🛑 Did You Know? Fake CAPTCHA Scams Are Stealing Your Info

Looks harmless. Acts like malware. Here’s what you need to know.

🚨 What’s the Scam?

A new identity theft tactic is making the rounds — and it starts with something you’ve seen a thousand times:

"Verify you’re not a robot."

But this time, it’s not a real CAPTCHA. It’s a trick.

Cybercriminals are building fake verification popups that imitate legit services like reCAPTCHA or Cloudflare Turnstile. These popups may appear on:

• Fake websites

• Compromised real sites

• Sketchy streaming or download pages

After clicking the “I’m not a robot” box, you may be told to do this:

🪟 Press Windows + R⌨️ Press CTRL + V⏎ Then Enter

Harmless? Not even close. That series of keystrokes can trigger a hidden command preloaded into your clipboard — one that installs malware designed to steal your passwords, files, and financial info.

🎯 What’s the Goal?

Hackers want you to install their program yourself — without realizing it. Once installed, these “info-stealers” can:

• Log your keystrokes

• Steal saved login credentials

• Hijack your social media and banking sessions

• Monitor your files and activity

• Sell your stolen identity on the dark web

They’re targeting everyday users who trust familiar-looking popups.

🔎 What To Watch Out For

Be alert if you see:

• A CAPTCHA or verification that asks you to run system commands like “Win + R”

• Prompts that tell you to paste something without showing what it is

• Verification pages with poor design, broken grammar, or weird-looking URLs

• CAPTCHA boxes that appear on sites where they normally wouldn’t (like random blogs, “free” TV/movie sites, or unknown download links)

If you’re unsure — don’t click. Back out immediately.

✅ What You Can Do

Here’s how to protect yourself and your family:

🔐 Never run a command from a stranger– Legit sites will NEVER ask you to use Windows shortcuts to verify anything.

🧼 Scan your device weekly– Use antivirus software that includes malware and info-stealer protection.

🌐 Stick to trusted websites– Be cautious with links from social media, email, and unknown text messages.

🧠 Educate family members– Especially older adults or younger kids who may not know what’s legit.

🔎 Check your credit reports– Look for new accounts or activity you don’t recognize.

📱 Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)– Even if your password is stolen, MFA keeps your accounts safer.

🧾 Think You Might’ve Been Scammed?

1. Disconnect your device from Wi-Fi

2. Run a full anti-virus/malware scan

3. Change your passwords immediately

4. Monitor bank accounts and freeze your credit if necessary

5. Report the scam at identitytheft.gov

💡 Final Tip

If a site ever tells you to “prove you’re human” with anything more than a simple checkbox or picture test, don’t trust it. Verification doesn’t require system commands.

When in doubt — close the page, clear your clipboard, and run a scan.

📻 Brought to you by Power88.FM — Keeping you safe, smart, and one step ahead of the scammers.

🕵️‍♂️ Heard something fishy? Let us know at Power88.FM/contact or email hello@power88.fm.