Hi everyone,
I hope everyone is well today. This is just a shout-out to the many support calls we have received in the past 48 hours regarding the surge in Sextortion scams. Please be advised that if anybody sends you an email claiming that they have sensitive or compromising videos or photographs of you, please delete the email.
There is a big surge at the moment. Maybe it’s the build-up to Christmas, and the scammers need to make extra money, but 99.999% of Sextortion scam emails are, in fact, scam emails. The scammers will claim to have personal information; they may even show you a password you may have had in the past, or they may even have a photograph of your house on Google Earth, but know that these are scam messages.
If you pay the ransom, you lose money. If you don’t pay the ransom, don’t worry—nothing will happen. The scammers send millions of messages every hour daily, and if 1% of people fall for the scam, they make millions. If you have any doubts, forward the email to me, and I will confirm it for you. Okay, here are a few things that you need to be aware of today.
Do you get paid through Venmo, CashApp, or PayPal in 2024? The IRS will know.
Here is an article on Zdnet.com about how the IRS can track payments made to American citizens using popular cash transfer applications. In the past, these types of payments were invisible to organisations like the IRS, but now they can track them. I’ve also heard of similar instances in France where the local tax authorities contacted people after receiving the payment on a secondhand clothing website. You can read more here
Police seize largest German online crime marketplace,
Have you ever wondered where cyber criminals purchase malware that can be used against you? Have you ever wondered what happens when somebody steals your credit card information? Where does it go for sale? Well, it goes to one of the many online dark web marketplaces where cyber criminals trade your data and attack tools to steal your information like they would buy something on eBay. There was a great story from Bleeping Computer about how one of Germany’s most prominent online black marketplaces has been shut down. It’s a good read to let you know that this is big business.
Hackers Stole $1.49 Billion in Cryptocurrency to Date in 2024
Here’s a gentle reminder: if you want any cryptocurrency, ensure it is secure. Make sure the wallet that you’re using is reputable and safe. Make sure you don’t share your passwords, and make sure you don’t reuse your passwords. Cybercriminals are having a field day stealing cryptocurrency from unsuspecting victims. Once the cryptocurrency has gone, it is impossible to get back. Be on the lookout for anybody trying to telephone you to convince you to set up a new account with them or phishing emails designed to steal your passwords, et cetera. If you have any questions at all, ask me. This article is quite frightening. Be aware
Update all of your Google products, including Android, immediately.
A great article explains the many vulnerabilities that have been fixed across Google products, including the Android operating system. Please stop what you’re doing right now and update your product. If you do not have an updated system, it is the equivalent of leaving your home without locking the front door with a big sign saying please steal my possessions. If you need any help updating, let me know
12 Things You Should Know Before Buying An Android Phone (New Or Used)
If you’re planning to buy a new Android phone for Christmas or a secondhand phone for Christmas, please read this article, which explains the 12 things you should know before doing these things. Also, as a gentle reminder, if you are selling your Android phone, make sure you do a factory reset before you sell it. All of your information, including your passwords, is on your phone, so make sure you do a full reset before you give it away. I’ll be free to sell it. If you need any help with this, let me know.
Google’s Latest Gmail Update Reduces Security Risks for Android Users
Here is an interesting article explaining a new feature of Gmail for Android users that adds an additional layer of security to ensure that you’re actually sending emails to the right person. You can read all about it here.
Data on 760K workers from Xerox, Nokia, BofA, Morgan Stanley and more dumped online
If you work for one of these companies, read this article.
Let me know if you need any assistance with anything. Our server security team is working overtime to service all of your wonderful emails.
We are here to serve, Max Roberts.