Three questions you should ask when you want to identify fake news: Internet Scambusters #918 No apologies for returning to the subject of fake news again in this week’s issue. Social media giants are stepping up the fight against misinformation and urging users to be more skeptical about what they read and share. With thousands […]

Charity donors caught up in PAC scams; Plus: dispute erupts over pandemic mask “exemption” cards: Internet Scambusters #917 Political Action Groups — PACs — are being used as a front for a scam, raising millions of dollars from donors who think they’re giving to charitable causes. PACs are only loosely regulated and mainly support political […]

Crooks still pulling off SIM swap trick despite security clampdown: Internet Scambusters #916 SIM swapping — switching a victim’s phone number to a scammer’s new phone — is still happening, despite efforts by cell phone service providers to clamp down on the crooks. In this week’s issue, we’ll explain how the scam works and what […]

Coronavirus worries become a gateway for cryptocurrency scammers: Internet Scambusters #915 Scammers know how to make the most of current crisis situations to convince victims they’re legit. That’s what’s happening right now as crooks pretend to offer investment opportunities or solicit donations relating to the coronavirus pandemic. We’ll tell you what they’re up to in […]

How to hack-proof your network to repel crooks and scammers: Internet Scambusters #914 Most of us have more devices connected to our home networks than we realize, and hackers know all the many different ways they can use them to invade our system. While you can never 100% hack-proof your home, taking just a handful […]

How to beat the Venmo scammers: Internet Scambusters #913 Sending and receiving money online from your mobile device is now easier than ever, thanks to apps like Venmo. But scammers have spotted an opportunity to use these apps to steal your money or your ID, as we explain in this week’s issue. We also have […]

Are you paying a small fortune for cheap and easy fleeceware? : Internet Scambusters #912 Fleeceware is the new term for rip-off smartphone apps that cost victims hundreds of dollars. Often, they’re tricked into paying large sums for services they could get elsewhere for free, as we explain in this week’s issue. We also have […]

Survey shows many don’t know virtual influencers are fakes: Internet Scambusters #911 A new breed of online characters is being developed to persuade us to buy stuff we may not need. Virtual influencers, computer-generated images, are so realistic that a survey showed that many people didn’t realize they were fakes, as we explain in this […]

“Zoombombing” hackers threaten video meetings’ security: Internet Scambusters #910 “Zoombombing” is a new crime spawned by hackers bent on disrupting video conferences that firms and families are trying to use during Coronavirus restrictions. The video conferencing service Zoom gives the crime its name, but other similar services could also be under threat, as we explain […]

Thousands may unknowingly have stalkerware on their phones: Internet Scambusters #909 Cyberstalking involves many ways of monitoring victims online, but stalkerware specifically watches your smartphone activities. It can see and hear everything you do, and it knows where you are, as we explain in this week’s issue. Plus, we also have the latest coronavirus scam […]