Greg's Corner

Updates from October, 2019 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Geebo 8:00 am on October 3, 2019 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: cybersecurity ( 34 ), formjacking, security ( 46 )   

  New online attack is undetectable! 

  

  With most online threats there is a lot that consumers can do to protect themselves. For example, with phishing attacks, you can go to a website directly rather than using the link provided in an email or text. To avoid malware you can avoid risky websites and install an anti-malware program in case you do get infected. However, security experts are now warning about an online threat that has virtually no protection. It’s called formjacking and there’s no way to detect it until it’s too late.

  Formjacking is when a third-party injects code into a secure website that uses forms for anything from a job application to payment methods. If a website has been compromised then the attackers can lift any information submitted through the form. As you can imagine, this can include your home address, your social security number, and any credit or debit card numbers. The only defense against formjacking is for the company that owns the website to do a constant review of the site’s code to make sure there is no malicious code in there.

  [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeRxFynfvLE%5D

  Not all hope is lost though. There are services that can provide you with temporary charge card numbers that can be assigned to individual services that you may use. Your bank or credit card provider may also offer such a service. Both Google and Apple Pay are reportedly said to be secure as well. But we fill out so many forms online there isn’t anything that can guarantee 100% protection. Your best defense is to keep a watchful eye on your charge statements and credit history to make sure that no one has lifted your information and used it for their gain.

   

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  Geebo 8:00 am on October 2, 2019 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: malware ( 25 ), military ( 10 ), phishing ( 73 ), veterans ( 8 )   

  Malware attack targets veterans 

  

  Most online scams and attacks tend to target vulnerable groups of people such as the elderly, low-income families, and those in desperate need of a home. This new attack is no different, however, it’s targeting a group of people who have not only served their country but often find themselves needing resources more so than many other members of society. We’re of course talking about military veterans. Some of them are dealing with enough problems without having to deal with scammers and other bad actors but unfortunately, there are always people looking to take advantage of a bad situation.

  A number of internet security firms have reported that there is a malware attack floating around that targets veterans who are looking for employment. The veterans are lured to a site that resembles one run by the US Chamber of Commerce that is supposed to help veterans find work. Instead, this phony website infects the user’s computer with malware that is designed to steal personal that’s kept on the device. While it has not been determined what specific information is being stolen one can imagine the myriad of scams that information could be used for especially when it concerns someone who may be receiving government benefits or assistance. Sadly, this isn’t the only scam that targets veterans.

  [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryjbgmD4Z2o%5D

  Another scam that veterans should be on the lookout for is the benefit buyout scam as shown in the video above. There are also scams promising refinancing on VA loans with bogus promises of low rates along with phishing attacks from phony emails that appear to be from the VA. That’s in addition to employment scams that are identical to the ones civilians fall prey to but in this case, they are specifically targeted at vets. If an offer sounds too good to be true it is recommended that you check with your local VA office for additional information.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on October 1, 2019 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: campers ( 3 ), eBay ( 16 ), gift cards ( 98 ), Scams ( 1,217 )   

  Don’t ignore the red flags of an online scam 

  

  A story recently came out from the Allentown, Pennsylvania area about a man who was scammed out of $2,500. The man was looking to buy a camper and found one on an online listing. The number of red flags that we noticed while reading this story could have been its own semaphore corps. While you may be aware of the signs to look out for when purchasing something online, unfortunately, not everybody is. So every once in a while we like to go over some of the more common scams in order to educate those who may not be aware of them.

  As we’ve said, this scam is an example of a typical scam that you’ll find online. When the man responded to the local ad for the camper he was told by the person who placed the ad that he would have to deal with the ad placer’s mother since it was her camper. The ‘mother’ said that she was stationed with the Air Force and was getting rid of the camper because she was retiring. However, the camper was currently located in Minot, North Dakota. That’s roughly 1,700 mikes from the Allentown area. The man was then told that the transaction would be handled through eBay and all he would need to do to have the camper shipped to him was send the asking price in eBay gift cards. After the man paid the initial $2,000 the woman said she needed $1,000 more for shipping and insurance. The man was able to talk her down to $500 but still paid in eBay gift cards.

  [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEQY7k9CGOI%5D

  By now you’ve probably guessed there was no camper and sadly, the victim was out $2,500. For many of us that can be a life saving’s worth of money. The first red flag that should have been noticed is that the ad placer handed off the transaction to someone else. The second red flag was the seller claiming to be in the military. That’s often used as a reason as to why the item is either miles away or why the item can’t be inspected. Many scammers will try to pressure the victim into buying the item sight unseen because the scammer claims they’re shipping out immediately. The next red flag was the transaction supposedly being shifted from the classifieds ad to eBay. While eBay does sell vehicles, they only do so through listings on their site and not as a third-party between people who list their vehicles on other marketplaces. The gift cards should have been the biggest red flag as once the serial numbers are given to the phony seller they can make off with your money largely untraced. Lastly, scammers will always try to get even more money from a victim if they were able to before.

  The more people who are forewarned of such a scam will be better able to spot a scam like this in the future. So please, if you know someone who may be vulnerable to this type of scam please share this story and our blog with then for more consumer protection advice.