Online scams can happen via phone, email or text. They trick victims into providing personal and financial information. Fraudsters are always using tried-and-true scams. However, they also adapt their schemes to take advantage recent events and technology. This is why you should know about helpful tools such as revolut scam money back.
1. Phishing
A form of social engineering, phishing involves attackers impersonating legitimate organizations in order to trick victims into divulging personal information. This can happen through email, texts or advertisements that appear on sites and other platforms. The thieves use this information to steal money or gain access to accounts.
One of the most common types of phishing scams sees cyber criminals masquerading as a trusted source, such as a government agency or bank. The attackers try to convince a victim to click a link leading to a fake web page where they will be asked to enter personal information. Or they may attempt to steal their identity by using data that has been collected about them.
The phishing attack is becoming more sophisticated. In some cases, attackers pretend to be a company employee such as a CEO or CFO and request wire transfers in order to cover alleged expenses. Others use a fake direct deposit message to trick victims into providing their banking login details. This allows criminals to steal money from the victim or infect his device with malware.
Scare tactics are another phishing tactic that is used to get victims to act fast. As an example, the attackers may pretend to be family members in danger who ask for money through the Zelle application. They may also pop up fake virus alerts, telling the user to click on software that will remove it, but in reality installing malware.
Avoiding phishing scams also involves not responding to emails or popup messages that ask for personal information. This is important, especially when it comes down to financial data. An attacker can use this information to open new accounts and invade existing ones. It’s a good idea to keep antivirus software up to date as well, to help protect against threats that can affect your computer and mobile devices.
Report any suspicious messages or activity that appears on your phone or tablet. This will not only help to prevent other people from falling victim to the same attack, but it can also aid in prosecuting the crooks.
2. Catfishing
Catfishing, a form of online fraud, occurs when someone fakes their identity in order to build relationships with others on social media sites or dating apps. They may pretend to be attractive and wealthy, and may also fake their location and name to hide their true identity. Catfishing can have a wide range of consequences – from financial scams, to physical assaults, to exploitation.
The person could have a very professional looking profile on social media or a chat app, with a clear and clean shot of themselves. They will have a few friends, but their photos or posts will not reveal much personal information. They may not be able to verify their personal information as they only share it on private channels, or via text messaging apps like Snapchat, WhatsApp and WeChat. They may refuse to speak on the phone or in a video call.
They will shower you in compliments and attention, but they won’t be able video chat or meet up with you. They will have a variety excuses to not meet up, including work emergencies, family issues, or sick relatives and friends.
They will use heartbreaking stories to try and gain your sympathy. They might pretend to be victims of an attack, natural disasters or other tragic events to gain your trust. Some catfishers use this tactic to take advantage of others’ goodwill or to exact revenge on an ex-partner.
3. Fraud and theft of cryptocurrency
The newest form of cryptocurrency scam is known as the ICO (initial coin offering) scam, where investors are lured into giving up their money for a fake company’s new token. These scams can involve fake companies and promises of big returns. These scams can also be used for cryptocurrency theft by using malware to infect a user’s computer to reveal private keys and wallet access.
They can also pose as regulators, security teams or well-known companies. They can threaten to reveal sensitive information, freeze assets or shut down an account if the victim does not transfer money to them immediately. This type of scam is common with crypto exchanges, and people should always only send their coins to reputable sites that offer HTTPS as opposed to just HTTP.
Other types include phishing pages that steal the victim’s password or recovery phrase in order to steal their cryptocurrency. This can happen when users try to log in to a cryptocurrency website and are redirected to a fake one, or through direct messages on social media platforms where the scammer poses as official customer support. These phishing scams are aimed at any digital asset including non-fungible (NFT) tokens, which are used by games and other apps.
As with other job-related scams that exploit remote workers, romance scams can involve stealing money from the cryptocurrency wallet of a victim. This can be especially effective in countries with strong ties to the United States, where workers may be recruited by online jobsites that promise high salaries and benefits. The magnitude of a cryptocurrency scam can vary significantly, from isolated incidents impacting a few people to large operations that affect many investors. The size of the operation can be used to help victims understand the complexity of the recovery process.
4. Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is a powerful technology that is often used for good, but it can also be exploited to commit online fraud. Fraudsters can use AI to create fake videos and audio and to clone people’s voices and faces, creating deepfakes that are difficult for victims to detect. These tools can also be used to commit a variety cyberattacks including phishing attacks that trick people into disclosing sensitive information or clicking links leading to malware downloads. They can also be employed to create fake documents to make it more difficult for criminals raise suspicion among their victims, such a fake invoice or receipt or false bank statement.