Category Archives: phone scam

Robocalls keep spamming Americans, in part because of their cyber tools

Posted on by

After a surprising lull at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, phone scammers are back, and showing signs of overlapping more and more with text messages and cyber elements. Scammers are combining phone calls with tricks to circumvent two-factor authentication, using information they obtain online to make more targeted calls and, in some cases, mimicking the attack methods of hackers, government and industry officials say. Phone scams that merge with other methods are growing more frequent and difficult to contend with, said Connecticut Attorney General William Tong. “I think it’s common and it’s dangerous, particularly the way that they’re able to cloak themselves or convince you that you need to respond to a particular call or email,” he said. Internet technology has helped fuel a record number of robocalls thanks to the advent of voice-over IP, a tool that made mass calling convenient and more affordable. Estimates vary, but most […]

The post Robocalls keep spamming Americans, in part because of their cyber tools appeared first on CyberScoop.

Continue reading Robocalls keep spamming Americans, in part because of their cyber tools→

Chinese-speaking phone scammers stole $40 million, mostly from Chinese targets in the U.S., FBI says

Posted on by

The FBI has received a rash of complaints from scammers who claimed to be calling from the Chinese embassy, then threatened legal action if call recipients didn’t pay them, the bureau said. In a public service announcement released Thursday, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reports that victims have reported receiving phone calls and text messages from people speaking in a Chinese-dialect claiming to be from the Chinese embassy, consulate or a shipping company. The scammers often tell victims they have a package waiting for them at the embassy, and that they are under investigation by Chinese law enforcement. From there, the victim is transferred to an “investigator,” who tells the victim they need to send money to China or Hong Kong to resolve the situation. Other versions of the scam involves callers posing as representatives from Chinese credit card companies and demanding payment on an outstanding balance, otherwise they […]

The post Chinese-speaking phone scammers stole $40 million, mostly from Chinese targets in the U.S., FBI says appeared first on CyberScoop.

Continue reading Chinese-speaking phone scammers stole $40 million, mostly from Chinese targets in the U.S., FBI says→

Remote Access Phone Scams Bilk Australians of AU$4.4 Million Stolen So Far in 2018

Posted on by

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) reported that 8,000 scam attempts that have taken place by mid-2018 have resulted in AU$4.4 million being lost to scammers. While traditional phone scams trick victims into believing their compu… Continue reading Remote Access Phone Scams Bilk Australians of AU$4.4 Million Stolen So Far in 2018→

Elderly scam victims are too embarrassed to speak up

Posted on by

Financial talk itself is taboo. Admitting to getting fleeced and losing all your savings? That qualifies as super taboo, a new report says. Continue reading Elderly scam victims are too embarrassed to speak up→

PSA: Users with landlines are more vulnerable to scams

Posted on by

Anyone still using a home phone be warned: having landlines makes you particularly vulnerable to scams. Read on to learn how to keep your landline but stay safe from cyberattacks.
Categories:

Cybercrime
Malwarebytes news
Social engineering

Tags… Continue reading PSA: Users with landlines are more vulnerable to scams→

Stop telephoning me-eh-eh-eh-eh: robocalls explained

Posted on by

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has identified robocalls as the number one complaint from the public. In this post, we tell you what you need to know to protect against the nasty ones.
Categories:

101
FYI

Tags: Explainedfraudphone s… Continue reading Stop telephoning me-eh-eh-eh-eh: robocalls explained→