ISU – Top Scams

In the ever-connected world, smart home devices have surged in popularity, promising convenience, efficiency, and an enhanced living experience. Thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT), our homes have been transformed by integrating smart thermostats, security cameras, voice-controlled assistants, and smart appliances. Yet, amidst this technological advancement and convenience, the pressing concern of cybersecurity risks…

In today’s ever-connected world, we frequently hear about hacks, ransomware attacks, and data breaches that leave many people receiving alerts about their compromised information.  For instance, Petro-Points members discovered that an unauthorized party had accessed their basic contact information. Similarly, in February, Indigo experienced a ransomware attack, impacting current and former employees’ data. These incidents…

A concerning trend is emerging as cybercriminals increasingly target Apple computers with information-stealing malware. One such macOS infostealer, Atomic Stealer, has recently garnered attention from cybersecurity firm SentinelOne. In May 2023, a new malware version was identified, exhibiting more refined and targeted data-capturing capabilities, specifically focusing on gaming and cryptocurrency users. The primary motive behind…

In a digital world where scammers are becoming increasingly cunning and innovative, protecting yourself from their deceptive tactics has never been more critical. From sophisticated tactics to exploiting advanced technologies, these fraudsters relentlessly try to trick unsuspecting individuals. As an Amazon user, you must know how to spot and evade these scams effectively. So, let’s…

With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), hackers have found new and sophisticated ways to exploit vulnerabilities and compromise the security of individuals. Protecting ourselves from AI-powered hackers has become more crucial than ever. Fortunately, the average consumer can significantly minimize their risk by adopting a proactive approach and implementing certain security measures. This…

As the plague of romance scams continues to haunt unsuspecting victims, it’s getting worse. In this elaborate scheme, scammers invest weeks, months and even years in building trust, transforming themselves into non-committal pen pals and friendly chat buddies. These scammers are skilled in deception, slowly luring their victims into their traps. The ultimate goal? To…

Father’s Day is a time to celebrate and show appreciation for the fathers in our lives. As we turn to online shopping to find the perfect gift, we must be aware of the risks associated with credit card fraud. With simple and clever strategies, you can safeguard your finances and enjoy a secure online shopping…

The headline above may sound scary, but unfortunately, it is a reality for many individuals targeted by the Grocery Rebate scam. Scammers posing as the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) are sending unsolicited emails and text messages claiming to be related to the upcoming Grocery Rebate, with a link to click on for more information. However,…

In 2021, 323 million people used dating apps or dating sites to meet new people. Further, over 8,000 competitive online dating sites and platforms worldwide are attracting romance scammers. With more love-seekers expected to use dating sites over the holidays, 2023 could be an explosive and profitable year for scammers.  What is a romance scam?…

Black Friday shoppers, be vigilant. Hackers pray for those looking to bag a good deal online in 2022.  One of the year’s busiest shopping days is Black Friday, and with more sales happening online, hackers are out to make a profit. The day after the US Thanksgiving holiday is known as Black Friday—a day full…

Although Canadians may feel secure in their knowledge of the dangers of the internet, they are unprepared for and still in fear of future cyber attacks.  That’s what a new RBC study on cyber security reveals. While many Canadians (71%) are aware of cyber criminals and their strategies, over half (47%) are concerned that they…

Since the start of the internet, Cyber criminals have been everything and anything to scam a buck out of you, and they’re REALLY good at it now. With today’s tools and technology, it’s almost impossible for a regular consumer to know they’re in a scam because it’s setup so well. Internet services and websites make…

The first scam we’ll talk about is the biggest, it’s called the Phishing scam. Phishing scams are based on communication made via email or on social networks. Cyber criminals will send you messages and have you click a link to try to trick you into giving them information you would never give them in the…

Ok now that you picked your jaw up from the floor after watching the phishing scam demonstration, you can see how anyone, including me can fall for a scam or a hack like that. Going forward I’ll be teaching you how the scams work, and empower you to spot them and avoid them. So without…

Let’s talk about the greeting card scam. Everyone likes to be thought of. The easiest way was to do it with an e-greeting card. Obviously the scammers caught on and ruined our thoughtfulness fun. This too is an older scam but still works because they can make it look like it came from anyone. Now,…

You’ve heard me talk about it a few times in this course but let’s have a closer look at what this entails.  Picture this: You’ve spent the last few weeks or months working on a high profile project for work and now that you’re finally done, you’re ready to send it in for review. You…

ok let’s talk about the guaranteed bank loan or credit card scam. People are going through difficult financial times at the moment, and could get trapped by “too good to be true” bank offers. These offers claim to guarantee you large amounts of money and have already been pre-approved by the bank. Especially 0% interest…

What about this one? The good ole lottery scam. This one never gets old. The way this scam works is, it comes as an email message informing you that you won a huge amount of money and all you need to do to collect your fortune is to pay some small fees. Lucky you! And…

Have you or anyone you know been fooled by a romance scam?  C’mon you’ve seen the emails. “I’m Yuliana and I’m from the Ukraine and want to get to know you better, here’s my picture.” Kinda email. Well, This scam can take place on social networks such as dating sites, Facebook, or by receiving a…

How about the Fake anti-virus scam? I’m sure we’ve all seen at least one of these message on our screens: “You have been infected! Download this antivirus right now to protect your computer!”. Many of these pop-ups were very well created to resemble actual messages that you might get from Windows or from a normal…

I’m starting to see Facebook impersonation scam more and more these days. This happens when your account gets hacked by a cyber criminal and gaining access to your list of close friends and family. So make sure you watch my video on “how to perform a facebook private checkup” and enable the 2 step verification…

what about the Travel scams. These scams usually appear in the hot summer months or before the short winter vacations like Christmas or New Year’s Day. The scam goes like this, you receive an email containing an amazing offer for an extraordinary hard to get to destination, usually an exotic place. And this offer expires…

Ahhh the good ole Canada Revenue Agency or IRS Collection Scam. This scam angers a lot of people because aggressive telemarketers pretending to represent the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or the IRS are using aggressive and threatening tactics to scare taxpayers into paying a fictitious tax return debt. You’re then told that you must make…

This Computer Virus Telemarketing Scam is so annoying. Have you ever received a call from “John Smith” with the thick Indian accent pretending to represent Microsoft or Apple, informing you that your computer had been infected with a virus. In order to so call “fix” the problem, you’ll be asked to go to a website,…

Here’s a another one for ya, Smishing. It’s basically means SMS Phishing for short. The way it works is, you’ll receive random text messages on your mobile device in an attempt to lure you into unknowingly agreeing to accept large monthly charges to your credit card or downloading a virus, or malware onto your smart…