Although the internet has revolutionized nearly every concept in our lives, users are now wise to be vigilant to predators who look to misuse this global medium. Users are now educated enough to recognize and not fall victim to the old traditional online scams; the unfortunate reality is those old scams are quickly evolving and becoming more and more sophisticated. Scammers are now using persuasive social engineering tactics and claim to be part of well-known companies that we would typically trust our personal data to such as Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and even Netflix.
The modern phishing scams usually involve sending thousands of users a template email that looks like it’s coming from a legitimate company claiming that user account either needs to follow a specific link to reset their password because their account has been compromised or a request to validate an account with more personal information. Another increasingly popular phishing scam involves receiving a random phone call from a “Certified Technician” whom claims to be working for a reputable company stating that they need remote access to your computer because your computer came up as severally infected with viruses or malware. The perpetrator claims they are going to clean out these viruses for you, but for a fee. I’ve known people who have paid this fee because they truly believed they were doing the right thing. The sad truth is these victims just gave these unknown strangers access to their computer which holds their personal information and data stored on the computer. Even worse, the scammer can now remotely access their computer anytime they like. Usually the only way to remove their access involves backing up personal data (documents, photos, music, etc.) and completely wiping/restoring the computer back to factory defaults, which takes time and often money to pay professionals for assistance.
These are just a couple of ever-increasing popular scams that have victimized millions of people all around the world. Internet users need to stay vigilant and always question any suspicious emails or anybody requesting personal information to protect themselves. Keep in mind no tech company will ever ask for your passwords or personal information, EVER. Another great way to ensure your accounts don’t easily get compromised would be to make sure you use security software and multi-factor authentication.
Lastly if you ever suspect you might have been compromised or fallen victim to a phishing scam then, quickly change the password to ALL your online accounts. If the scammer has your personal information such as credit card, bank account numbers, or social security go to IdentityTheft.gov, where a guide will assist you on taking certain steps based on the information that has been compromised. You can also always report phishing and other scams to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint.