- Fake news sites are being used to target investment scam victims in over 50 countries, according to Cybersecurity firm CTM360.
- Scammers mimic real news outlets and leverage sponsored ads to direct users to fraudulent trading platforms.
- Over 17,000 baiting news sites have been identified, often using cheap domain names or hacked legitimate websites.
- Victims are lured in with clickbait, pressured to deposit funds, and have their personal data harvested for further fraud.
- CTM360 tracks these campaigns and provides takedown support and risk intelligence to targeted organizations and governments.
A recent report from cybersecurity firm CTM360 has uncovered a major international scam involving fake news websites designed to trick people into investment fraud. These sites imitate trusted news brands and claim to promote new Passive income opportunities, drawing in users worldwide.
The company reports that these baiting news sites (BNS) run ads on platforms like Google and Meta, often using headlines such as “You won’t believe what a prominent public figure just revealed.” Once users click, they land on convincing fake articles that redirect them to scam investment or trading sites with names like Trap10, Solara Vynex, or Eclipse Earn.
According to CTM360, the scams follow a two-part model. In phase one, the victim is lured through sponsored content and fake news stories. In phase two, the victim receives a phone call from a so-called advisor, is asked for identity documents, and may be required to deposit cryptocurrency for “account verification.” This process is intended to build trust and delay suspicion.
The BNS pages often use low-cost web addresses ending in .xyz, .click, or .shop. In some cases, real websites are compromised to host the scam, making removal more difficult. The scam content is highly localized, using the local language, notable personalities, and regional banks to increase credibility.
Most people encounter these scams when searching online for investment ideas or passive income, clicking on ads matched to high-intent searches such as “automated crypto trading” or “celebrity-backed investment.” Victims are typically asked to submit names, emails, and phone numbers. They may receive a follow-up call from an “investment agent” requesting a $240 U.S. dollar deposit to activate their accounts. Fake account dashboards then display imaginary profits, encouraging repeated investment.
Beyond financial loss, victims’ personal data is collected for further frauds, phishing, or identity theft. CTM360 links these tactics to broader schemes, including pig butchering scams and affiliate fraud networks.
The company’s full report offers an in-depth look at these campaigns. CTM360 continues to monitor the threat, offering takedown and risk mitigation services to affected organizations, and mapping scam tactics step-by-step through its Scam Navigator tool modeled after the MITRE framework.
For technical definitions, “baiting news sites” refers to web pages designed to look like genuine media but intended to mislead users to scam platforms. “Pig butchering” describes prolonged scam operations where victims are systematically defrauded over time.
Additional information about CTM360 and its services can be found at www.ctm360.com.
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