This week:
3 – Cash is Still King.
2 – Received a new mobile phone that you didn’t order? It may be a scam.
1 – All the ways you can be scammed during this Christmas period.
3 – Cash is Still King
“Banks advising people to keep cash at home as “geopolitical threats” worsen”
Summary: The Netherlands Association of Banks (NVB) plans to recommend that consumers maintain a reserve of cash at home due to escalating geopolitical tensions, which heighten the risk of cyberattacks on digital payment systems. This marks the first instance of such advice from Dutch banks, aiming to ensure individuals are prepared for potential disruptions in electronic payment services. However, the Dutch Association of Insurers cautions that keeping large sums of cash at home can increase the risk of theft and may complicate insurance claims, as compensation for stolen cash is typically limited.
So what? I’ve realised that I frequently leave the house with only my phone. On a recent drive to meet a new client in Belfast, I realised I was in big trouble if anything happened to my phone. So I pulled in to the motorway services, filled the petrol tank, and bought some food, water.. and a paper map of the city. (And I’ll bring cash on my next trip). Now that’s what you call ‘operational resilience’!
Source: NL Times
2 – Received a new mobile phone that you didn’t order? It may be a scam.
“Scammers are impersonating mobile phone provider representatives and using deceptive tactics to gain access to accounts to order and steal valuable mobile devices.”
Summary: Ireland’s NCSC has warned about a scam where fraudsters impersonate mobile provider representatives, tricking customers into giving the scammers access to their online account. They then order high-value devices to be delivered to the customer’s address. When they are delivered, the scammers then call the customer, who will obviously be confused and annoyed that expensive devices have been delivered to them, and will insist on the devices being returned. The scammers are only too happy to arrange their collection. The result: The scammers get their hands on the devices. The victims end up with the bill.
So what? If you receive a call from your mobile provider (or any service provider) and you want to verify that’s it genuine, hang up and call the company on a number that you already have for them – It will be listed on your most recent bill or on their website.
Source: NCSC Advisory (and shared on LinkedIn by John Haren)
1 – All the ways you can be scammed during this Christmas period.
“Gift giveaways, discount decorations, fake coupons. What do all of these have in common? They’re all the ways folks get scammed during the holidays.”
Summary: Rachel Tobac (“a hacker for the good side”) has published a very short and informative video on how we are targeted over the Christmas period. Rachel advises us to be aware of the types of messages that we are most likely to react to during this time of the year – e.g. notifications about delayed or deliveries; overdue custom charges; competitions to win a prize that you know you or a loved one would enjoy – as these will be the topics the scammers will focus on too.
So what? Scammers are smart. They know what we care about at this time of year. And this is how they will target us. Before you click, think.
Source: YouTube