Break Fix Break Fix IT support is exactly what it sounds like - something breaks,…
Scams are Heating Up
This summer, scams are heating up more than ever. Last year, Americans lost over $10 billion to fraud. Here are some popular ones to be on the watch for these warm summer months.
Artificial Intelligence Playing New Role
AI has the power to create amazing things – or automate harmful scams.
AI photo generation software has been used to trick people on social media into believing lies because of the lifelike images. Additionally, AI creates deepfakes – impersonations of real, well-known people – that may convince people to believe something false. Or, scammers could use deepfakes to impersonate someone on a dating app, persuading victims to send them money.
And with machine learning capabilities, AI can produce some of the most realistic impersonation emails, tricking people into thinking a loved one or work colleague is contacting them, when really, it’s a scammer.
Payment Issues
Though payment apps like PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle may be convenient for many users, they present many new issues. Some scammers may impersonate a bank worker, telling you they are preventing a thief from stealing your money through one of these apps. In reality, they are lying to get you to reveal sensitive account information to steal the money themselves. These apps have many security features, but they often aren’t insured by the FDIC, so it is recommended that you transfer any money in these apps to your bank account as soon as possible.
With the popularity of e-commerce and online shopping, some people are turning to creating fake storefronts. These stores may have rare items or good deals, driving sales. After they receive the money however, they don’t actually deliver the purchased goods, pocketing the money.
Phone Scams
Today, 97% of Americans own a cellphone. Since they are so universal, they are a common target by scammers.
Scammers may send you text messages, sometimes from phone numbers or contacts that look real. The texts might say you forgot to pay something, or you have a package on the way, or might prompt you to log in to your account. Even if the link takes you to a site that looks real, it’s still a good idea to double check, either by going to the official website on your browser on a different device or calling the company claiming to be texting you. This can protect you from losing money or sensitive information.
Caller scams are becoming more realistic, too. The voices of callers may sound less robotic, and sometimes can even respond to questions. If you’re not sure, you can always hang up and call back, or ask for information that only the organization allegedly calling you could give you. If the caller is too pushy, that’s also an indicator that they are trying to scam you.
Protecting Yourself
Congrats! Being aware of the existence of scams is the first step towards keeping yourself safe. Keep in mind this is not an exhaustive list of all the ways cybercriminals may try to steal from you. As a general rule of thumb:
- Be suspicious of everything on the internet.
- Be wary of giving out personal information over the web.
- If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Box Lake offers advanced cybersecurity solutions to keep you and your organization safe from cybercriminals. Our security awareness training addresses the most vulnerable part of any business – the employees. We also offer firewalls to block malicious traffic into your company and many other security options. As your managed service provider, we will work with you to develop security solutions to fit your needs. Contact Box Lake today to learn more.
