The start of the year is busy for cybercriminals. Between Valentine’s Day and the Big Game, cybercriminals have plenty of victims to prey on and consumers have their work cut out for them in protecting themselves. We covered this topic in our recent Security BY Design Blue Yonder LIVE session. Here’s what to expect in the coming month and how you can best protect yourself.

Best Practices for Protecting Yourself

In recent years, online dating and streaming services have become increasingly popular, with millions of people using these platforms for personal and professional purposes. However, this growth has also attracted the attention of cybercriminals who use tactics such as fake profiles, social engineering, and fake streaming services to scam individuals and businesses.

To mitigate these risks, it is important to understand how these scams work and what steps you can take to protect yourself.

Protecting Yourself from Romance Scams

Cybercriminals often use fake profiles on dating apps and websites to gain the trust of their victims. They may also use social engineering tactics, such as building a rapport with their victims and playing on their emotions, to convince them to send money or personal information.

To protect yourself, it is important to know the signs of a romance scam. For example, if a person is constantly asking for money or personal information, or if they seem too good to be true, it may be a scam. Additionally, if the person is unwilling to video chat or meet in person, it may be a sign that they are not who they say they are.

If you suspect you have been scammed, it is important to advise them to take immediate action. This may include reporting the scammer to the dating app or website, reporting any unauthorized transactions to their bank or financial institution, and reporting the scam to the police.

Protecting Yourself from Big Game Scams

With the rise of streaming services, it has become easier for cybercriminals to scam sports fans out of their money using tactics such as fake streaming services, insecure Wi-Fi, and fake apps.

To protect yourself from these scams, you need to be aware of the risks associated with streaming sports. For example, fake streaming services may ask for personal information or credit card details, which can be used to steal identities or make unauthorized charges. Additionally, insecure Wi-Fi networks can allow cybercriminals to access personal information, and fake apps may contain malware or spyware that can steal information.

To mitigate these risks, it is best practice to only use reputable streaming services and to avoid using public Wi-Fi networks when streaming sports. Additionally, it is important to be cautious when downloading apps and to only use official app stores.

Understanding the tactics used by cybercriminals in romance scams and sporting event scams is key to protecting your customers and your business. By implementing best practices, such as educating customers, using reputable streaming services, and avoiding public Wi-Fi networks, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to these scams and ensure the security of your business and customers.

Every month we host a “Security BY Design” Blue Yonder LIVE session. We encourage you to visit Blue Yonder’s LinkedIn page here to see when our latest event is or to view past recordings.

If you want to learn more about Blue Yonder’s Cybersecurity program, or cybersecurity in general, we recommend the following resources: