Tax Scams, Malware, Phishing and a 419
A roundup of scam information, including a tax scams article, email with a link to malware, a phish, and the worlds laziest 419.
Scams
Worldwide cost of identity theft could be $5 billion per year, Microsoft survey finds
A Microsoft survey of 10,000 consumers found that the worldwide annual cost of identity theft and phishing could be as high as $5 billion - and the cost of repairing damage to people’s reputation online could be even higher.
Half of children left exposed to online threats as parents fail to use built‑in controls
Less than half of parents use parental controls on internet-enabled devices bought for their children - leaving millions of youngsters potentially exposed to online threats, according to new research.
American law firm admits entire server of legal files fell victim to Cryptolocker
A small American law firm has admitted that every document on a server at the North Carolina company has fallen prey to the Cryptolocker ransomware, according to a report by local station WSO CTV.
Facebook’s ‘A Look Back’ video used as bait for malware, report claims
A fake version of Facebook’s 10th anniversary celebration video page, ‘A Look Back’ is spreading via the social network, with users directed instead to another website, where they are prompted to download files.
Wangiri Telephone Fraud – One Ring to Scam Them All
Missed a phone call? The Better Business Bureau says answering international telephone fraud calls looking like US calls might cost you more than you think.
U.S. hotel firm ‘knew of credit card breach for two weeks’ before going public
Managers at White Lodging, a hotel management firm that works with various brands including Hilton, Marriott, Westin, Sheraton and Hyatt, may have known of a major credit card data breach for two weeks before details were made public.
419 Scams: Let The Seller Beware
419s are a well-known scam type, but some scams are more obvious than others. And sometimes it's the seller who's cheated not the buyer.
Giant snake swallows zookeeper! Facebook scam spreads via offer of gruesome video
A video purportedly showing a gigantic snake swallowing a zookeeper is the latest viral scam on Facebook - tricking thousands of users into sharing a video which instead takes victims outside Facebook to a scam site.
Cash crash ahead? ‘Death’ of Windows XP could leave 95% of world’s ATMs vulnerable
Banks around the world face a looming deadline to upgrade their ATMS - 95% of machines worldwide run Windows XP, which Microsoft will cease to support on April 8. Just 15% of America's ATMs are expected to upgrade by that point.
Fridge raiders: Will 2014 REALLY be the year your Smart Home gets hacked?
At CES 2014, the app was king - and more importantly, the appcessory - fridges, lights, appliances and gadgets built for app control. But with companies unveiling door locks controlled via app, should we applaud - or worry?
Borrowing tricks from cybercriminals can ‘scare’ web users into safe browsing, Cambridge researchers claim
Computer users often feel bombarded by warnings about malware - particularly in internet browsers, which often repeatedly warn about risky sites - but tricks used by cybercriminals can help stop this, a new paper claims.
Less than half of consumers take ANY steps to stay safe online, UK government survey finds
A survey of 22,762 consumers conducted by the British government found that less than half took the most basic steps to protect themselves online, the government revealed as part of a new campaign aimed at consumers and small businesses.
Pat Garratt: PC gamers will always be easy prey for cyber gangs – but it’s not ALL our fault, says industry veteran
Patrick Garratt is a 15-year veteran of the gaming industry, having been behind the launches of major news sites such as Eurogamer and VG247 - but in the DIY, anything-goes world of PC gaming, even he still falls for a scam or two. Is it REALLY his fault, though?
Tech Support Scams: Second Byte at the Cherry
Is there really anything new to be said about tech support scams? Unfortunately, the FTC tells us there is. Not only because people are still falling prey to this type of fraud, but because the scammers are still finding new approaches to harvesting their victims’ credit card details. Some quite interesting, sophisticated technical tricks are
2013: a View to a Scam
There are plenty of scams effective enough to rate a warning or three, in the hope of alerting potential victims to the kind of gambit they use. And so, even though much of ESET’s business is focused on the bits and bytes of malicious software, I’ve spent a lot of time writing on WeLiveSecurity and
Phishing for Tesco Shoppers
A phishing scam targeting Tesco bank customers puts on a festive party hat and pretends to offer something for nothing. Is this a topical trend?
Small businesses are new target for criminals as attacks double, report warns
The assault by cybercriminals against big businesses continued this year -78% were attacked by outsiders, according to a report by Price Waterhouse Cooper. But small businesses - those with less than 50 employees - are rapidly becoming a target.
Reverse charges: How one man turned the tables on PC phone scammers
This week, UK IT worker and social engineering blogger Dale Pearson was targeted - with eight phone calls from a company claiming there was a fault on his PC - but Pearson had both the time and the equipment to fight back.
When it just doesn’t click: How to date online without being scammed
Few things are sacred to today’ cybercriminals - and true love certainly isn’t one of them. Dating scams are a fast-growing area of cybercrime - rising by a third year-on-year in some countries, and ranging from fraud, to identity theft to malware attacks. Here's how to stay safe.