Over 60% of the U.S. population plays video games for at least an hour each week, making gaming a massive industry. And gaming companies generate $57 billion a year — while collecting players’ personal information.
Unfortunately, scammers exploit games, stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from them.
Here are three ways gamers lose money:
- They use weak passwords that scammers can easily guess to access their accounts.
- Download files that guarantee improved game performance — but install malware like keyloggers that record everything the player types.
- They fall for scammers posing as friends who trick players into sharing personal information or investing money.
![[xsi] play safe infographic](https://cdn.awareforcecyber.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/XSI-Play-Safe-Infographic-1-791x1024.png)
Phish of the Week
One of the most common scams right now involves impersonating the US Postal Service.
These emails and texts often include an urgent “Delivery Failure Notification.”
In this example, the message claims your package is stuck in customs.
These scams are so common because so many of us fall for them.
Remember, the USPS only uses email addresses or websites that end in usps.com or uspis.gov.
Replying with a “Y” lets the scammer know the email address or phone number is active.
So don’t respond. Delete the text or email.
Cybersecurity News You Can Use
HOLD THAT CHECK: Fidelity Investments is facing a large-scale check fraud scheme that has forced the company to lower deposit limits on cash management accounts and extend the time it takes for deposits to be credited. According to the Wall Street Journal, scammers are using social media platforms like Telegram and TikTok to recruit customers. In exchange for granting access to their accounts, customers are promised a share of the profits after the scammers deposit fake checks and quickly withdraw the funds.
HIGH-PROFILE CELEB SCAM: Hackers are exploiting the recent Sean “Diddy” Combs controversy to deceive victims. According to cybersecurity firm Veriti, cybercriminals are sharing stories on X.com about alleged deleted posts from P. Diddy, with links that trick users into downloading malware. This malicious software records everything typed on the keyboard and sends it to the scammer. Remember: just because a link appears on a popular social media platform doesn’t mean it’s safe.
These organizations say they have been hacked recently. If you do business with any of these companies, change the password on your account and use two-factor authentication wherever possible.
Answers to Your
Cybersecurity Questions
Here are clues:
> Unexpected apps that you didn’t install appear on your phone.
> Unusual charges show up on your phone bill.
> Websites load slowly, or your phone frequently crashes.
> Pop-ups begin appearing as you surf the web.
> Your phone gets unusually hot, even when not in use.
If you think your phone has been hacked, first use a reliable antivirus app to scan for malware. Then, update the passwords for the online accounts you access from your phone and inform your mobile carrier about the potential hack.
No question: it’s AI. Artificial intelligence is being used to carry out sophisticated scams. AI-generated phishing campaigns are so convincing that even experienced users struggle to detect them. AI is also used to create deepfakes—realistic photos and videos that impersonate individuals and spread misinformation.
Identifying and defending against these threats is becoming much harder as AI technology evolves.
Once you place a freeze on your credit report, it stays in effect until you choose to lift it. However, even with a freeze, it’s still important to regularly review your credit report for any unauthorized accounts or suspicious activity.
To lift a credit freeze, you will need to contact each of the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and request the freeze be removed.
Original content © 2024 Aware Force LLC