“Hello, this is your bank’s security service” or “Shut up and take my money!”

“Hello, this is the bank security service! A suspicious transaction has been noticed…”

Surely, many of you have heard such a phrase on the phone, and it’s good if at that moment you hung up and did not continue the conversation.

In this article, I would like to talk with you about the types of fraud in the modern world, and I also want you to share your own experiences of communicating with scammers (sad or funny) so that in future people will be more vigilant.

One article cannot cover the entire scope of this problem, but the topic is important, and I want it not to be forgotten and remembered.

According to research Yandex 360 for business and NAFI6 out of 10 Russians fell for malicious spam at least once. In most cases, people click phishing links or download dangerous attachments, which can lead to data leaks and financial losses.

How can we be deceived?
How can we be deceived? There are many types and tricks with which we can be deceived. Attackers can impersonate employees of popular organizations, report an “account problem,” or offer “winnings” in a lottery. They often try to create a sense of urgency to get people to quickly click on a link or download a program. This helps them gain access to the victim's personal information, passwords and bank card details. Even careful users cannot always avoid this trap, since scammers are able to make their schemes very convincing. Let's talk about the main types of fraud.

Types of fraud

Call or letter from technical support (Technical support scam)

Probably the most common type fraudwhen intruders call or write to you. They pretend to be support staff from well-known companies, such as Microsoft or Apple, and convince the victim that there is a serious problem with their device. It usually starts with an unexpected call, message, or pop-up window on your computer screen warning you about viruses or threats. Fraudsters, creating an atmosphere of anxiety, offer “help” and ask to install special software for remote access or go to a fake website. By trusting “specialists,” the victim gives them access to his device, which allows attackers to install malware, steal personal data, or obtain financial information.

Personally, a long time ago, when this all started, they called me from the Sberbank security service and said that there were suspicious transactions, and, of course, they wanted to find out my personal data. To all my questions and clarifications, answers were prepared as to why it was necessary to do this and not another. I remember exactly that I said that I would call technical support back and clarify. To this they told me that the matter was very urgent and if I called back myself, my money would already be debited, etc. Fortunately, in the end I just hung up, and when I called the bank, I realized that I was talking to scammers. At that time, this was not so common, and anyone could be taken by surprise.

Phishing

This is a type of Internetfraudin which attackers try to deceive the user’s personal data, such as logins, passwords, bank card data and other confidential information. Scammers typically masquerade as representatives of well-known companies, banks, or government agencies, sending emails, social media posts, or text messages that appear official. These messages often contain links leading to fake sites that look like real ones, or requests to transfer data under various pretexts, for example, to verify an account. The main goal of phishing is to gain access to information that can later be used to steal funds or other criminal activities.

If your company has information security officers, they may conduct what are called exercises. The company sends employees simulated phishing emails that look as close as possible to real messages. If an employee falls for the trick and clicks on a link or enters data, the system records this. Then they explain to him what mistakes were made and how they could have been avoided.

Social media

Through social media networks can deceive users into obtaining their personal information, money or access to accounts. Attackers create fake accounts, masquerading as friends, colleagues or well-known brands, and send messages to victims asking for help, links to “winnings” or fake discount offers.

Again, I'll add my own experience. One day my VKontakte page was hacked, and people started writing to friends on my behalf asking them to send money. It’s good that they contacted me directly and checked if everything was okay with me.

Online dating scammers

Yes and this happens. They usually present themselves as attractive and outgoing people, quickly gaining trust and then building an emotional connection. Once contact is established, the scammer may ask for money, citing an urgent need (illness, money problems, or a ticket to a meeting), or try to obtain other valuable information. These criminals exploit the victims' feelings and gullibility, preying on their hopes of building a relationship, and often leave as soon as they get what they want.

I've heard about online dating “plate makers”. The word “saucer” is increasingly appearing in the vocabulary of men and refers to girls who, in their opinion, agree to dates for a free dinner and then disappear without a trace. For their part, girls look down on such men and are ready to pay the bill themselves, just to avoid reproaches from those whom they ironically call “rogues.”

Fraudsters fake voices

It's a new trick scammersWhere intruders use speech synthesis technology to imitate the voice of a loved one. By obtaining a voice sample (for example, from social media or a video), scammers can create an audio recording that sounds like the relative's real voice. Then they call the victim, introducing themselves as this person, and, for example, ask to urgently transfer money for “treatment,” “salvation from problems,” or other imaginary needs. Such schemes work on surprise and pressure, because a person may believe that it is really his loved one in trouble and not immediately recognize the deception.

Charity scam

This is a type of deception in which attackers pretend to be representatives of fictitious foundations or fake charities. They approach people with requests for donations, supposedly for urgent needs, such as helping the sick or victims of disasters. Using trust and a desire to help, scammers collect money into their accounts. To avoid becoming a victimit is important to check organizations and only donate through official channels.

Extortionists and blackmailers

Extortionists and blackmailers are criminals who threaten victims with disclosure of compromising information or physical violence unless they receive money or other benefits. Blackmail often occurs on the Internet, where attackers use personal data or intimate materials as leverage. Such actions cause fear and stress in victims, which may cause them to give in to the ransomware's demands. To avoid such situations, it is important not to disclose personal information to strangers.

What to do?

Fraud takes many forms, including phishing, social media scams, extortion, and voter fraud, all of which are designed to deceive and manipulate victims. To protect against these threats, it is important to be vigilant: do not reveal personal information to strangers, check sources before trusting messages and calls, and use strong passwords. Education and awareness of various scams also plays a key role in preventing scams. Regular training and attention to security will help minimize risks and protect yourself from scammers.

Dear reader, thank you for your attention! Let me remind you once again that with this article I wanted to draw attention to the problem of fraud on the Internet. And, of course, it is very interesting to read about your experiences (sad or funny).

Maybe they tried to deceive you in some way that I did not list here? Tell us in the comments ↓