⚠️Fake CAPTCHA: The Newest Trick in Phishing Scams

In a world where phishing attacks are getting sneakier by the day, cybercriminals are now turning to a familiar piece of the internet as their next disguise: CAPTCHAs.  

Those squiggly letters, click-the-crosswalk challenges, and “I’m not a robot” checkboxes are meant to prove you’re human. But now, scammers are using fake CAPTCHAs as bait in phishing campaigns — and people are falling for them. 

Let's dissect what's going on, how to identify a counterfeit, and how to guard yourself. 

🤖 What Is a Fake CAPTCHA? 

A decoy CAPTCHA appears identical to the familiar CAPTCHAs you see when you log into a site or fill out a form. Instead of verifying you as human, however, they're used to: 

• Get you to relax and think you're on a legitimate site. 

• Conceal evil scripts or imitation login forms from being loaded. 

• They aim to install malware once you "pass" the CAPTCHA. 

Cyberthieves are betting that once you type in what looks like a security verification, you'll be more likely to enter your true login credentials, personal information, or even credit card numbers on the next page.

Original Image Link: https://safecomputing.umich.edu/security-alerts/fake-captcha-initiates-malware

🎭 What Do Fake CAPTCHAs Look Like? 

They appear genuine — they could be duplicates of Google reCAPTCHA or traditional jumbled text or picture puzzles CAPTCHAs. But they find their way into phishing email, fake software downloads, or on malicious web sites. Be aware of the following warning signs: 

• They appear out of the blue, like in pop-ups or links in unsolicited emails. 

• They're followed by dubious login or download pages — especially those that ask for sensitive data. 

• The look is somewhat anomalous — fuzzy logos, misaligned fonts, or no interactivity whatsoever. 

• They don't really verify anything — clicking on them just opens another suspicious page.

 

Original Image Link: https://www.reliaquest.com/blog/using-captcha-for-compromise/

🧪 How Fake CAPTCHAs Deliver Malware and Steal Data 

Fake CAPTCHAs do not just stop at phishing emails anymore. They are now being used in a wider range of cyberattacks, especially in malware delivery tactics. Here's how it usually works: 

You might end up on a malicious site — either through a phishing email, suspicious link, or trying to download software (especially from unofficial websites). A CAPTCHA that is fake, but misleading is displayed, to make the site seem more genuine or safe. 

If you click on the CAPTCHA, it may: 

• Take you to a phishing login page to steal your login credentials. These pages are typically copies of reputable sites—e.g., email services, banks, or cloud storage websites—and prompt users to enter their credentials, which are directly sent to the attacker. 

• Request that you download a malicious file (usually disguised as software, updates, or security software). 

• Execute embedded scripts that exploit browser weaknesses and silently install malware. 

• Lead you to a phishing verification page requesting sensitive personal, financial, or other information. Occasionally the attacker may even use social engineering tactics—impersonating support staff or people you trust—to increase the success rate. 

This is the way cybercrooks deceive individuals into lowering their guard by making the process look like the normal and usual one that they are accustomed to. The fake CAPTCHA is a smoke screen for deflecting attention from the malicious process taking place in the background — which could be ransomware, spyware, or data snooping.

 

Original Image Link: https://www.mcafee.com/blogs/other-blogs/mcafee-labs/behind-the-captcha-a-clever-gateway-of-malware/

🛡️ How to Protect Yourself 

Here are a few tips to avoid getting tricked by fake CAPTCHAs: 

✅ 1. Be skeptical of CAPTCHAs in weird places 

If you’re asked to solve a CAPTCHA in a context where it doesn’t make sense (e.g. email attachments, weird download links), back away. 

🔍 2. Check the URL 

Real CAPTCHAs run on legitimate domains (e.g. google.com/recaptcha). If you're redirected to a shady domain or something unfamiliar, it's probably fake. 

🧰 3. Use browser security tools 

Modern browsers like Chrome and Firefox warn you when you’re visiting phishing or deceptive websites. Don’t ignore those red flags. 

🧼 4. Don’t download unknown files after solving CAPTCHAs 

If a CAPTCHA leads to a download page you weren’t expecting, don’t download it. It could be malware. 

🔒 5. Use a password manager 

Password managers won’t autofill information on fake sites because they check the URL. If your manager doesn’t fill in your login info, that’s a red flag. 

🚨 Final Thoughts

Bogus CAPTCHAs are also a reminder that familiarity in visuals doesn't always equal safety. The scammers are getting smarter, but we can get smart, too. 

By staying on your toes and second-guessing even the most familiar-looking things online, you can stay one step ahead of phishing scams.  

If something doesn't "feel" right, trust your gut — even if it looks like an innocent little checkbox asking if you're a robot. 

Reference: 
 
ReliaQuest 

Using CAPTCHA for Compromise: Hackers Flip the Script 
https://www.reliaquest.com/blog/using-captcha-for-compromise/ 
 
CYFIRMA 

Fake CAPTCHA Malware Campaign: How Cybercriminals Use Deceptive Verifications to Distribute Malware 
https://www.cyfirma.com/research/fake-captcha-malware-campaign-how-cybercriminals-use-deceptive-verifications-to-distribute-malware/ 
 
University of Michigan 

Fake CAPTCHA initiates malware 
https://safecomputing.umich.edu/security-alerts/fake-captcha-initiates-malware

Note:  Leveraged AI to assist in structuring the document and generating certain sentences and phrases to be more understanding and meaningful.