Online scams are as old as the internet, and people have become pretty good at avoiding the classics. However, Nigerian princes and lucky lottery winners are making way for a new generation of unexpected and sophisticated scams. Here are four scams you’ve likely never considered but should watch out for.
1. Deepfake Scams
AI has gotten scarily good at convincingly impersonating people’s voices. And no one’s off-limits, really. From the CEOs of some of the world’s leading companies to elderly parents being scammed out of their savings, everyone can be a target of a deepfake scam.
Such scams often create a sense of urgency, often relating to unfortunate events, like a supposed family emergency or a financial crisis, prompting victims to act quickly without verifying the situation. However, the technology isn’t foolproof, and there are ways to spot a deepfake scam.
You might catch it based on weird phrases or inflections the caller uses. See whether the speaking style and mannerisms truly match the person they’re supposed to be impersonating. If the situation feels suspicious or off, ask the caller to say something only the original person would know the answer to. As a last resort, you can end the conversation and contact the original person through other communication channels to confirm whether they contacted you and verify the authenticity of the call.
2. SIM Swap Fraud
Since smartphones have become the hubs of most people’s digital activity, finding ways to compromise them has become a top priority for hackers. Traditional SIMs remain one of the smartphone’s most archaic aspects and among the most vulnerable.
Hackers who steal your phone number through mundane attacks like phishing and data breaches may contact your service provider and ask for a new SIM. Once activated, they can use that SIM to receive your 2FA codes and take over any account for which they know the login details.
The solution? Ditching physical SIMs altogether. Your smartphone most likely has an embedded eSIM chip that can completely replace physical cards. Better yet, it lets you switch between carriers and get access to the best rates and network coverage. All you need is a reliable eSIM Europe or other region provider to make the change.
3. Quishing
QR codes have become a very popular and convenient way for businesses to engage with new customers. Usually, QR codes are used to provide extra information about new products, invite users to follow the business on social media channels, or even join their communities. However, QR codes are also an effective attack vector since traditional email scanners don’t flag the links inside them as dangerous.
This puts a whole new spin on phishing, making it easier for careless recipients to have their account credentials, personal info, or finances stolen. Never scan suspicious QR codes you see as email attachments, let alone interact with the sites they send you to. Also, avoid scanning QR codes in public spaces, like posters and stickers, as hackers can replace them with their own and lead you to interact with an infected site. On the other hand, verified campaigns like Dear Lottery use QR codes securely to connect with participants.
4. Pig Butchering Scams
Made popular during the pandemic, pig butchering takes elements of older romance and investment scams to trick victims into losing large amounts of money.
It starts by gaining trust through expressing romantic interest and deepening the “relationship.” The scammers then steer victims toward an investment “opportunity” and even let them withdraw some gains to make the whole thing appear legitimate. However, problems arise after significant investments, leaving victims with large gains and broken hearts.
Since many pig butchering scams begin with “accidental” contact, confirm the identity of the other person. Don’t let emotion get in the way of sound judgment when finances are on the line, and report any suspicious behavior to the authorities.
Don’t Become a Victim of Surprising Scams
Nowadays, it’s more important than ever to be cautious about what you interact with online and the information you expose to the digital world. New scam trends, like deepfakes, SIM fraud, quishing, and pig butchering, show the limitless creativity of hackers. So, use the tactics we provided in this article to tackle these scams, and you’ll be sure to protect yourself from becoming a victim.