Cyber Criminals are preying on those wishing to provide financial help to victims of Hurricane Harvey, in Texas, using social media sites and email. This isn’t the first time these deceptive methods have been used and it won’t be the last.
Scammers are tricking people into clicking on links on Facebook and Twitter as well as through emails, trying to solicit donations for the flood victims.
Examples include:
- Scan websites are appearing on Facebook pages dedicated to victim relief. Any donations made are going into the pockets of Cyber Criminals; not to help flood victims.
- Tweets are going out with links to what appear to be charitable websites, but that actually link to false donation sites. Sometimes these links lead to a malware infection on your computer.
- Phishing emails (ones that appear to be from a legitimate source), are also appearing, asking for donations via links to false web sites.
The best advice, if you wish to make an on-line donation, is to go directly to the website of your chosen charity by typing the address in your Internet browser. A list of reputable charities can be found on the Global News web site here.
It should be noted that links relating to other types of ads or alluring headlines can be found on Facebook, Twitter and in your email, which can likewise lead to cyber attacks or other consequences. One must always be wary and THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK!
For organizations wishing to do testing and training of employees on how to spot, and guard against being tricked to click, BSC Solutions Group offers such a service. Contact us today for more details and beef up your Cyber Criminal Defenses.
