Credential scam with a clever twist
Online hackers are always on the prowl for new victims. Sometimes they can be large-scale, like the Colonial Pipeline, but most often, scammers aim to prey on individuals and small- to medium-size businesses. Awareness is the best defense. KnowBe4.com is a world leader in security awareness training. They recently highlighted an emerging cybersecurity scam with […]
COVID relief measures target of online scams
While Covid has changed just about everything, scam artists remain up to their old tricks. Some of their tactics may have changed, but at their core, con artists attempt to take advantage of uncertainty and fear surrounding the pandemic to separate their victims from their money. The IRS released its list of Dirty Dozen tax […]
Coronavirus relief efforts create rich environment for fraud
Between economic impact payments, small business loans through the Paycheck Protection Program, emergency sick and leave requirements, and other coronavirus-related relief efforts, we are in a target-rich environment for fraud. Everything is moving very quickly, and individuals and business owners desperately need financial relief being offered by the government, banks, and employers. Fraudsters will take […]
IRS impersonation scam gains momentum
With the deadline for filing extended tax returns having just passed, taxpayers need to be extra cautious about emails that appear to come from the IRS. The IRS recently announced that there has been a spike in an IRS impersonation scam. Targets of the scam have reported receiving emails from what looks like a legitimate […]
Think you’re too big to be hacked? Think again
No organization is too big to be hacked. It seems there are almost daily reports about large companies that have fallen victim to hackers. In most circumstances, the hackers will gain access to the account and set up rules and additional folders through the settings that will automatically forward emails containing financial data to an […]
Don’t fall victim to one of the ‘Dirty Dozen’ tax schemes
Accountants are not the only ones working overtime during tax season. Scammers take advantage of this time of year to prey on taxpayers to try to steal their money and identity. The IRS has begun compiling its perennial “Dirty Dozen” list of the common scams that tend to peak during the tax filing months. As […]
CEO fraud is a ‘whale’ of an email scam
Con artists are no longer content to phish for small targets – now they are trying to hook a whale. “Whaling” is another version of email phishing attacks that is gaining momentum. While most phishing attacks cast a wide net, hoping to attract as many victims as possible with a variety of email scams, whaling […]
‘Vishing’ is the new phishing
Technology is becoming more sophisticated, and so are scammers trying to separate you from your money. Most people are aware of phishing scams, those where a criminal sends an email requesting sensitive bank account information or personal identification information. While the tactics have gotten a little more inventive, there are certain tell-tale signs that tip […]
Phishing scams are everywhere so be sure to know the signs
Whether it’s an email, a phone call or a solicitation through social media, scams abound and it’s up to all of us to be aware. While they take different forms using various platforms, most scams have a few things in common that can serve as tell-tale signs the communications are not legitimate. Some of the […]
Beware of these ‘Dirty Dozen’ tax scams
As tax season is heating up, so are the scams. The Internal Revenue Service has rolled out its annual “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams for the 2018 filing season. Many of the scams are perennial, showing up year after year, while others have a new twist on an old con. One such example is […]