The most common scams include:
- Phishing: The groups behind these scams impersonate legitimate organizations (even government ones) or institutions and either send carefully worded messages or make phone calls, in order to obtain personal information such as credit/debit card or bank account details, home addresses, etc.
- Vishing: In this case, fraudsters make phone calls and pretend to be credible and trustworthy individuals, deceiving victims into revealing all the information they need to extract money in some way.
- Contests and prizes (Lottery/Prize Scams): Usually, victims are told they’ve won a contest and are asked to pay "fees" or "taxes" before collecting the alleged prize - usually supposedly a money prize as these are more tempting.
- Smishing: Smishing combines 'SMS' and 'Phishing,' where phishing is done by sending a text message. The SMS recipient is usually asked to click on a link, leading to a fake site. Through this process, fraudsters extract important data by prompting the visitor to fill in a form with necessary fields, such as their email address, bank account details, name, etc.
Here are some useful tips to help protect your money and personal data.
Stay informed and "arm" yourself with knowledge
In the digital age, knowledge is a powerful “weapon”. The more you know about common scams and phishing methods, the better equipped you will be to protect yourself. To learn more, subscribe to newsletters from technology-focused sites or visit some regularly, such as cyware.com, cnbc.com/cybersecurity, and insomnia.gr. There, you'll find the latest developments concerning digital security. Share this information and your experiences with people in your social circle, exchange knowledge, and create a collective shield against malicious calls and messages.
Keep your devices safe
An up-to-date device, such as a smartphone, with the latest software version is a good start. It’s also crucial to update your installed apps, as their updates almost always include stronger security measures. Finally, investing in a reliable antivirus and anti-malware app is a good idea to bolster your digital defenses.
Be wary of suspicious messages and calls
f you receive spam messages or calls promising money or asking for personal information, like a bank account number or home address, approach them with increased caution. Under no circumstances should you reply to this kind of text message; don't follow any link included in it. If you answer a suspicious phone call, hang up as soon as possible. It’s useful to follow a similar approach in communications apparently for a good cause, such as any communications you receive for donations. Ask for the official details of the organization, hang up the phone, and visit their website at your convenience to ensure it's legitimate.
Block suspicious numbers
If a message or call looks even slightly suspicious, verify the identity of the number/sender using a search engine like Google. If the caller appears to be an organization, but you doubt the reliability of the call or message, immediately contact the organization or business using their official communication channels and inform them about what happened. To prevent repeat nuisance fraudulent calls, most smartphones have built-in functions allowing you to block unwanted numbers without the need to install additional applications. With the push of a simple button, you can ensure that those nuisance calls and malicious messages become a thing of the past.
Recognize deepfake ai communications
With technology advancing at an unprecedented pace, fraudsters are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to take advantage of unsuspecting individuals. Thanks to the ongoing explosion of Artificial Intelligence (AI), scammers can now impersonate the voice of people you know and, in some cases, even their faces. “Using an artificial intelligence algorithm, they create content that looks or sounds realistic. This could be video or even just audio," explains Oli Buckley, Professor of Cyber Security at the University of East Anglia. So far, thankfully, no similar incidents have been reported in Greece. But if you suspect AI fraud in the future, listen carefully to the caller's voice and pay attention to any unnatural fluctuations, distortions, or unusual pauses in their speech. Check the details provided by the caller and contact other family members or friends to confirm the story they are telling you before taking any action.
Critical thinking against cheating methods
Critical thinking is the most important factor that will protect us from fake texts and calls. But these tricks are evolving, becoming more complex and much more convincing. By keeping these tips in mind and staying up-to-date on the latest developments in this area, you will be able to fend off these threats and safeguard not only your digital but also your personal security.
Sources:
https://www.zdnet.com/article/scam-spam-and-phishing-texts-how-to-spot-sms-fraud-and-stay-safe/
https://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/call-or-text-from-an-unknown-number-heres-what-to-do/
https://theferret.scot/podcast-online-scammers-artificial-intelligence/