TOP 3 SCAMS TO RUIN YOUR HOLIDAYS

SCAM ONE: FAKE SHIPPING NOTICES

With more and more people engaging in online shopping, fake shipping notices can be increasingly difficult for consumers to identify. These deceptive messages often arrive through various channels, including text messages and emails, making them particularly aggravating and challenging to recognize. This type of scam is particularly effective during the holiday season when so many individuals are eagerly awaiting their deliveries. However, if you pay close attention and observe the details, you will notice that they all tend to follow the same predictable script. Here are signs of a fake shipping scam:

• Generates a Sense of Urgency

  • Usually they will tell you your package is delayed (for some reason) and offers the opportunity to take care of it by clicking the link that they have helpfully included in their message. Here is an example (minus their scam website) I pulled off my phone: U.S. Customs: You have a USPS parcel being cleared, due to the detection of an invalid zip code address, the parcel can not be cleared, the parcel is temporarily detained, please confirm the zip code address information in the link within 24 hours.

• Unsolicited Message

  • If you have ordered items for the Holidays, you may worry that this text/email might be a legitimate notice of failed delivery. However, stop and do not click the link. Instead, check with the place you ordered the product from directly and check shipping status with them. Don’t engage w/ the unsolicited message.

• Threat of some “bad outcome” if you do nothing.

• Putting a time limit, trying to force you to act quickly.

• The web address is usually a random looking that doesn’t match the sender.

SCAM TWO: GIFT CARD SCAMS

This one is easy! Anyone emailing or texting you to buy gift cards and send them the numbers off the back of the card is scamming you. Guaranteed. More info from the FTC: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/avoiding-and-reporting-gift-card-scams

SCAM THREE: SOCIAL MEDIA ADS

Finally, my least favorite category of online content: the ever-popular misleading social media ads. We’ve all seen thousands of these ads to the point where I truly hope we’ve developed a certain immunity to their allure, but there must be people out there who are still clicking on these enticing offers. An honorable mention in this realm would certainly be Wish, Temu, and Shein. The only guarantees with these platforms seem to be that what you see in their advertisements is often not what you actually end up receiving.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SCAMS, VISIT THE FTC LINKS BELOW:

https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/12/fake-shipping-notification-emails-and-text-messages-what-you-need-know-holiday-season

https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/avoiding-and-reporting-gift-card-scams

Are your Third-Party Vendors dangerous?

FROM THE DESK OF TODD SWARTZMAN, RealTime CISO

I had an informative call recently with a cyber insurance risk manager, and he mentioned that one of the primary drivers of the increasingly growing number of cyber insurance claims is what is known as contingent exposure. Contingent exposure refers to third-party risk. These are the potential risks that your own vendors, (along with their various processes, staff members, and even their own vendors) may inadvertently introduce to your business simply because you are a customer or a partner of theirs.

Many of us have experienced the repercussions of this on the personal side because of the significant CDK and Change Healthcare data breaches that occurred this year. Let’s not forget the disruption caused by CrowdStrike, which resulted in delayed flights for several days. While these companies directly faced these serious issues, many of us ended up suffering from the fallout in terms of lost time, increased frustrations, and, in some cases, delayed payments related to insurance claims. All this reinforces the importance of carefully considering how your business can better manage its third-party risks.

HOW TO MANAGE THIRD-PARTY RISKS

Managing third-party risks can often be as straightforward as simply asking vendors if they have a robust cybersecurity plan in place, including comprehensive cyber insurance coverage. This practice not only helps in assessing the overall security posture of these vendors but also ensures that they are prepared for potential cyber incidents. The cost of cyber insurance rates can be expected to rise this year due to the substantial claims that have been filed by Change Healthcare and CDK, highlighting the increasing financial pressures on the insurance industry in light of recent data breaches and security challenges.

FINAL THOUGHT.

Make sure your business has cyber insurance and make sure all of your third-party vendors have a cybersecurity plan/cyber insurance. It’s really that simple.

Hurricane Technology Checklist

Image courtesy of Florida Division of Emergency Management

As Hurricane Helene travels toward the Florida Coast and into Alabama and Georgia, now is the time to take action and be prepared to protect your computers, printers, files and data.

1. ENSURE YOU HAVE A BACKUP

• Backup your files! It's good practice to frequently backup your data files. We recommend a hybrid-cloud image-based backup that can be used to restore data and applications even if your server is destroyed, and that can restore data from different points in time.

• Print a copy of your important/emergency contacts and take them with you if you do not have access to them from your phone or computer, you'll have them available to use via a landline.

• RealTime Clients: Everyone who is on our Business Continuity Service – Your servers are backed up and replicated offsite daily. If there is a problem, we correct that as part of the service. As the Hurricane approaches, RealTime will confirm your local servers are backed up and replicated to offsite data centers.

2. SECURE YOUR EQUIPMENT

• COMPUTERS

  • Shutdown the operating system.

  • If connected to a surge protector or UPS - unplug from the wall outlet (or unplug power cables from the surge protector or UPS if wall outlet isn't accessible).

  • Unplug Ethernet cable from the back of computer or docking station.

• PRINTERS

  • Power off the printer.

  • If connected to a surge protector - unplug as described above.

  • Unplug the Ethernet cable from the back of the printer.

  • Unplug the phone cable from the back of the printer (if a fax line is connected).

• SERVERS AND NETWORK EQUIPMENT

  • Perform a normal shutdown of the servers. RealTime clients: Please coordinate with RealTime service desk. 

  • Unplug all connections - Take photos to document how things were prior to the event. 

  • Firewalls, Switches, Access Points - unplug them from power. Unplug the firewall from the internet connection as well. Ideally, unplug all the network connections (surges can travel through the network cabling).

  • Battery backups - power these off and then unplug them.

  • Phone systems - Check with your vendor to see what steps you can take to protect it.
     

3. COVER POWERED OFF EQUIPMENT WITH PLASTIC

When a major storm is predicted, elevate your CPUs, printers, servers, and other network devices, as well as other electrical appliances like space heaters, off of the floor.  For high winds, move computers away from windows.  If there is a possibility of water leakage, cover computer equipment with plastic.

4. CONTINUING OPERATIONS AFTER THE STORM

•  If you are in the path, power and internet connectivity may be hard to come by for a few days. Generators can provide enough power to run your critical computer equipment – just be sure you are connecting up to something that can deal w/ the power fluctuations many generators have. Please ask RealTime before connecting things up to generators as they can damage sensitive equipment. Modern battery backups may have the capability to condition the power off of a generator – check with the manufacturer to confirm before trying this.

• 4G/5G USB modems or Mifi can get you connected in an emergency. Everything you do may not work, but basic web browsing.

• Forward your phones – If the office is expected to be out a few days, most phone service providers have a way for you to forward calls to your business to a cell phone or alternate number. Get the steps now, before you need them.

5. BE PREPARED

Knowing what steps to take ahead of time will help you be prepared in the worst-case scenario. RealTime is committed to ensuring our clients are prepared with the proper technology to meet their current/future needs as well as advising them about safeguarding their business from weather-related, cyber and other disasters. 

If you would like further information about RealTime managing Information Technology for your business, contact us at info@realtime-it.com.

Shopper data stolen from major brands in December 2023.

CUSTOMERS OF VANS, THE NORTH FACE,
AND OTHER BRANDS PERSONAL DATA POTENTIALLY STOLEN.

VF Corporation, parent company to popular brands including, Vans, The North Face, Timberland, Dickies, JanSport and more, reported that their IT systems were impacted on December 15, 2023 and that some personal data was stolen.

They reported that their computer systems were affected and that personal information was stolen, but they haven't provided any specific details. This is important because cybercriminals commonly use stolen data from these breaches to launch scams, so please be cautious, particularly if you have a loyalty account or have made direct orders through their websites (such as Vans, North Face, Altra, Dickies, etc.). Visit their corporate website for a full list of their brands: www.vfc.com .

Assume that anything you shared with
these brands could be in the hands
of the thieves.

If you stored a credit card, monitor your account closely for any suspicious activity and report it promptly. If you use the same password for any of your online accounts, especially email or social media, update those passwords. According to their SEC 8-K report, the attackers disrupted VF Corporation's operations by encrypting some computer systems and stealing data, including personal information. The company is working to restore the affected systems and find alternative solutions to minimize disruption for customers. VF-operated retail stores are open, but there may be some operational issues. While consumers can still place orders on most brand websites, fulfilling those orders is currently impacted.

SEC 8-K report here: https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/103379/000095012323011228/d659095d8k.htm

AI & ChatGPT Threats and the arrival of Fleeceware

What are the biggest threats to each of us right now?

GETTY IMAGE

Scammers are using AI and ChatGPT as a tool to create even cheekier scams than normal!

THE ARRIVAL OF FLEECEWARE

One of the more irreverent scams is called Fleeceware, a type of mobile application (or website) that comes with excessive subscription fees you may quickly forget you’re paying. The ones oriented around these AI apps have catchy names like Genie – AI Chatbot. It can also be a website that looks like a legitimate site or uses a similar name to a trusted site to give a false sense of legitimacy.

The goal of these apps or websites is to get your to complete a sign up for a weekly/monthly subscription for what you’ll quickly find out is pretty useless.

HOW WELL DOES THE SCAM WORK?

Sophos reports that the people who publish the Genie AI Chatbot app (still available in the Apple apps store btw) are raking in $1 Million a month in subscription fees for something better, and free if you go to the source, https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt 

IS THERE AN OFFICIAL OPEN AI IPHONE OR ANDROID APP FOR CHATGPT?

There is only one official app released as an iPhone app for ChatGPT and there is not one for Android, yet.

If you search the app store for ChatGPT, you’ll see dozens (maybe hundreds of apps) but only one is the official Open AI ChatGPT app. There isn’t an official app for Android yet, but there are more than a few pretenders available. 

The only official app OpenAI has published, download it here for the iPhone:  https://apps.apple.com/us/app/openai-chatgpt/id6448311069

SHOULD I BE SUSPICIOUS OF EMAILS RELATED TO CHATGPT?

The scams wouldn’t be complete without using the headlines to send phishing emails. The current hearings in Congress are news, and news means new subject lines for phishing emails.

There are new domain names popping up related to ChatGPT, many of which are common misspellings of legitimate domain names. BE EXTRA SUSPICIOUS of any email or text messages you receive with subjects or links related to ChatGPT. If you intend to use ChatGPT, be sure to access the service through the official OpenAI site, https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt

 SHOULD I USE CHATGPT FOR BUSINESS?

For businesses, these tools bring the added risk of your employees inputting sensitive information into these tools. Your best protection is to have a policy around the use of these AI tools, similar to what you probably already have to social media usage.

If you have a legitimate business use for these AI tools, great – review their privacy policies and terms of use. You’ll have better privacy and control over your data usage is you pay for a subscription vs. using free ones.

Be sure to know how the service will use any data you give it before committing.