Other Cyber Security Threats

Social Engineering

Social engineering is the use of deception to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential or personal information that may be used for fraudulent purposes

Example: Fraud calls from Bank, Police, other govt. entities, etc.

Tips

Ask for proof of identity - find out who you are talking to and what they know about you
Never disclose your personal information - username, password, credit card or any other payment details, etc.
Trust your Instinct – It is designed to make you feel awkward
Do your due diligence, and ask yourself why you would do that

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Shortened links

By using URL shortener (Bit.ly, Tiny URL, etc.) we can reduce our links of 300 characters to the 15 characters. It is extremely common and helpful, but... Abused by criminals to hide malicious websites, so before clicking the link make sure that you received link from a valid source or use link expander

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QR Code

Anyone can create a QR code by using several free online tools. This makes QR codes easy for businesses to use but it is also easy for scammers to take advantage of them.

QR code scams take advantage of the fact that the human eye cannot “read” a QR code — so we need to trust that the code is taking us to the right URL or doing what it is supposed to do.

What Happens If You Scan a Fake QR Code?

You could be taken to a “phishing website.”
Your device could be infected by malware
The QR code could send an email from your account.

Latest QR Code Scams

QR code scams on parking meters and other contactless payments
Fake QR codes sent in phishing emails (failed payments, credential phishing, etc.)
Tampered QR codes in restaurants
Fake QR codes sent through the mail (surveys, sweepstakes, etc.)
QR codes at COVID-19 testing centers
QR codes sent over social media (hacked accounts)
Cryptocurrency QR code scams
Fake QR code scanner apps that download malware
QR codes on unexpected package deliveries
Protect Yourself from Fake QR Codes

Look for signs of tampering

Scammers will often replace legitimate QR codes with their own fraudulent ones. Check to see if the code is on a sticker above another one, or if there are signs it has been tampered with.

Preview the URL before following the QR code

Your phone will tell you the destination to which a QR code is trying to send you. Check the URL to see if it seems safe (or ask a member of the staff if you are in a restaurant). If the URL is shortened and unreadable, you should be extra cautious.

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