Valentine's Day is a time when many people feel particularly vulnerable, but others also feel generous and giving. This makes it the perfect time for cybercriminals and fraudsters to operate.
The Cyber Helpline https://www.lighthousevictimcare.org/organisation/the-cyber-helpline/, a UK charity led by volunteers and staff from the cybersecurity industry, has expanded to the USA to support those experiencing cybercrime and online harm. The charity expects a considerable increase in online relationship scams this Valentine's Day. It has reported a 111% increase in romance fraud and a 227% increase in sextortion over the last year, and it believes cybercriminals will target vulnerable and lonely people over Valentine's period in the same way.[1]
See: https://redskyalliance.org/xindustry/is-romeo-sending-you-emails
Cybercriminals recognize the emotional vulnerabilities that both positive and negative feelings bring and craft schemes that tug at the heartstrings to exploit these emotions. Increasingly, they are focused on tricking individuals into online relationships and deceiving them into sending money and sensitive information, often with devastating effects.
Romance fraud and scams, or dating fraud, are increasing in frequency and sophistication year-round. You may have heard of the term "catfishing," where someone uses fake profiles to pretend to be someone they're not online. Romance scams are where catfishing is most commonly used; cybercriminals will hide behind fake profiles or sometimes their real profiles to try to convince someone to send them money.
Often, encouraging someone to send money relies on building trust with the target; this might involve researching them or asking them questions to understand their interests and what is emotionally important to them and making them believe they are in a legitimate relationship by becoming intimate and romantic.
See: https://redskyalliance.org/xindustry/how-scammers-steal-your-heart-then-your-money
Once a relationship has been established, criminals often use emotive stories to encourage them to send money. Stories can range from needing plane tickets to visit them in person to being unable to afford to pay hospital bills. The reason for needing money can depend on the criminals themselves and their understanding of what the target is passionate about; for example, if they are animal lovers, the criminal might "coincidentally" run an animal shelter that needs donations.
Romance scams can last from a day to months and even years. Many may not even realize they are being victimized and appreciate having someone in their life that they can talk to. Family and friends often even notice before them that something doesn't seem right.
Similar to romance scams, webcam blackmail, also known as sextortion, preys on emotional vulnerabilities and the fast-paced world during holiday seasons. In this crime, criminals move quickly to encourage someone to join a video call, which quickly becomes intimate, or send intimate images and videos to them. The videos or images are saved, and then criminals threaten to share them with friends, family, and colleagues unless payment is sent to them.
No matter the demographic, the impact is severe. While the crimes are usually fueled by financial gain for the perpetrator, the loss of money does not always have the most significant impact on those experiencing these crimes. Almost 90% of people report to The Cyber Helpline that their mental health is impacted as a result of the crime, and 77% feel that their physical safety is at risk too, whether this is because of threats by the perpetrator, fear that they will harm themselves, or worry that others will hurt them if they find out about the incident.
Those impacted by cybercrime should never feel that they are to blame. Cybercriminals are expert manipulators that prey on trust and emotions, and anyone could fall victim at any time, but significantly when emotions are heightened at times like Valentine's Day. As a society, we need to remove the stigma around being victimized by cybercrime and, instead, empower those affected to navigate the aftermath and take the critical step of seeking support.
Cybercriminals anticipate the vulnerabilities people face during the holidays, including Valentine’s Day and see it as an opportunity to target people when they are likely to be so busy it's harder to act before they think and where both the good and bad emotions that people face during holidays mean that vulnerabilities are high.
With these types of crimes increasing and the likelihood of experiencing them during this time, it is essential to remember that those experiencing cybercrime should never feel at fault. Cybercriminals are excellent researchers, marketers, and persuaders; they trick people into believing them and feeling safe in their online presence.
This article is presented at no charge for educational and informational purposes only.
Red Sky Alliance is a Cyber Threat Analysis and Intelligence Service organization. Call for assistance. For questions, comments, a demo, or assistance, please get in touch with the office directly at 1-844-492-7225 or feedback@redskyalliance.com
Reporting: https://www.redskyalliance.org/
Website: https://www.redskyalliance.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/64265941
Weekly Cyber Intelligence Briefings:
REDSHORTS - Weekly Cyber Intelligence Briefings
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5993554863383553632
[1] https://www.secureworld.io/industry-news/how-cybercriminals-target-emotions-valentines
https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-romance-scams
Comments