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Tag: scam

Adam Engst 8 comments

Gift Card Scam Funnels Millions in Apple Devices Through New Hampshire Warehouses

Criminals are stealing gift card numbers from retail shelves, replacing them, draining them when purchasers load funds, and using the proceeds to buy Apple products for export—yet another reason to avoid physical gift cards.

Adam Engst 20 comments

Beware Greeting Card Scams from Trusted Senders

Scammers are hijacking email accounts to send fake party invitations that look like they’re from friends, and even experienced users are falling for them. Learn the red flags, how to alert an affected friend, and what to do if you’re caught.

Adam Engst 4 comments

Reuters Exposes Meta’s Tactics to Avoid Scam Ad Oversight

Meta earns as much as $7 billion annually from high-risk scam ads—according to a Reuters exposé. Rather than spend $2 billion on universal verification to prevent fraud, internal documents reveal the company developed a “playbook” to deflect regulators.

Glenn Fleishman 6 comments

Add Protection from Scammers with Cyber Insurance

While early identification of phishing and other online fraud is your first line of defense, a solid cyber insurance policy could save your bacon from “pig butchering.”

Adam Engst No comments

Explaining the Latest Online Scams on CCATP

Adam Engst and Allison Sheridan delve into the latest online scams, offering practical tips to help you steer clear of these digital traps.

Adam Engst 11 comments

Beware Obituary Scam Sites and Fake iPhone Security Warnings

After a TidBITS reader encountered security warnings on an obituary site, Adam Engst investigated: both the site and the warnings were fake, aiming to trick people into downloading system cleaner or VPN apps. Learn how to identify such scams.

Adam Engst 8 comments

Beware of Copyright Infringement Link Insertion Scams

Website owners should be aware of a relatively new scam email claiming that their site features an unauthorized image, demanding the addition of attribution and a link. At first glance, the message and supporting materials may appear legitimate, but they crumble under closer inspection. Here’s how to recognize these scams.

Adam Engst No comments

Apple Explains How to Identify Social Engineering Attacks

Apple has updated a support document with helpful advice about how to identify and report social engineering attacks such as phishing messages, phony support calls, and more. Share it widely!

Glenn Fleishman 10 comments

How To Avoid AI Voice Impersonation and Similar Scams

The “grandparent scam” goes back almost 20 years, but it and similar frauds are gaining new traction through AI voice impersonation. Protect your family, friends, and colleagues with advance planning.

Josh Centers 3 comments

Walmart.com Listed Fake 30 TB SSDs For Sale

A security researcher discovered a 30 TB SSD on Walmart’s website for under $18. He bought one and cracked it open to learn just how it was too good to be true.

Adam Engst 19 comments

How to Help a Friend Whose Email Has Been Hacked to Send Scams

After receiving three separate scam solicitations from acquaintances whose email accounts had been taken over by scammers, Adam Engst explains how the scam works and what you can do to protect yourself and help others who have been hacked.

Glenn Fleishman 64 comments

Caller ID Authentication May Tame the Scourge of Spam Calls

Two interlocking technologies that phone carriers began rolling out a couple of years ago are helping dramatically reduce unwanted calls from spammers and fraudsters, while giving law enforcement better tools to track those that remain.

Josh Centers 10 comments

Beware New Bitcoin Extortion Scam That Uses Stolen Passwords

A new email scam claims to have images of you viewing pornography, and to make its assertion more convincing, it includes an old leaked password in the message. Don’t be fooled.

Adam Engst 27 comments

Beware “iCloud Breach” Phone Scam

Apple users report receiving multiple automated calls per day from a scammer claiming to be “Apple Support Care” and warning of an iCloud breach. Just hang up and get a call-blocking app.