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   Fake file converters are stealing info, pushing ransomware, FBI warns   
      
   Date:   
   Mon, 24 Mar 2025 17:03:00 +0000   
      
   Description:   
   FBI warns some web-based file management services are not as well-intentioned   
   as they seem.   
      
   FULL STORY   
      
   Free online file converters, joiners, and similar productivity tools are   
   actually covers for data scraping and malware/ransomware distribution   
   campaigns, the FBI is warning.    
      
   The Bureau's warning says its Denver Field Office agents are increasingly   
   seeing a scam involving free online document converter tools.    
      
   In the warning, the law enforcement agency also urged victims to come forward   
   and report instances of this scam.    
      
   Reporting the scam   
      
   To conduct this scheme, cyber criminals across the globe are using any type    
   of free document converter or downloader tool. This might be a website   
   claiming to convert one type of file to another, such as a .doc file to a    
   .pdf file. It might also claim to combine files, such as joining multiple    
   .jpg files into one .pdf file. The suspect program might claim to be an MP3    
   or MP4 downloading tool.    
      
   The worst part is that the tools work as intended, and the victims will still   
   get the files they were looking for.    
      
   However, they will also get a piece of malware downloaded to their computer,   
   or the files they uploaded for conversion/joining will be scrapped for   
   information.    
      
   The FBI says the tools can scrape the submitted files for personal    
   identifying information, such as social security numbers, dates of birth, and   
   phone numbers, banking information, cryptocurrency information (seed phrases,   
   wallet addresses, etc.), email addresses, and passwords.    
      
   The best way to thwart these fraudsters is to educate people so they dont    
   fall victim to these fraudsters in the first place, said FBI Denver Special   
   Agent in Charge Mark Michalek.    
      
   If you or someone you know has been affected by this scheme, we encourage you   
   to make a report and take actions to protect your assets. Every day, we are   
   working to hold these scammers accountable and provide victims with the   
   resources they need.    
      
   The FBI urges victims to report these scams to the FBI Internet Crime   
   Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.   
      
   ======================================================================   
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/fake-file-converters-are-stealing-info-   
   pushing-ransomware-fbi-warns   
      
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