Every year, October is celebrated as Cyber Security Awareness Month around the world. Stating that attacks are increasing in many areas from online banking applications to social media accounts in the digital world, where cyber attackers are developing their attack methods day by day, Laykon Informatics Operations Director Alev Akkoyunlu warns users by listing 6 cyber fraud methods that can be encountered on the internet for Cyber Security Awareness Month.
Cyber fraud is fraudulent methods carried out on the internet. Scammers can use a myriad of methods including phishing emails, social media, SMS messages on your cell phone, fake tech support phone calls, fake shopping sites and more. The main purpose of such scams can be credit card theft, theft of user login and password information, or even identity theft.
1. Social Media Scams:
2. Fake Shopping Sites: Cyber crooks using sophisticated designs can create and publish fake retailer websites that look real or that copy existing retailer websites. Fake shopping sites can offer deals that are too good to be true. For example, you can find popular clothing brands and expensive electronics at very low prices.
3. Social Engineering Fraud: Social engineering is a way for cybercriminals to use human-to-human interaction to enable the user to disclose sensitive information. Because social engineering is based on human nature and emotional responses, attackers have many ways to trick you online and offline. In this method, information that is not harmful at first glance can be used, such as your home address, the name of your children, your pet, and the city you were born in.
4. Fake Phone Applications: This method, also called mobile fraud, can take many forms, but the most common is phishing applications. These apps are designed to look real, just like phishing emails. It does exactly the same thing but instead of emails, malware is infected with a fake app. Your sensitive data like passwords, photos, and information from banking apps stored on your phone will be affected.
5. Phishing: In today’s most common cyber fraud, phishing attacks, hackers try to deceive users by sending phishing e-mails. In these emails, a cybercriminal tries to trick you into believing that you normally do business or log into a trusted website, such as a government agency. This could be a bank, government agency, social media account, an online shopping website, travel site, and more.
6. Unexpected Prize Scam: This type of scam falls under the category of phishing. The email or message may claim to have won a large amount of money, a free trip to an exotic place, or some other great prize. To claim your ride or earnings, the message says you only need to pay a few small fees.
