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Introduction: A New Digital Threat in Disguise
In today’s hyper-connected world, cybercriminals are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to lure victims into online fraud. One of the latest and most dangerous trends is the emergence of Baiting News Sites (BNS)—fake websites designed to impersonate reputable media outlets. These sites spread fabricated investment stories and redirect users to fraudulent trading platforms, leading to devastating financial losses and identity theft. A recent report from cybersecurity firm CTM360 exposes the alarming scale of this phenomenon, which spans more than 50 countries.
the CTM360 Report
CTM360’s detailed investigation reveals how cybercriminals deploy fake news websites that mimic well-known outlets such as CNN, undercode, or CNBC. These BNS pages are crafted to appear legitimate, using branding, logos, and language tailored to the target region. The fabricated articles feature public figures, national banks, and celebrity endorsements to push a false narrative around passive income or investment opportunities.
These scams operate in two major phases:
- Initial Lure: Victims encounter sponsored ads on platforms like Google and Meta. The ads feature provocative headlines and official imagery, directing users to the BNS.
- Engagement & Exploitation: Upon clicking, users are redirected to fake investment platforms like Trap10, Solara Vynex, or Eclipse Earn. Victims are urged to sign up and deposit small amounts of money. Then begins a scripted journey involving persuasive phone calls from fake advisors, repeated requests for documentation, and fake dashboards simulating profits.
The goal is simple: delay withdrawal attempts, build false confidence, and extract as much money and personal information as possible before the victim realizes they’ve been duped.
CTM360’s Webhunt platform has identified over 17,000 BNS pages, many hosted on cheap domains like .xyz, .click, and .shop. Some attackers even compromise legitimate websites to hide BNS content within subfolders, making takedown efforts more difficult.
The BNS scam model has become globally scalable, thanks to regional customization. Scammers adjust language, logos, public figures, and local banks to make the scam believable in each target country. The result is a well-oiled fraud network that feels localized and trustworthy to unsuspecting users.
What makes these scams especially dangerous is their multi-layered deception. Beyond stealing money, they harvest sensitive personal data, which is then reused for identity theft, phishing, or sold to criminal networks. This convergence of investment scams, brand impersonation, and data harvesting represents a cross-functional cybercrime ecosystem.
To combat this, CTM360 offers tools like Scam Navigator, which maps these scam campaigns step-by-step using frameworks like MITRE ATT\&CK. Their team provides takedown support, intelligence feeds, and proactive threat monitoring to protect organizations and governments worldwide.
What Undercode Say: Deep Dive Analysis into the BNS Scam Ecosystem
Global Impact and Scope
The scale of these operations is astonishing. With over 17,000 BNS pages active, and localized adaptations in over 50 countries, it’s clear that these scammers are leveraging automation, social engineering, and targeted advertising to operate like multinational fraud rings. Their ability to imitate local media outlets with tailored content demonstrates a high level of sophistication and resource allocation.
BNS vs Traditional Scams
Unlike typical phishing attempts, BNS scams are long-form narratives. They exploit storytelling, emotional triggers, and confirmation bias to win trust. This mirrors the approach seen in “pig butchering” scams, where scammers cultivate relationships over time before making a financial request. Here, though, the relationship is built rapidly through the illusion of journalistic authority.
Exploiting Ad Platforms and SEO
One of the most effective strategies scammers use is manipulating search intent and paid advertising. They bid on keywords like “crypto investment” or “passive income,” ensuring their fake news pages show up where financial curiosity is highest. With legitimate-sounding headlines and matching images, they outperform organic content and trick even cautious users.
The Anatomy of Deception
The scam’s multi-stage design maximizes profit at every step. The initial \$240 “activation” is small enough to avoid suspicion, but just significant enough to show commitment. Fake dashboards showing unreal profits encourage reinvestment, while delays in withdrawal serve to keep users emotionally and financially invested.
Data Harvesting as a Secondary Revenue Stream
What’s especially dangerous is that the money stolen isn’t the only value extracted. By harvesting names, emails, phone numbers, and identification documents, these actors create databases that can be resold on the dark web or used in secondary fraud operations like deepfake KYC, account takeovers, and phishing campaigns.
Challenges in Takedown and Regulation
Because BNS pages often reside on low-cost or hijacked domains, and appear in localized languages, takedown coordination is slow and fragmented. Many countries lack the infrastructure or legal agility to act fast enough. This gives scammers time to cash out and rotate infrastructure before being detected.
The Role of AI and Automation
BNS operators are likely using AI-generated content, regional templates, and automated deployment tools to scale faster than manual detection can keep up. This is where defensive AI tools and platforms like CTM360 are crucial—speed and scalability are the only way to counter such operations effectively.
✅ Fact Checker Results
Over 17,000 fake BNS websites have been confirmed by CTM360.
These scams impersonate legitimate media and exploit SEO and ad platforms.
Victims often lose money and sensitive personal data, fueling other cybercrimes.
🔮 Prediction
With the rise of AI-driven content creation and ad targeting, the BNS scam model is poised to evolve into even more convincing formats, including deepfake video interviews, AI-generated voice calls, and localized influencer endorsements. Unless stricter regulations and global cooperation are enforced, these scams could outpace traditional cybersecurity defenses, making them one of the most dangerous threats to financial and personal safety in the digital age.
References:
Reported By: thehackernews.com
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