Stimulus Scam
With the election season winding down, and a new administration announcing plans for the future, there will be another factor that contributes to the uncertainty of our times. (When does the list of uncertainties stop growing, I wonder?)
And again, we find hackers and cybercriminals in a power position to take advantage of our uncertainty of not only what is true, but also who to look for when it comes to dispersing accurate information. This isn’t discrediting any individual or organization, but we can all agree to admit, chaos can prevail in the current climate of COVID-19.
Malvertising – What Is It?
Malvertising
We are in a time when “fake news” has become a term thrown around so frequently it is now part of our vernacular. In fact, there are quite a few new terms and words borne from the rise of technology in our lives. One of those words is malvertising.
Windows 7 End of Life – the Beginning for New Scams
End of Windows 7
They say when one door closes another one opens, but in this case, it’s a window. On January 14th, 2020, Microsoft ended its support for Windows 7. Since Microsoft is no longer offering patches or security updates for vulnerabilities identified in Windows 7, hackers have a new way of gaining access to data for any individual or organization still running Windows 7.
No Personal Callers
If your phone rings and the caller id is UNKNOWN, you likely won’t answer. And scammers know that, so they’ve been cleverly hiding behind fake caller id numbers that are just a digit off from numbers that are familiar. So, you pause, and figure you better pick up “just in case”. The voice on the other end isn’t one that you recognize, but what they say to you is familiar, so you listen.
Election Season: Another Favorite for Scammers
Election season scams
Political candidates will target voters to get their message across, and hackers will take advantage of the timing. With petitions, polls, and surveys being posted to get a sense of the political climate online or by telephone, citizens let their guard down and assume that the information being collected is for candidates and news reporting. Not always the case.
Business Email Compromise Incidents up 133%
Business email compromises (BEC) scams made a big statement in 2018, seeing a 133% increase over 2017, according to a recent report by Beazley Breach Response Services.
The Beazley Breach Briefing looked at information gathered from investigations into more than 3,300 data incidents that were reported to Beazley in 2018.
Tax Refund Scams – Know What to Look For
Tis the season! You’re making mental plans with what is hopefully a generous tax refund and deciding what to do with the surplus of cash you’ll soon have on hand.
Along the way from starting to submitting the paperwork, there are quite a few roadblocks to be aware of. Even if you aren’t getting a refund, your personal information is as valuable as the money you’re hoping for to scammers, so be on high alert.
Fake Check Scam
Being scammed can happen so easily today, but when you make it about a topic that many people can let their guard down with, the scam can happen much easier. What topic is that? We’re talking about money.
Fake check scams have been around for quite some time, however, with the increase in online sales and job postings, they are becoming easier to get away with. With money being part of a job application process or online sale, your guard is often down because you don’t necessarily expect something so seemingly simple to have any possible risk. Your trust is what makes you vulnerable.
Sextortion Scam
You get an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate email or phone number. Then you read the message: “Send bitcoin right away or else I am sending compromising photos or information to your friends and family.”
If you’ve received this type of email, you’ve likely been a victim to a new variation of an old scam.
You Can Have My Heart – Not My Wallet
Love is in the air, and many people are turning to the internet to find it. We all know someone who has met their significant other online or at least is having a good time while trying to find them by dating a few people they’ve met through dating apps or services. But are they giving away more than their phone number?