Phishing is not done at sea
By Theon Alleyne, CRCP, CCEP , USA Senior Managing Consultant, IBM
Phishing is not done at sea. It is a land based activity where fraudsters try to get you to take the bait.
๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ฎ Scam
๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ค, ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐โ๐ฅ ๐ก๐๐ช ๐๐ ๐ฃ ๐๐ฅ, ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐. ๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐ฅ ๐๐ฃ๐๐. ~ Theon Alleyne
Your email address is out there. Some of us shared it publicly, for others, it was part of a massive data dump by fraudsters.
Remember that email you or a relative received saying โBecause you are a member of this small business groupโ, or โYour application for the grant has been approvedโ. You donโt recall applying for it, but it is sure exciting to get free money.
But, what about the next few lines in the message?
It often goes something like this โ๐๐ฐ ๐จ๐ฆ๐ต ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐จ๐ณ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต, ๐ด๐ช๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ญ๐บ ๐จ๐ช๐ท๐ฆ ๐ถ๐ด ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ค๐ฌ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ข๐ค๐ค๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ต ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ณ, ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ธ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ช๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฅ๐ช๐ณ๐ฆ๐ค๐ต-๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ด๐ช๐ต ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐จ๐ณ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต ๐ช๐ฏ๐ต๐ฐ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ค๐ค๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ต!โ ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
That is what the scammers are after. Your banking details. When you give it, you pay the price. Nothing is free.
Always safeguard your banking details and resist free money.
Amazon and Package deliveries fraud
โIf you didnโt order it, and you werenโt expecting it, chances are, it is part of a scam.โ ~ Theon Alleyne
There are two types of delivery phishing scams to discuss. Letโs get into the first called the โAmazon brushing scamโ.
Amazon brushing scam
Some people have been very lucky recently, and they are finding items they didnโt order online, arrive at their home.
If you say, โWow, I always wanted this power drill and these titanium screwsโ, then you may be applying the tools to yourself.
The bad actors are creating Fake Accounts in your name, and buying products, so that they can create โverified purchaserโ comments on Amazon for sellers. The sellers often have no idea that the positive review about their product is part of a scam.
Their next goal of the fraudsters may be actual purchases using your bank or credit card which you did not authorize.
You can stop this fraud by notifying the online store of discrepancy of receiving items you didnโt order. Then monitor your financial statements for activity you did not authorize.
Being proactive stops fraud.
Delivery phishing Scam
The one step delivery phishing scam, is the authentic looking package delivery text or email that simply asks for your personal data very nicely.
The message is usually bad news that you can remedy by sharing your information, and there is always a sense of urgency for you to act.
It may be that the packages will be delayed, or canโt be delivered until you take action. For example, verify your identity by providing your debit / credit card information or other personal data.
If you provide the information, the bad actors win.
You can avoid delivery phishing scams by calling the delivery vendor directly or visiting the delivery vendorโs website to inquire about the package.
What ever you do, donโt click on the links in the text or email, or call the phone number in it. Doing so will deliver you to the sharks.
Computer Technical Support Scamย
Now we will examine a scam that often targets the vulnerable among us, senior citizens.
Have you received a pop-up message on your mobile phone, or computer that your device is infected?
Often you are encouraged to click the link or call the telephone number listed to get rid of the virus.
Donโt call and donโt click the link.
Instead, pause and ask the opinion of someone you trust. There is a high likelihood they will tell you it is a scam.
Calling or clicking can lead to a ransomware attack and a lost of data, funds, or both.
If you have been attacked, report it to the authorities. You may be able to protect someone else.
Remember, you donโt give a stranger your car keys, so why give them your password or access to your device?
Currently he is currently working as Senior Managing Consultant at IBM . Previously he has held positions as Executive Director J.P. Morgan, Examination Manager ,Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) andPrincipal Investigator at NYSE.
His area of expertise liesin process, policies, and procedures improvement. He has Led Technical implementation of software to enable Financial Crimes Compliance and Fraud Detection and Mitigation.
He is passionate about social justice and survival issues.
Mr. Theonis Master of Public Administration - Inspector General Program (Inspection and Oversight), BSc Criminal Justice , Certified Regulatory & Compliance Professional (FINRA Institute at Wharton) Securities Law and Securities Regulation and Certified Ethics and Compliance Professional.
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