone affected by this type of fraud is urged to report it to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and take steps to protect their assets.
To protect against these threats, FBI recommends users to be aware of their online actions, Keep your antivirus software up to date and scan any files received before opening it. In case of being a victim, It is advisable to immediately contact the relevant institutions to report what happened, Change all passwords from a secure device.
Fountain: FBI