Beware of Fake Brand Collaboration Emails / Phishing Attempt Targeting Creators!

[Alice Büşra AlçınarAlice Büşra Alçınar is verified member.]

I wanted to share a heads-up about a highly sophisticated phishing attempt targeting content creators and tech channels recently.

I received an email claiming to be from an agency called Kolect / Link Ventures, representing the well-known 3D printer brand Creality for a YouTube video integration. The email was written in clean Turkish, included formal signatures, addresses, and even a standard follow-up email—making it look completely legitimate at first glance.

The mail is: [email protected]

After checking with official channels, it was confirmed that this is 100% a scam.

How This Phishing Scam Works:

• The Bait: They reach out asking for your sponsorship rates and integration budget to build initial trust.
• The Trap: Once you reply, they send a "contract," "media kit," or "product specification document" via password-protected .zip files, .exe attachments, or suspicious Drive links.
• The Goal: Opening these files deploys session-stealing malware to compromise your browser cookies, giving them full access to your YouTube channels, social media accounts, and email.

Red Flags to Watch Out For:

• The email comes from an unverified domain (kolectcreator.com) rather than an official brand or verified agency domain.
• Automated phishing scripts often insert incorrect names in the opening greeting (e.g., addressing the recipient by a different name).
• Follow-up emails claiming "your candidacy will close in 3 days" are designed to create panic so you act quickly without verifying.

What You Should Do:

1. Always double-check the sender's exact email domain before responding to outreach emails.
2. Never download or execute .exe, .scr, or password-protected .zip files sent under the guise of "contracts" or "briefs."
3. If anything feels off, contact the brand directly through their official website to verify the offer.
4. Mark these emails as spam/phishing immediately and do not reply.

Stay safe out there, and keep your accounts secure!