7 steps to good digital parenting

Parenting today’s tech savvy kids can seem overwhelming, but you can do it! Take these seven simple, but still challenging steps, to becoming a good digital parent.

Yes when they are small we all have a hand on things. But as they get big it becomes more difficult to keep an eye out for things and so much can go wrong. Scams, hacking, kidnapping and so much 

more.

Talk with your kids

Educate yourself

Use parental controls

Set ground rules and enforce consequences

Friend and follow but don’t stalk

Explore, share, and celebrate

Be a good digital role model

Talk early and often be open and direct and always stay calm. Always try and search online for anything that you do not understand and try out some apps, games and sites yourself. Discuss and sign a family safety agreement so that the bond is already there. Restrict where and when they may use the device and that way boundaries will be set. If a rule is broken remove the tech privileges and do try and stick to them.

Follow your kids on social media but also respect their online space and freedom, try not to flood their accounts with comments and likes. Go online with your kids and explore their digital world, share your own online experiences and learn from each other and have some fun!

Get in contact with us on 0211100422 or www.tcgforensics.co.za

How to protect yourself from Catfishing

With the increase in social interactions being done online, there has been an increase in relationships that are being built over social media networks as well as apps such as Tinder, etc. Did you know that a recent study showed that 1 in 5 relationships began online?

If things continue like this then by the year 2040, almost 70% of people in the world will meet their significant other online via a social media network or an app!

Because everything is online these days, scammers have taken advantage of this opportunity to con those who are looking for love online. Catfishing is an online scam where someone creates a fake online identity for the purpose of starting a fake relationship and usually scamming people out of their money over a period of time.

Are you dating online or thinking about dating online?

The person is too good to be true – 

They are extremely rich, attractive and glamourous.

The relationship is moving unnaturally fast – 

They profess their undying love for you unusually early and try to rush the relationship along.

They can never meet you in person – 

They claim they are always on the road or something always comes up so they can never meet you in person.

Their social media presence is very vague – 

They have few friends and barely any photos and the photos they do have all look as if they may have been stolen.

Never give money out to someone you’ve met on the internet, even if you feel that you can trust them, do not let someone play on your desire for love!

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!

Social Media Safety – Facebook

With the rise of social media came the rise of private information becoming accessible to just about anyone who knows how to use the internet!

With the right safety precautions you can still enjoy Facebook and other social media networks, but always make sure to use these safety tips.

Make sure your password is secure

With all your personal information exposed on Facebook, it can be easy for someone to guess your password. A good password should have a mixture of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters.

Don’t friend people you don’t know

If you don’t know who they are why would you become friends with them? It may seem innocent, but cybercriminals often use fake profiles to send out spam and even steal your personal info.

Protect your location

While it may seem fun to share a photo of yourself and then add your location, it has some hidden risks. Potential criminals can easily see whether you are home or not, allowing them to take advantage and break in. Another danger you could face includes stalkers!

Change who can see your personal information

Have you listed your address and phone number on Facebook? It may seem handy to do so, but you don’t want everyone seeing this information. For maximum privacy, make sure to set these to be “me only” or choose who gets to see what.

NEVER overshare

The best way to be safe? Have some common sense! Be sure that what you’re posting online will not compromise your safety. Did you know that a deleted photo will remain on the Facebook servers for months after it is gone? It is harder to retract information, so simply do not share it in the first place!

It’s better to be safe than sorry, so go ahead and use these safety tips!

Need help with your social media security? Contact our Digital Forensics department on 021 110 0422 or email contact@tcgforensics.co.za

How can a Digital Device be involved in a Cyber Crime?

In this day and age, it is so easy for criminals to use a digital device to carry out a traditional crime.

A traditional crime such as blackmail which, back in the day, would usually be done using newspaper cuttings collaged together to create a ransom note is now being done in a completely different way using the power of digital devices as well as the internet.

These days, it is so much easier for criminals to just use a computer to carry out a range of crimes such as, blackmail, identity theft, social media scams, ticket scams, dating bots, data theft and so much more.

Some examples of other traditional crimes where a digital device can be used include instant messaging, which is often used to commit harassment. Criminals also continue to pose as your bank where they will SMS you and try to scam you into paying fake accounts, etc.

Email is also used by cybercriminals on a regular basis to commit fraud by using phishing scams. It seems that the list is endless and so is the workload of digital forensics investigators as well as those dealing with Open Source Intelligence! Want to know more about our digital forensics and OSINT services? Please contact us on 021 110 0422, email contact@tcgforensics.co.za | contact@osint.co.za.

In the TCG Digital Forensics and OSINT department, we combine the experience of seasoned investigators with the latest technologies to achieve the results that you require. Contact us today!

What are Online Ticket Scams?

Online ticket scammers usually target various, popular events or destinations to try and take advantage or all the people who are desperately rushing and searching for tickets for buy.

Fake tickets for various events include:

- Concerts
- Conferences
- Plays
- Sporting events
- Live performances
- Shows
- Flight or train tickets
- Other special events

In general, all the tickets that these scammers sell are completely fake. Other times the tickets don’t exist, to begin with, so you pay but never receive anything.

Since 2015 online ticket scams have been increasing and occurring more often. Scammers have been having a field day because of all the popular shows and events that are happening these days.

Here are some tell-tale signs to lookout for:

- The prices are much higher than the regular ticket price OR the prices are suspiciously low.

- Before you buy tickets from a website, always check the contact details to make sure it’s legitimate.
- If the website URL doesn’t include “https” you’re most likely dealing with a scammer.

- If the seller requests a very specific payment for the ticket such as cash, a gift card or cryptocurrency, it’s most likely a scam.

- If they’re selling the tickets on social media, the language is stilted and it seems English isn’t their first language.

- Their social media profile includes no details, all their posts were made a couple of days ago and their friends were all recently added.

And obviously, if it feels like it is too good to be true then it probably is!

If you paid for fake tickets, contact OSINT immediately on 021 110 0422 or email contact@osint.co.za. And we will do everything we can to assist you in getting your money back and catching the scammers!

How to spot a Social Media Scam

Social media has made it possible for people to interact with each other from all over the world – everyone knows what everyone else is doing, where they’re going on vacation, when they got married, etc.

However, social media networks have also made it possible for more users to become victims of scams. Over the last few years, social media scams have basically quadrupled with fake accounts popping up everywhere.

Don’t become the next victim of a scam – here’s how to spot, prevent and deal with social media scams:

- There is an ad or poster offering an amazing deal or job that sounds too good to be true.
- A job, prize or loan application asks you to pay upfront beforehand.
- A popular company uses a Yahoo or Gmail email account to contact you.
- You are urged to act immediately!
- They ask you to share your private information.
- You get a friend request from a “friend” but they ask you random questions or for money.

How to prevent social media scams from happening:

- Preventing social media scams is easy; all you have to do is use your common sense!
- Always think before you click on something.
- If it sounds dodgy or overly intrusive, ignore it.
- Never share your personal information on social media sites.
- Be wary when it comes to loan scams – here are the red flags to look out for.
- Never agree to pay for something upfront without being certain that it’s legitimate.
- Go through your social media privacy settings on a regular basis to ensure they haven’t changed.
- Never post any personal information about yourself that can be stolen and used to steal your identity.

If you’re a victim, here’s what to do:

- Shut down your computer and use a different device to change all your passwords immediately.
- Put out a fraud alert on your credit to stop any loans or lines of credit the scammer may try to take out.
- Call our OSINT division for professional assistance: 021 110 0422 | contact@osint.co.za
- Tell your friends so that they know about the scam and can avoid it if it pops up on their social media feeds.

Do not let the social media scammers bait and hook you – always be safe online!

Use Facebook more safely with these 5 Security Tips

Facebook is an awesome way to stay in touch with your friends and family members, however, you need to remember to always be careful about the private information your reveal because it might end up in the wrong hands!

These days a range of financial scams can be used to try and steal your money, one of them is cybercriminals making fake Facebook profiles and sending friend requests in order to gain your personal information.

This is why it is vital to be careful when you are using Facebook as well as any other social media network.

Here are 5 important Facebook security tips:

1. Always verify all Facebook contacts. Make sure that you are actually talking to the person you think you’re talking to and not a criminal trying to gain your personal information or money.

2. Protect your financial information. Never tell anyone about your private banking details such as your bank account details, credit card numbers and passwords or any other financial data on Facebook.

3. Be suspicious of strangers. Never add or accept any friend requests from people that you do not know.

4. Keep your password a secret. Always take extra care about the password you choose as it is one of the most vital parts of your Facebook security.

- Use a complicated password that is at least 12 characters and consists of upper and lower case letters, a number and special symbol.
- Remember to change your password on a regular basis.
- Never use the same passwords for all your accounts.

5. Secure all your devices. Make sure to install anti-malware software on your computer, laptop, smartphone, tablet – whatever devices you use – to ensure that everything is protected from viruses as well as any other threats.

Need assistance with your Facebook security? Have you been the victim on Facebook? Please contact our OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) Division on 021 110 0422 or email contact@osint.co.za | www.osint.co.za

10 silly things you do online that are putting you in danger!

You may not be someone who takes risks. You may be someone who follows all the rules, you pay your bills on time, you always wear your seatbelt and you even put on sunblock when it’s a cloudy day.

But do you follow all the rules when you’re online? Are you exposing yourself and your money to the dangers that lurk on the internet? Here are 10 silly things that you might be doing that put you at risk!

1. You just assume that online banking websites are safe. Cybercriminals will go where your money goes, so going to a fake banking site and not noticing before you put in your private login details and password can easily lead to cyber theft.

2. You’re doing your online shopping in shady places. You see a great deal online, but you need to be cautious before you visit just any online shop and click “Add to Cart.” Always enter the URL directly and make sure the site is reliable and well-known.

3. You use the same password for everything. If you’re not taking the time to think of unique, different passwords for all your accounts then cybercriminals will have no trouble stealing your money. Each one of your passwords should be a minimum of 12 characters and include upper class and lower class letters, at least one number and a special character.

4. You don’t know who your friends are. It might make you feel cool to be friends with everyone from your hometown, but it is always advised to be cautious when accepting just any friend request on Facebook. Do not accept anyone you don’t know personally!

5. You never question anything. You should always be on alert when you go online and question how legit the websites are when you visit them, you could potentially lose money and private data. Never click on ads and links from suspicious emails or SMS messages.

6. You’re being too open. You might just think it’s a Facebook post, but when you include personal details such as your address, school, place of work or family history then you’re giving cybercriminals clues to gain your passwords.

7. You never bother to read the fine print. Nobody enjoys reading the Terms and Conditions that is why online businesses know they can take advantage and sneak some things past you. Do not accept the Ts and Cs without reading them or you could be giving away your online privacy.

8. You do your shopping and banking using public Wi-Fi. Cybercriminals love to use public Wi-Fi hotspots to trick you into connecting to a malicious network. Always be wary of public Wi-Fi links and make sure your network is completely secure – your best bet is to just use your data connection for important transactions!

9. You jailbreak your mobile devices. By jailbreaking your device you are doing more than adding features, you are taking away vital protections and inviting cybercriminals to hack your smartphone or tablet. Avoid jailbreaks, third party download sites and suspicious apps.

10. You don’t know what your kids are doing online. If you have children you should always know what websites they are visiting as well as what social media networks they are using. The internet is going to be a part of their life whether you like it or not, so help them learn about cyberbullying and online etiquette.

Are you exposing yourself as well as your private data to the dangerous cybercriminals that lurk online? If so, be sure to take the right steps to avoid making these silly mistakes. 

Should you need any assistance or have any questions please contact the OSINT | Open Source Intelligence Division or Digital Forensics on 021 110 0422 or email contact@osint.co.za additionally you can take a look at the website www.osint.co.za | www.tcgforensics.co.za

Why does Social Media Intelligence matter?

Do you know what social media intelligence is? Well to put it simply, it is the collection, curation and overall analysis of data found online in order to provide a look into the actions and habits of a certain individual or group.

In a time where most of the people in the world are on social media networks, social media intelligence can be used to learn a lot by just studying what they do online.

Here are some interesting social media facts and stats:

 - The top eight social media networks are Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, Twitter, WhatsApp and YouTube.

- Did you know that more than half of the public use social media at least once a day?

- YouTube is the most popular social media sharing website.

- Facebook is the most popular social media sharing website – used by almost 70% of adults!

- Social media use is higher for those who are younger – almost 90% of users are 18-29 years old.

So why does social media intelligence and evidence found on social media matter?

Every single day a huge amount of information and data is created on social media networks, and social media intelligence is there to study and understand the behaviour of those who are online.

Social media intelligence is a way for professional digital forensics experts to gather, interpret and understand data that is found online, this is especially important in social media investigations.

It is important to note that social media evidence can be deleted, changed and locked down by certain privacy settings. That is why it takes a professional to preserve the online evidence so it is admissible in an official court of law.

For more information about social media intelligence as well as open source intelligence and more in the digital forensics world, please visit www.osint.co.za | www.tcgforensics.co.za or contact the TCG Digital Forensics Division on 021 110 0422 or email contact@tcgforensics.co.za | contact@osint.co.za