SCAMS: New Scams And What To Do!

As a former FBI agent, Jason Hogg has dealt with all types of crime—from organized crime to terrorist activity. Now, Hogg is fighting digital and online crime as the global CEO of a cybersecurity firm.

When it comes to staying safe on the Internet, however, Hogg told Business Insider that “the horse is out of the barn.” Nevertheless, Hogg said there are still things you can do to protect yourself from criminals:

1. Always be suspicious

Hogg said that when his mother was 80, someone called pretending to be her granddaughter, Hogg’s daughter. She decided to call her granddaughter because she wasn’t sure it was her. As it turned out, her granddaughter was with her father. Hogg credits his mother’s immediate suspicion about the call to having family members who were either FBI agents or detectives.

If you don’t recognize a phone number but it sounds like someone you know, Hogg recommends putting the caller on hold and verifying the information independently. You should also verify information if you have suspicions about a video, voicemail, email, or direct message.

2. Pay attention to your phone alerts

Don’t ignore your phone’s alert that your passwords have been compromised in a data leak. Go into the apps and update your passwords, especially for the important ones. Avoid using the same password on multiple websites.

3. Be careful using free Wi-Fi

Many public places have free Wi-Fi. However, hackers know how to get into unsecured networks and access your phone. Once inside, hackers can steal your personal information or place malware on your device.

If you use free Wi-Fi, Hogg recommends installing a virtual private network (VPN) on your phone. A VPN can protect your privacy by encrypting your identity, activity, and location while you browse the Internet.

4. Lock your credit information

Hogg recommends locking your credit to prevent crooks from opening new accounts in your name. Hogg recalled his father’s friend having his identity stolen, and he did not lock his credit. Unfortunately, criminals were able to use a false identity to purchase real estate in Brooklyn under his name. The crooks used the property to conduct fraudulent transactions, which caused a personal and financial disruption to his life, Hogg said.

To lock your credit, contact the credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Locking your credit restricts access to your credit reports. The bureaus will do this for free and develop a passkey for you to unlock later.

5. Be careful posting on social media

When you post photos and videos of yourself, family members, and friends on social media, online criminals can use machine learning to create convincing deepfake videos or images and exploit them on service platforms and ransomware on the dark web.

Hogg says to always assume that what you post on social media could be used against you in some way.

What To Do If Your Phone Gets Hacked

If hackers can carry out cyberattacks on large corporations and government agencies, they can also attack smartphones to get personal data. In 2023, nearly 56,000 complaints of personal data breaches were reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

There’s a good chance that your phone has been hacked if you see strange pop-ups, apps you didn’t download suddenly appear, your phone starts making unexpected calls or texts, or you’re suddenly locked out of your phone.

Should this occur, tech journalist Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson, recommends taking the following steps to reclaim access to your phone:

1. Remove malicious software

Use strong antivirus software from reputable and familiar companies with a history in cybersecurity. Follow the instructions for installing and running the software. Once the scan identifies malicious files, follow the app’s instructions to quarantine or remove them. Be sure to double-check the app’s log to verify that all suspicious activity has been addressed.

2. Perform a factory reset if necessary.

If the antivirus software does not fully restore your phone’s functionality, perform a factory reset to erase all the data and return the phone to the state it was in when it left the manufacturer.

3. Seek professional help.

If you aren’t sure how to remove malware or reset your phone, visit an authorized service provider for your phone brand.
Some retailers provide comprehensive diagnostic and repair services. Describe your situation and ask for a comprehensive inspection and cleaning of your device.

4. Replace your phone as a last resort.

If you or an authorized service provider cannot remove malware from your phone, you may need to replace it.

5. Do not immediately reset your passwords on a compromised device.

Hackers might still have access to your phone and could intercept your new credentials. If you need to reset your password, use a device you own or borrow a friend’s or family member’s computer. One of the first accounts to reset is your email, then change passwords to financial accounts, social media, and other sensitive services.

When changing passwords, use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols to create a strong, unique password.

What To Do About Unfamiliar International Calls

Be cautious about receiving calls from other countries—especially if you do not know anyone in that country. There is a strong chance that the call you receive could be a scam, as international call scams are increasing, Knutsson said.

According to Knutsson, the most popular international call scams include:

Wangiri scam. This scheme originated in Japan and means “one-ring-and-cut.” The scammers use automated systems to call thousands of numbers and let them ring once or twice before hanging up, hoping to trigger a return call. If you call back, you might be connected to a premium rate number, which could result in significant charges.
Telemarketing and robocalls. Some con artists use international numbers to bypass local regulations and reach more people.
Number spoofing. Scammers can make their calls appear as if they are coming from different countries to trick you into answering your phone.

Knutsson recommends taking several steps to protect yourself:

Do not answer or return calls from unfamiliar international numbers.
Block these numbers to prevent future calls.
Consider installing call-blocking apps to identify and block spam calls.
Contact your phone carrier and the Federal Communication Commission to report these suspicious calls.
Do not give out personal information, such as your bank account or Social Security numbers, to unfamiliar callers.
Consider using personal data removal services to remove your personal data from the Internet. These services cannot remove all your data from the Internet, but their services can help to lower the risk of con artists obtaining your information.

According to Knutsson, “your best defense is a combination of caution, awareness and proactive steps to safeguard your personal information.”

Source Links:

https://www.newsbreak.com/share/3612451974659-i-m-a-former-fbi-agent-and-cybersecurity-expert-here-are-5-things-everyone-should-do-to-outsmart-online-criminals?
https://www.foxnews.com/tech/your-phone-got-hacked-now-someones-got-control-it-what-do-immediately
https://www.foxnews.com/tech/receiving-unexpected-international-calls-what-you-need-know