• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

My TechDecisions

  • Best of Tech Decisions
  • Topics
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Mobility
    • Unified Communications
    • IT Infrastructure
    • Network Security
    • Physical Security
    • Facility
    • Compliance
  • RFP Resources
  • Resources
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Project of the Week
  • About Us
    SEARCH
IT Infrastructure, News, Physical Security

Ukraine-related Phishing Emails Up More than 200%

Hackers are exploiting the Ukraine crisis to conduct donation scams, deploy malware and steal credentials, Tessian says.

April 6, 2022 Zachary Comeau Leave a Comment

Phishing Success

Similar to how cybercriminals jumped on the COVID-19 and used the pandemic as a useful phishing lure, attackers are exploiting the Ukraine crisis to conduct email-based donation scams, deploy malware and steal credentials.

According to email security firm Tessian, researchers are seeing Ukrainian-themed phishing emails skyrocket, with new domains containing “Ukraine” up more than 200% from last year, with an average of 315 new domains with the besieged country’s name in it registered each day since Feb. 24. The vast majority of those are deemed to be suspicious based on early indicators, the company says.

In a report, Tessian shows that the number of Ukraine-related domains started picking up in February with about 2,500, but then exploded as the Russian invasion of its neighbor matured into March, when there were more than 6,000 such domains registered.

Further analysis of phishing emails flagged by the company shows an upward trend beginning in late February, declining a bit after the first week in March, and then again in early-to-mid March as the Ukraine crisis unfolded.

Much of the exploitation of the crisis is by fraudsters seeking donations purportedly for humanitarian aid causes, such as the Red Cross, UNICEF, Actalliance and the Australian Council for International Affairs. Emails contain logos, messaging and branding associated with those organizations to trick users into believing the emails are legitimate.

The threat actors in these cases are largely requested donations be made in Bitcoin. Some emails even contain QR codes designed to make it easier to send donations that open locally installed payment apps that support Bitcoin.

Other scams are sent from newly registered domains impersonating legitimate organizations, such as the Red Cross in Ukraine. Emails contain links to convincing websites, some of which have links to addresses for cryptocurrency wallets for Bitcoin, Ethereum and Tether.

Tessian also details spam campaigns that send links to fraudulent e-commerce sites that push the sale of t-shirts and other items with slogans in support of Ukraine.

If you run across these domains, steer clear of them, Tessian says:

  • redcrossukraine[.]org
  • mimoprint[.]info
  • mabil-store[.]com

Tessian advises users to be cautious of any emails claiming to solicit donations to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Some charities do accept donations made in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, so be extra vigilant when those come to the inbox, the company says.

If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our digital newsletters!

Tagged With: Email, phishing, Tessian, Ukraine

Related Content:

  • Rearview shot of two young designers giving each other a fist bump in an office, on display is Crestron desk scheduling device Crestron Introduces Desk Q and Desk Touch Scheduling…
  • CI SSI cover Commercial Integrator and Security Sales & Integration Magazines…
  • cyber-attack-skull Spike in Cyberattacks Exposes Vulnerabilities in University Security…
  • OptixAV RMM Solution Solutionz OPTIXAV RMM Platform for AV Environments Now…

Free downloadable guide you may like:

  • Download TechDecisions' Blueprint Series report on Security Awareness now!Blueprint Series: Why Your Security Awareness Program is Probably Falling Short

    Learn about the evolution of phishing attacks and best practices for security awareness programs to ensure your organization is properly prepared to defend against them in this report from TechDecisions' Blueprint Series.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get the FREE Tech Decisions eNewsletter

Sign up Today!

Latest Downloads

Download TechDecisions' Blueprint Series report on Security Awareness now!
Blueprint Series: Why Your Security Awareness Program is Probably Falling Short

Learn about the evolution of phishing attacks and best practices for security awareness programs to ensure your organization is properly prepared t...

Workplace Collaboration Tools for Corporate Spaces
Workplace Collaboration Tools for Corporate Spaces

From lobbies and shared spaces to conference rooms and multipurpose facilities, you need high-performing AV technology to effectively share informa...

ChatGPT, generative AI, enterprise, workplace
Blueprint Series: ChatGPT and Generative AI in the Workplace

This latest release of the TechDecisions Blueprint Series explores the new phenomenon of tools such as ChatGPT and how IT leaders should go about d...

View All Downloads

Would you like your latest project featured on TechDecisions as Project of the Week?

Apply Today!
Sharp Microsoft Collaboration HQ Logo

Learn More About the
Windows Collaboration Display

More from Our Sister Publications

Get the latest news about AV integrators and Security installers from our sister publications:

Commercial IntegratorSecurity Sales

AV-iQ

Footer

TechDecisions

  • Home
  • Welcome to TechDecisions
  • Subscribe to the Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Comment Guidelines
  • RSS Feeds
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin

Free Technology Guides

FREE Downloadable resources from TechDecisions provide timely insight into the issues that IT, A/V, and Security end-users, managers, and decision makers are facing in commercial, corporate, education, institutional, and other vertical markets

View all Guides
TD Project of the Week

Get your latest project featured on TechDecisions Project of the Week. Submit your work once and it will be eligible for all upcoming weeks.

Enter Today!
Emerald Logo
ABOUTCAREERSAUTHORIZED SERVICE PROVIDERSDO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATIONTERMS OF USEPRIVACY POLICY

© 2023 Emerald X, LLC. All rights reserved.