Be aware of these 5 Scams this Holiday Season

Hackers, scammers and cybercriminals love the holiday season because it gives them the chance to take advantage of the crazy holiday shopping and make a nice profit out of unknowing shoppers.

By using phishing scams, online scammers take advantage of the fact that your email inbox is so full of holiday specials and offers that you won’t think twice before clicking on a malicious link.

Here are 5 scams to keep an eye out for this holiday season…

Receipts and invoices. A lot of people do their shopping online these days and during the holiday season, there is a huge increase in online receipts and invoices that shoppers will receive via email. Scammers will hide malicious code in an attachment or link and shoppers won’t think twice when clicking on an attachment that’s apparently from Amazon!

Shipping status. Just like the fake receipts and invoices, fake shipping status alerts are a great way for scammers to trick shoppers into thinking there is a problem with their package or order. A notice from a legitimate-looking email to someone who is actually waiting for a delivery is bound to trick them into clicking on it.

Flyers and deals. The average user sees maybe a dozen or more special offers and deals during the holiday season. While going through emails, shoppers need to be on the lookout for discounts and offers from stores they have never shopped at before. It might be a great deal, but there’s a chance that clicking on it will only lead to a malware infection.

Malicious links. Malicious links are just as popular as malicious attachments, so always think twice before clinking on just any link in an email you receive. Hover your mouse over the link and if it is completely different the hyperlink included. In reality, the link is probably going to end up in malware or a fake website that’ll steal your private data.

Customer surveys. Scammers love to fake customer surveys that offer shoppers rewards such as gift cards or discounts after completing them. The difference between an actual survey and a fake one is easy to spot when you get to the last questions. A cybercriminal will often end up asking for your personal and financial information if so it’s definitely a scam!

Talk to your IT support provider to ensure your computer has the correct security measures in place as well as all the latest updates! Want to find out more about protecting your business or home from online scammers? Contact TCG Forensics on 021 110 0422 or pop an email to info@tcgforensics.co.za

What is an Online Shopping Scam?

An online shopping scam will usually include a scammer using a fake website or fake social media account/ store to trick you into buying something from them. The scam will usually also involve using fake adverts to try and lure victims in.

A scammer will try and use unbelievable deals and services such as shipping overnight and free delivery to trick victims into not thinking twice and just acting on instinct.

The goods that the scammer is offering are usually fake or you just never receive them. They will often ask you not to pay by card, but to use an EFT payment, gift card or cryptocurrency.

Not only that, but a scammer will try and trick you into giving out your personal information, such as your bank information, by asking you to fill in a form to finish the order or to sign-up.

Online shopping scams continue to increase every year, here’s how to spot and online shopping scam:

- You receive an email from an online store, but you cannot find any info about them such as their website and the link to the limited deal or offer looks fake.

- The deal is almost unbelievable and it is offered at an incredibly low price.

- There are other amazing services included such as free shipping and delivery overnight.

- The deal on offer always has a time limit.

- You are asked not to use your credit card to make the payment, but to rather pay using EFT, gift card or cryptocurrencies.

- If the online shop is on a social media network then there are almost no details or reviews that you can reference.

- You cannot find direct contact numbers on the website or no one responds to your enquiries.

- The online store website has noticeable spelling errors and does not look professional.

Always remember that if it looks too good to be true then it probably is!

4 Scams in South Africa that are on the Rise

It is vital that you do not fall into an online scammers trap, especially recently as online scams have been on the rise in South Africa.

Here are the most common signs of these four popular online scams that you need to be aware of in order to not become the next victim.

Online Goods. Scammers love to target those who are selling valuables online. They may tell you that they want to meet and pick up the goods and pay via EFT. Either they will reverse the transfer once they have received the goods or they will send you fake proof of payment.

Always meet in a safe, public environment and rather accept payments in cash only.

Account Information. If you receive an email or SMS from your bank claiming that your account number or information has been changed, be very wary! A lot of people fall for this and end up paying a scammer for absolutely nothing, believing that it is a legitimate message from their bank.

If you receive messages like this, rather contact your bank to double-check that it is real.

Phone Blocking. Similar to other scams where you unknowingly give out your private information, a scammer will block your phone so you cannot see that they are withdrawing your money. This means you can’t take the correct steps to stop the scam because you do not realise it is happening.

Fake Loans. If you apply for a loan online be aware of fake companies. They are easy to spot because they will approve your loan, regardless of the amount you request, however, there will be an initiation fee to get the loan.

Do not ever pay a fee in order to receive a loan!

Have you been the victim of a scam? Please contact our OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) department on 021 110 0422 or email contact@osint.co.za

The most popular Online Scams that everyone is falling for

As the internet expands so do the online scams and how sophisticated they are becoming.

What online scams all have in common is that they prey on your fear, greed, and ignorance – here are some of the most sophisticated online scams on the internet that everyone seems to fall for.

Phishing – One of the most popular scams out there is email phishing. Victims of phishing scams will be tricked into giving out their passwords through legitimate emails and seemingly trustworthy businesses. According to a recent study, nearly 100 000 attempts of phishing are reported each month.
Learn more about phishing scams here.

The Nigerian Prince Scam – One of the oldest online scams in the books is the Nigerian prince scam. You’ll receive an email from a Nigerian prince or investor offering you a chance of financial gain, the catch is you need to pay a small portion upfront or give out your private banking information.

Ticket Fraud – Victims of the ticket fraud scam will be tricked into buying fake tickets for popular sporting events, concerts, and other events. Often, the tickets will have forged barcode or be duplicates, while other times you’ll pay and never receive any tickets. Learn more about ticket scams here.

Celebrity Impersonators – Similar to phishing, online scammers sometimes like to pretend to be celebrities or influencers. The scam usually involves messaging victims and promising “gifts” if they click on a link.

Ransomware – Some of the worst scams involve ransomware. Hackers will install malware on your computer that blocks you from accessing your files, from there payment is demanded, often Bitcoin, in order for you to unblock your personal files.

GoFundMe Fakes – Another thriving online scam is using crowdfunding websites to take advantage of people’s generosity and can them into donating money for a fake fund.

Some of the most elaborate and sophisticated scams are doing the rounds on the internet right now, so always be on the lookout and use your common sense!

Want to know more about online scams as well as more about our Digital Forensics and OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) services? Contact us on 021 110 0422 or email contact@osint.co.za | www.contact@tcgforensics.co.za. Alternatively, take a look at our website www.tcgforensics.co.za | www.osint.co.za 

Are you Flirting with a Dating Bot?

Guess what, dating bots are a real thing and falling for one is easier than you think.

Online dating is supposed to be fun and convenient, you get to chat with new, fascinating people that could potentially turn into love interests plus it takes away that first-date awkwardness.

But it’s never that simple.

Dating online has many pitfalls including dating bots that clog almost all the online dating sites you use. Did you know that almost 60% of traffic online is generated by bots? This includes dating websites and social media sites.

Online dating bots are specifically designed to chat with you and trick you into paying membership fees on dating websites; they can even trick you into giving out your private information such as your banking details.

Here’s how to recognize a dating bot:

• Their profile picture is a professional glamour shot.
• They profess their undying love for you a day or two after chatting.
• They make promises to meet you in person, but something always comes up.
• They ask you for money for things such as emergency medical bills, travel expenses, etc.

It is important that you know that there is a difference between dating bots and malicious scammers. A scammer is a cybercriminal who wants to steal your money and possibly your personal information, but a dating bot is an automated computer script.

Are you flirting with a dating bot? Here are some signs to look out for:

• They have automated scripts so they will respond to your messages really fast.
• They don’t respond directly to you if you ask a specific question instead, they’ll respond with a series of lines.
• They don’t have mutual friends or interests.
• They immediately encourage you to visit a specific site or share your personal information with them.

Despite all the negatives about online dating, in this day and age online dating is a great way to meet new people and possibly find your perfect companion.

If you think you’ve been scammed, contact OSINT immediately on 021 110 0422 or email contact@osint.co.za.

Protecting yourself from Package Tracking Scams

Scammers are creative, they seem to be coming up with new scams every week – and people always seem to fall for them!

In the past few years, large amounts of package tracking scams have popped up. The scam will include an email trying to convince you to click a link or give out your private information. Most of the time the email will advise you that there is a shipping problem and you need to take some steps to clear the package that you didn’t even know you were receiving.

Even though most of these scams are easy to spot because of their awful English spelling and grammar, some are so well done that they can be difficult to spot. Keep an eye out for these signs so you do not fall victim to a tracking scam…

- Odd URLs
- Requests to input your private information
- Requests to click a link
- Email messages starting with “Dear Customer”, etc.

NEVER give out any information about yourself and never click on links in an email, no matter how real it may look!

The bottom line is if you are not expecting a package and someone invites you to click a link to track a shipment of a brand new iPhone you never ordered – delete the message and move on!

At TCG Digital Forensics, we do all forms of digital forensics services such as cyber forensics, hacking recovery, cellular phone analysis and digital track and tracing! Give us a call on 021 110 0422 or email contact@tcgforensics.co.za to discuss your specific requirements.

Important Online Safety Tips for Children & Adults!

These days we use the internet for just about everything – shopping, chatting with friends, working and just browsing for more information. However, because the internet is so involved with our everyday lives there will be some dangers we will face.

With the right information, knowledge and tips you can protect yourself as well as your loved ones – here are some of the more important online safety tips…

Online Scams

Most scams these days are so complex that they are hard to spot as scams in the first place.

A friend / family member emails you that they need help and they need you to send them some money – always make sure to contact them first and make sure it was actually them that sent you the email.

When you purchase something online – always double check that the website is actually real and not a scam to try and steal your banking details.

Online Bullies

It may be online, but bullying is still bullying and it is just as hurtful as real life. Young children and teens are usually the victims, but adults can also be targets. Use these steps if you feel you’re being bullied online…

1. Always remove yourself from the situation. Simply block the person doing the bullying or step away from your computer.
2. NEVER respond to a bully! This will make the situation worse, so it is best to just ignore them.
3. Keep track of all the emails, messages, etc. that the bully has sent you in case the matter gets serious.
4. Do not be afraid to report a bully if you think they are getting out of hand!

Online Predators

Always be suspicious of people who are pretending to be friendly to gain someone’s trust, especially with young children and teenagers.

> It is best to keep track of what your child does online as well as who they are chatting with.
> Keep all online profiles secure and generic to avoid stalkers.

> Signs such as depression can indicate that your child is a victim – always be on the lookout!

Should you fear that you are not secure online, contact TCG Digital Forensics in Cape Town or Centurion, we will assist you in any way possible! Call 021 110 0422 or email contact@tcgforensics.co.za