Identity theft is on the rise, and it’s surprisingly close to home. Symantec released a report showing Port Coquitlam, Langley and Vancouver, BC are among the cities having the highest incidences of cybercrime in Canada.
We don’t know why these areas have higher incidents, but it could be speculated that residents in these areas have more access to computers, the Internet and WiFi hotspots and go online more often to shop, bank and communicate with family and friends, making them greater targets for cybercriminals.
1. Phishing Scams
Phishing email try to trick the intended victim into visiting a fraudulent website disguised to look like a valid eCommerce or banking site. The victim thinks they are logging into their real account, but instead everything they enter on the fake site is being sent to the scammers. Armed with this information, the scammer can wipe out the victim’s accounts, run up their credit cards, or even steal their identity. For an example of this, click on this link for http://youtube.com, but you’ll actually go to this website.
2. Greeting Card Scams
Greeting card scams arrive in email pretending to be from a friend or family member. Clicking the link to view the card typically leads to a booby-trapped web page that downloads Trojans and other malicious software onto the systems of the unsuspecting.
3. Scareware Scams
Scareware erroneously claims the system is infected and instructs the user to purchase a ‘full version’ in order to clean the bogus infections. Sometimes, fake anti-virus software gets installed by the user who fell victim to an advertising scam. Other times, a rogue anti-spyware scanner may be installed by exploit, a so called ‘drive-by install’. Regardless of how the rogue software gets installed, the user is often left with a hijacked, crippled system.
4. A Call for Help Scam
Emails which appears to come from someone you know, asking for money or help and include a link. Clicking on the link infects your system, then directs you to transfer funds to help them out. In the meantime, you system is now sending emails to your friends, and with your bank information, can now clean your bank account.
Being informed is 90% of the battle, and please, don’t do your personal banking on the same computer your children use.
Norman Davie