There is plenty of information online to help you avoid obvious cyber scams like phishing and hacking. Yet new scams spring up daily, and it can be hard to keep up with what is legitimate and what is not. So you stay informed and protected, we are here to help. Below are three cyber scams new to 2023 that you must be aware of.
One-Time Password Bot
There is no doubt that cyber scams are becoming more sophisticated, even to the level where extremely technology-savvy individuals can fall prey to them. CyberGhost reported that the money made from cybercrime now nets more for criminals every year in the US than the illegal drug trade. Global costs are expected to rise to $10.5 trillion by 2025. The reason is simple: online criminals are extremely clever, adapting to any security changes made. The one-time password bot is proof of this.
Two-factor authentication was introduced so that only the owner of a mobile device could log into an account. A code is sent to their phone, making it hard to gain entry unless they have the phone to hand. With one-time password bots, scammers send messages or make phone calls pretending to be a company or financial institution. The bot will ask the person to enter any code they received to their phone. Thus, the scammer now has the code and can access the bank account.
Free Gift QR Codes
QR codes, created by the Denso Wave company, are a fairly new phenomenon. They are extremely useful, allowing you to scan and gain immediate access to websites, offers, or even physical locations like mailboxes and storage lockers. However, just as quickly as they have gained popularity, fraudsters have found a way to manipulate them.
These tricks work in two ways. Scammers may replace an existing QR code with their own, which leads people to malicious websites when scanned. Another trick is that they will call an individual and send them a QR code for access to a free gift. When they click the link, they end up on a website that is used to steal their data.
Cryptocurrency Wealth
There have always been scams online that purport to increase people’s wealth that mysteriously vanishes once people have deposited money. Yet with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, its biggest strength is its greatest weakness: It may provide security and anonymity, but it also gives people with bad intent a great way to hide and never be found.
This is done by getting people to invest in fake crypto accounts. It may be done by setting up what looks like a genuine financial institution, or it could be done through romance and emotional manipulation. The criminal will get a person to download a dubious application and then ask them to make deposits before vanishing.
Plenty of others are also appearing, ranging from ones that involve couriers and even stretching to student loans. Make sure you check any legitimate company before you give any information or send money.
Feature Image Source: Pixabay