Fake CAPTCHA scams

We’ve all encountered CAPTCHAs — those quick puzzles that confirm you’re a human and not a bot. However, cybercriminals have started using fake CAPTCHAs as a way to trick users into executing malicious commands on their systems.

How Fake CAPTCHA Attacks Work

In a typical CAPTCHA, you solve a simple puzzle (like typing a sequence of letters or selecting images shown in the image below) to verify your identity. However, hackers manipulate this mechanism by inserting a fake CAPTCHA on a phishing website or through malicious links. Instead of verifying you’re human, these fake CAPTCHAs are used to trick you into executing harmful commands on your system.

According to the article by HackerDose , here’s the process:

1. Fake CAPTCHA Presentation: You’re directed to a fake website or phishing email that looks legitimate and presents you with a CAPTCHA.
2. Malicious Code Hidden in CAPTCHA: Behind the scenes, the CAPTCHA is not just checking your response. The click or action you take to solve the CAPTCHA triggers malicious code execution.
3. Command Execution: The trickiest part is that this malicious CAPTCHA asks users to run commands on their system. This could appear as instructions to enter specific commands in your browser console or directly into your terminal. No legitimate CAPTCHA will ever ask you to execute commands on your system.

Consequences of Running the Commands

Most non-technical users might be unaware of the risks and could follow these instructions, thinking it’s part of solving the CAPTCHA. Once the commands are run, the attacker can:

• Steal sensitive data like passwords, banking info, or personal files.
• Install malware that spies on your activities or even turns your computer into part of a botnet.
• Compromise your system to take full control remotely.

Tips to Avoid Fake CAPTCHA Scams

1. Use Safe Surfing feature: This feature in Redamp.io application can filter out malicious URLs provided by scammers.
2. Never run commands in your browser or system: A real CAPTCHA never asks you to enter any kind of code or command into your system. If a CAPTCHA instructs you to run commands, it’s a scam — stop immediately.
3. Be cautious with unexpected CAPTCHAs: If you see a CAPTCHA on a website where you wouldn’t expect one (for instance, after clicking a suspicious link or in an email), this is a red flag.
4. Don’t interact with browser developer tools: Unless you are a web developer or know exactly what you’re doing, never copy and paste commands into the browser’s console.