Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky says it has detected at least 336 unique web domains pretending to be official FIFA World Cup resources, warning users of scams and fake broadcast schemes.
It further notes that cybercriminals are increasingly targeting match streaming and sports betting. This comes in the form of legitimate-looking websites offering free access to online streams of matches.
Users attempting to watch a broadcast on such a website will be prompted to register an account, after which they will be asked to pay a fee in cryptocurrency for lifetime access. Kaspersky warns that this may be a scheme to harvest registration data and steal cryptocurrency funds.
Similar tactics are deployed for fraudulent betting and match prediction platforms. The cybersecurity provider also warns of World Cup-related email phishing, aiming to trick users into sending money or clicking certain links using convincing subject lines.
Such cases have been found targeting users interested in sports betting through emails promoting fake football analytics services and match winner predictions, urging them to pay a fee for access.
Kaspersky advises users to verify a website or platform's authenticity by checking things like URL formats and organisation's spelling before inputting personal data, and watching the World Cup through official and reputable platforms.
