Scam Radar — October 2024
Scam Radar — October 2024
Below are three new scams to keep on your radar, as well as some tips for how to avoid them. Be on the look out for yourself, your family, and your clients! THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK!
Hurricane Scams
Scammers will frequently use high-profile events, such as natural disasters, to try to trick you. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, scammers have wasted no time in turning this situation to their advantage. They’ve been using AI to generate fake images that play on your emotions, to get you to donate your money to help people who have been affected by the disaster. Recently, an image of a scared little girl holding a puppy and being evacuated from a flood area has been circulating on Facebook and other social media.
However, this image is fake. The scammers are trying to trick you into clicking a link to “donate” to a fake relief effort to steal your personal information. In either case, their goal is to get you to act impulsively. If you donate money or enter any personal information, it will not help any victims who were impacted by the hurricane. However, it will help the scammers steal your money and your data!
Tips to Avoid Similar Scams:
- Be wary of AI-generated images. Look for signs that an image might be fake, such as unusual details or inconsistencies.
- Make sure that the charity you’re donating to is legitimate. Only donate through the official websites of well-known charitable organizations.
- Don’t act impulsively. Take time to research before donating or clicking on links, especially in the aftermath of a disaster.
Shopping List Swindle
Walmart’s Lists feature allows you to create an online shopping list and share it with others. In this month’s scam, cybercriminals are using Lists and malicious Google ads to steal your personal information and money. This scam begins when you search for Walmart’s customer service page on Google. You’ll see a sponsored ad result that claims to lead to a page that provides Walmart’s customer service information. If you click it, the ad will direct you to a Walmart List page. However, instead of containing normal shopping items, the List contains a phone number that appears to be for Walmart’s customer service team.
However, both the ad and the Walmart List were created by cybercriminals. If you call the number, you’ll be connected directly to a scammer. They will ask for your personal and financial information, and then they will attempt to scare you by saying that your account was used to transfer money illegally. The scammer will then try to pressure you into transferring your money into a Bitcoin account in order to prevent additional transactions. If you do transfer the money, it will go directly to the cybercriminals!
Tips to Avoid Similar Scams:
- Be wary of clicking on Google ads. Anyone can buy a sponsored ad on Google, including cybercriminals.
- Be suspicious of anyone forcing you to act quickly. Scammers frequently attempt to trick you into acting impulsively.
- Always think before clicking on a link or providing your personal information, even on official websites. Trust your instincts and be on the lookout for anything that seems suspicious.
Vote for Cybercriminals
In another scam, cybercriminals are taking advantage of the upcoming United States elections to try and steal your personal information and money. The scams vary slightly and involve fake text messages, social media posts, phone calls, and more. Cybercriminals use AI to make these phishing attempts even more convincing. These scams can be easy to fall for since political candidates also use these methods to raise funds and promote their campaigns.
In one version of this scam, you receive a text message or email with a malicious link directing you to donate to a political candidate. The link takes you to a fake webpage asking you to share your credit card number. If you donate, your money goes directly into the cybercriminals’ pockets. The cybercriminals also pretend to be campaign volunteers and send fake surveys requesting your personal and financial information. In another version of this scam, you receive a phone call asking you to update your voter information or register to vote. If you provide your voter information on the call, the cybercriminals will steal it!
Tips to Avoid Similar Scams:
- Before you click a link, always hover your mouse over it. Only use secure, official websites to donate funds to candidates and register to vote.
- This scam concerns the US elections, but remember that cybercriminals can use these tactics during elections in any country.
- Trust your instincts. If you receive suspicious phone calls, messages, or emails, follow your organization’s reporting policies.
For more information regarding scams, please visit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Consumer Advice website.
You can also find details about the signs of a scam, how to avoid a scam, and how to report a scam in this article by the FTC — How to Avoid a Scam.
Sources:
Cited in article.
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