What is Cybercrime?
Cybercrime is the age-old crime of fraud using email messages, smartphone texts, robocalls, and password hacking. If you have an email address or smartphone, you will receive spam designed to initiate fraudulent attempts to steal information from you. If you have online accounts for shopping, banking, or other services, chances are some of your information has already been hacked and posted on the internet. Cybercrime is hugely successful, but you don’t have to be a statistic. This course will help you learn how to recognize and avoid online threats and protect your accounts from anyone— even if they get your password!
Cybercriminals need your help to be successful. They need you to click a button or reply to an email, or perhaps engage with them in a phone call. A cybercrook can’t reach into your computer and install malware or open a dangerous website on his own. A cybercrook can’t divine your passwords by simply sending an email or text. Cybercrooks rely on you to make a mistake to be successful.
Most scams are variations on the same frauds and schemes
Every year you can find last year’s and last century’s frauds recycled among new frauds. Have you seen any of these?
- IRS scams (peak around tax time)
- Medicare scams (target seniors)
- Fake funding campaigns (especially after natural disasters)
- Oldies but goodies (the Nigerian Prince still needs help moving his wealth)
- Employment scams (they soared in 2020-2021 because of government unemployment benefits)
- Computer tech support scams (scaring people is always popular)
- Job scams (because who doesn’t want to be a secret shopper?)
Fraud variations are endless–they are limited only by a scammer’s imagination.
All frauds have something in common–social engineering! If you recognize the signs of social engineering, then you can recognize any scam. Read on to find out more about how scammers use human emotion to engineer a response from would-be victims.
Are you a target for cybercriminals?
If you are online or use any of today’s technology, then you can expect to be targeted by scammers. Watch this video to learn more.