⛽ Tap and go: Use your phone’s electronic wallet app at the gas pump. All you have to do is tap your phone on the reader to pay. This way, you won’t have to worry about card skimmers at the pump stealing from you.
SIM swapping is one of the most dangerous phone hacks - And it's on the rise
You might assume that the SIM card in your mobile phone is safe. After all, it is firmly embedded into your device, and someone would need to take it out physically to access it. But that isn’t the only method. Tap or click here for an in-depth look at SIM swapping scams.
SIM swapping is an old trick used by scammers to gain unauthorized access to your mobile phone. Not only do they have access to your number, but also all communication that it receives.
The FBI has been warning about SIM swapping schemes skyrocketing recently. Read on to find out what the FBI discovered and ways to protect your online accounts and finances.
Here’s the backstory
Criminals don’t need your physical SIM card to take over your phone. Instead, they can use social engineering or phishing attacks to gather information about you. Then they call your mobile provider, pretending to be you. They claim your phone has been lost or stolen and request your phone number be linked to a SIM card in their possession.
If successful, this process will also deactivate your SIM card. So, they have access to your number, but what else can they do?
Many online accounts, including banking apps, offer two-factor authentication (2FA). A SIM swap scam is extremely dangerous if you’ve set up 2FA for any of your accounts. Once the scammer has your phone number linked to a SIM card in their possession, they can get 2FA codes linked to your accounts sent to them.
Now they have access to your banking accounts, email addresses and even cryptocurrency accounts that you may own.
SIM swapping schemes are nothing new. But the FBI has recently noted an alarming increase. Between 2018 and 2020, the agency’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received numerous SIM swapping complaints. In 2021, SIM swapping schemes cost victims more than $68 million.
Thankfully there are ways to stay protected.
How to stay protected from SIM sapping scams
With the number of SIM swapping schemes skyrocketing, the FBI gives the following suggestions on staying protected. Here are some precautions to take:
A warning to Costco customers - Card skimmers spotted stealing card info
Shopping online comes with hidden dangers, and many are still uneasy about the process. Those people usually prefer to go into a physical store, as they deem it somewhat safer. But that isn’t always the case.
Card payment facilities are incredibly vulnerable to attack from hackers or criminals, as they have had years to refine their techniques. Recently card skimmers have been running rampant around the country.
It’s not just sketchy ATMs and gas pumps: Watch out for card skimmers at the grocery store, too. Two guys are wanted in Georgia for putting a fake PIN pad on a self-checkout lane in Kroger. Be smart: If the buttons on the PIN pad are off-center and hard to push, or if part of the pad feels loose, don’t use it.
5 online travel scams that are spreading now
Summer should be a time for relaxation and wild adventures. The last thing you need to worry about is being tricked out of your hard-earned cash during travel season.
Unfortunately, criminals are looking to take advantage of vacationers to make a quick buck. You don’t have to travel in fear, though, as there are several things that you can do to stay safe and protect your information. Tap or click here for insider tech travel hacks you’ll use every single trip.
Gas pump skimmers steal your money - here's how to spot them
Gas stations are some of the most popular locations for card skimmers — devices that can steal your credit or debit card information with a single swipe. This allows hackers to drain your bank account and max out your credit cards.
⛽ Tap and go: Use your phone’s electronic wallet app at the gas pump. All you have to do is tap your phone on the reader to pay. This way, you won’t have to worry about card skimmers at the pump stealing from you.
Warning! Can you spot the ATM hidden camera? Crafty crooks are stealing your account info
