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Google launches a new website to educate people about online scams

Wilbur Rodgers
June 02, 2020
2 minutes read
341

Hackers are more active during the COVID-19 outbreak than normal routine, considering which Google has introduced a new website to assist people in identifying and preventing internet fraud.

A New Website by Google will Educate People about Preventing Online Scams https://t.co/kupo9s9Y2U pic.twitter.com/eea3bqRng3
— Digitaliworld (@digitaliworld) June 1, 2020

Scamspotter is a website that would inform people regarding how to detect bogus stimulus checks, fake vaccine offers, or other false COVID-19 information. The common techniques adopted by fraudsters are also detected on the website e.g. romance scammers requesting to buy them a gift card or send money.

The website is a collaboration between Google and Cybercrime Support Network, a nonprofit company that assists the victims of internet scams and fraud. Quizzes related to common fraud situations are also available on the internet to aid people in identifying scams, like receiving a message about winning a contest even if a user has not taken part in one.

According to Google, the fraudsters have alarmingly exploited the outbreak. Federal Trade Commission announced that during the COVID-19 epidemic, Americans have approximately lost $40 million to various online scams. It is further predicted that in 2020, more than $2 billion will be stolen through Coronavirus-related or other online scams.

Federal Trade Commission also informed regarding the recent contact tracing scam through text message, a technique used for tracking the spread of the virus. Scammers ask personal information including security number, bank account, or at times credit card number.

The aim of the website is to enlighten and aware the elderly who are more susceptible to scams and lose a greater amount of money as compared to younger citizens, according to Google. The website also urges young people to spread the information to the senior people around them.

Vint Cerf, Google Vice President, stated that it is crucial for everyone to learn to identify the scams for which everyone should put in the effort.

Sign to Know you are a victim of SIM swap fraud:

It can be a challenge to stay a step ahead of SIM swap scams. But there are always some warning signs so you can put a halt to fraudsters’ access as soon as you know those signs. Here are some of those signs:

One warning sign, which is very common, is social media activity that isn’t yours. Any social status upload or tweet which you have not done alerts you to the breach.

The other big sign is when your phone calls and texts aren’t going through. This may happen when the scammer deactivates your SIM and uses your phone number so you are unable to make calls or texts.

If you get a notification that your SIM card has been activated on another device you’ll know you are a victim. So never ignore your notifications!

If you lose access to your accounts and your login credentials no longer work, it’s most likely that they have been taken over through your number. In such a case, without losing a minute, contact your bank or other organization immediately.

SIM swapping due to poor ID verification process?

SIM swapping has become a significant threat for users as a large number of users are having their lifetime savings and invaluable data stolen from under their eyes. This is happening solely because mobile operators are seemingly failing to take reasonable steps to prevent these criminal hackers. They need to have proper identity verification checks so that they can restrain fraudsters from gaining access to anyone’s SIM.

SIM-swap-related incidents have increased sharply over the past few years because the telecommunication industry lax identity verification checks and make customers vulnerable to a variety of different hack attempts.

10 million free ID verifications to fight COVID-19 outbreak. Details Here

Google launches a new website to educate people about online scams

What is SIM Swapping Scam?

How does it work?

SIM Swap Hackers Targeting Crypto Investors- Some Examples:

Sign to Know you are a victim of SIM swap fraud:

SIM swapping due to poor ID verification process?

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