It’s your bank or credit union on the line asking for your account information – or is it? It may actually be a spoofing scam!
Let’s take a look at spoofing, how it works and red flags that can alert you to a possible spoofing scam. What is spoofing? Spoofing is the criminal act of disguising a communication from an unknown source to appear as if it’s being sent from a trusted and known contact. The ultimate goal of spoofing is to get the target to share their sensitive information and/or their money with the scammer. For example, a spoofer may pretend to represent a victim’s credit card company and lead them into sharing their account details. Types of spoofing Cybercriminals have a variety of ways to pull off their spoofing. Here are the more common forms: Email spoofingIn email spoofing, an attacker sends an email message that appears to be from a known or trusted source. The emails often include links to harmful websites or attachments that will infect the victim’s device. IP spoofingIn IP spoofing, an attacker tries to gain access to a system by sending messages via a bogus or spoofed ID address appearing to be from a recognized, trusted source, such as one on the same internal computer network. Caller ID spoofingHere, attackers make a phone call to a target that appears to be from a known caller. The scammer will often pose as the victim’s bank or credit union. The victim, believing they are speaking with a representative of their financial institution, will not hesitate to disclose their account information and passwords. Facial spoofing In this most recent form of spoofing, a scammer uses a photo or video of a target’s face to simulate their facial biometrics. This enables them to unlock accounts that can only be opened by facial recognition. Website spoofing In website spoofing, a scammer creates a bogus site that looks just like a reputable site the victim frequents. Attackers lure victims to this site to steal their login credentials and personal info. Text-message spoofingIn this scam, also known as smishing, a victim gets a text message on their personal device that appears to have been sent from a trusted source, such as the victim’s financial institution, place of work or doctor’s office. Deepfakes and spoofing Deepfakes is a relatively new and dangerous tool for spoofers. A deepfake is a fake image, video or audio clip that has been edited to appear authentic. For example, a scammer may create a deepfake video using an image and audio recording of a celebrity to make it appear as if they are telling you to open a link or support a specific cause. Protect yourself Spoofing is a formidable danger for consumers across the economic spectrum, but with the right tools and knowledge, you can avoid falling victim to these scams. Here’s how to protect yourself from a spoofing attack:
Red flags Look out for these red flags that can alert you to a possible spoofing attack:
Stay alert and stay safe!
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