According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the government agency that polices the internet, consumers have grown savvy in recent years about phishing scams. So cybercriminals have developed more complex attacks, using spoofed phone numbers, text messages, and social media platforms to pose as neighbors, friends, and family members.
While the number of victims is falling, the money lost to such scams is increasing, the FTC says.
Murdock escaped that fate. But she did surrender personal information that could prove valuable to criminals engaged in identity theft.
“They wanted my full name, my mother's full name, full home address, whether I would want the money in check or cash, my age, my gender, marital status, phone number, email address, and whether I was employed or still on disability,” she says.
"That information she gave is terrifying," says Danny Jenkins, CEO of Threatlocker, a Florida-based digital security firm. "Yes, the scammers could get it online if they dug deeper, but they are always about speed. They don’t want to dig for your data."
Using the info Murdock provided, Jenkins says, a thief could arrange for a SIM card swap via a cell-phone service and claim her phone number. And once in control of her phone line, they could request a password reset on her online banking account and drain her funds.
"Scams like this are particularly scary," says Zack Allen, director of threat operations at ZeroFOX. "Scammers for grants typically start with information that isn't as sensitive and build up rapport to work their target for more sensitive information."
Facebook recently launched a privacy and safety hub, where Messenger users can learn more about features designed to help them report concerns and halt unwanted interactions. The company says it works with law enforcement, including the FBI, to find and prosecute scammers.
To be safe, Murdock should also set up credit monitoring, change her passwords, and activate two-factor authentication for her social, email, and financial accounts, digital security experts say.
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February 11, 2020 at 06:02PM
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