Scam What Am

First today we will chat about last week’s article, “New Microsoft Feature, Intellectual Interface.” I hope you read it the day it was published on 04/01/25 (yes, April 1st, or April Fool’s Day). Now you get what I did. None of that article was true, but I had fun anyway. I hope you did/do to…now at least. That is the first time in 20+ years of writing this column that I have had an article hit on April First, so I ran with it. 

On to real life today. Let us chat about something essential in our digital world: phishing scams. Of course, any type of scam is bad news for us…if you get scammed. I have talked about them in the past, but they continue on, and I get questions regularly regarding them. You know, they are sneaky attempts to trick you into giving away your personal info. They also try to make you click on dodgy links.

First, let us talk about the classic, email phishing. It is like the granddaddy of all scams, but do not underestimate it! These days, scammers are upping their game. They are creating emails that look so legit, you would swear they are from your bank or favorite online store. They have gotten the logos down pat, and they may even throw in some personal details about you. Their goal? To get you to click on a link or download an attachment that will cause all sorts of trouble. So, always double-check those sender addresses and think twice before clicking anything.

Now, let us get a bit more specific with spear phishing and whaling. Scammers target you or any single person with spear phishing. They may use information they have dug up about you online. An example would be, an attacker impersonates a company executive and requests a wire transfer from the finance department. In 2016, a massive networking company lost $46.7 million in such an attack. I have a friend who fell for a romance spear attack to the tune of over $2,000 last year.

What is whaling? That is when they go after the big fish. These include CEOs and other executives. They target people with access to privileged information and data. There is a case involving the CEO of a large company. He was removed from his position after falling for a whaling attack. This resulted in the finance department transferring $56 million to swindlers.

These types of attacks are super personalized and can be hard to spot. This is because the bad guys have done their homework on the specific person(s) they are going to scam.

But wait, there is more! Phishing is not just about emails anymore. Enter smishing and vishing – fancy terms for SMS (texting) and voice phishing. Yep, those pesky scammers are sliding into your text messages and even giving you a call. They might send you a text with a link. It may appear to be from your delivery company. They may also call while pretending to be tech support for your computer. The key here is to never give out personal info over the phone or click on links in unexpected texts.

Now, here is where things get really wild: Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven scams. As generative AI advances, scammers can create super convincing video calls. They can even replicate the voice of your loved ones. Imagine receiving a call from your “granddaughter” asking for money. It is not really her. It is just a superb AI imitation. They are also using AI to craft personalized scams based on your social media activity. So, if you have been posting about your love for alligators online, do not be surprised. You will get a phishing advertisement, or message, related to a reptile charity. Of course, it will specialize in alligator rights.

There is also this thing called Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS). Basically, beginning scammers can buy ready-made phishing kits online. It is like scamming for dummies, and it is making these attacks more common than ever.

So, what can you do to stay safe? Always double-check who is sending you messages. If something feels off, it probably is. Be super cautious about urgent requests or deals that seem too good to be true – they usually are. Do not click on links you were not expecting. Refrain from opening attachments you were not expecting, even if they seem to come from someone you know. You can email them, with their published business, email address, and ask them if they sent it. Or you could even call them and ask along with a friendly chat about life.

Keep your security software up to date. Never be anxious to reach out directly to companies. Do this if you are unsure about a message you have received from them. According to USA Today (11/07/24) “The hardest-hit victims were in the U.S. The average loss per scam victim was $3,520. Victims in Denmark lost $3,067. Those in Switzerland lost $2,980.”

Remember, staying safe online is an ongoing process. Scammers are always coming up with new tricks, so it is important to stay informed and vigilant. But do not let it stress you out. With a bit of caution and common sense, you can navigate the digital world safely. Stay sharp, trust your gut, and when in doubt, never click!