It’s not just hackers and scammers … though, yeah, they are there. Let’s take a closer look.
Bank fraud is rising – How to protect yourself
The scams don’t stop — and here’s another one you need to know about. Your phone rings. It’s a rep from your bank, and they’re warning your account has been compromised. You’re smart, so you immediately suspect it’s a scam.
Then, the guy on the other end reads off your Social Security number and account info. Only your bank could know that, right?
Some 300,000 people in the U.S. thought the same last year. People lost their life savings; one Virginia woman had a whopping $700,000 wired out of her Wells Fargo account, and another in Los Angeles lost $100,000 in minutes.
📈 Why banking scams are rising
Bank scams used to be a niche operation. Now, anyone can buy the tools to con you for a few bucks on the Dark Web. There are even guides to make a phone number look like it’s from your bank, including phony customer service reps to answer all your questions.
Pro scammers rely on social engineering, too. That’s the fancy name for mind games to gain your trust. They love jumping on video calls because seeing a face makes you more trusting. They’ll keep chatting with you so you miss the security alerts warning you to stop.
The big banks lost interest
Last year, the banks reimbursed scam victims at pitiful rates. JPMorgan Chase reimbursed 2% of transactions disputed as scams, while Wells Fargo reimbursed 4% of scam claims. Bank of America, meanwhile, reimbursed 24% of its scam dispute transactions.
Federal law requires banks to reimburse you only under certain circumstances, like if someone steals your phone and accesses your account. But if you’re the one to sign a wire form or agree to an online transfer and you find out it’s a scam, you’re screwed.
💰 Keep your money safe
- Slow down: If a caller claims to be from your bank or asks for your account details, hang up. Call the bank yourself. Do not Google your bank’s number; find it on their official website or the back of your card.
- Beware of transfer scams: Never send money via wire transfer, crypto or gift cards in response to unsolicited calls or emails. Your bank or the government will never ask you to transfer funds to a “safe” account.
- Don’t follow links: If you’re told to visit a website, download an app or click a link, it’s a phishing site or malware installation.
- Use a virtual phone number: I bet your real one has been leaked in a couple of data breaches this year. Use a virtual number tied to your finances scammers don’t know.
- Set up alerts: In your banking app, you can turn on alerts for transactions over a certain amount or made in a foreign country, as well as notifications about suspicious activity like attempted logins from a new browser. I have all this set up. Some banks let you set transaction limits on withdrawals or purchases, too.
🫡 This is serious stuff. I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer, but if I can save one person from losing their life savings, I’m doing my job. Share this important intel using the icons below with someone you know who needs this warning. You can make a difference.
This crime shot up 400% – watch out
To keep you and your money safe, I make it a point to always let you know about the spreading scams, from crypto catfishing to AI deepfakes. I bet you’re going to be surprised by this news: The crime that shot up 400% last year is old-school check fraud.
Peeping Tom caught in the act
Target shoppers saw him slip a phone under a woman’s dress (ew). Plus, get updates on the TikTok ban, dark web blackmail, and a major ground beef recall. We also talk with popular YouTuber Kitboga about taking on scammers by wasting their time.
Sea ya later: Royal Caribbean is facing a class-action lawsuit after nearly 1,000 passengers were filmed secretly in a bathroom. It happened this past February on the Symphony of the Seas. This sicko uploaded images to the Dark Web and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. I hope he drops the soap.
69,370 bitcoins
Headed for the U.S. Treasury. It’s the stolen proceeds from the Dark Web drug marketplace Silk Road, valued at $4.6 billion at current prices. It took four years for the government to establish ownership. Crazy twist: The agent who secured the money is sitting in jail.
Bad news: Here's how much your social media logins cost on the Dark Web
What if I told you for just $12, someone could buy your Instagram login. They could read all your messages, look through everything you’ve “liked” and even post as you.
Whizcase gathered prices from Dark Web marketplaces to see how much your online identity is worth, and it’s grim.
Do this with your router before selling it or throwing it away
You know to wipe your devices before tossing them or giving them away. Your phone and computer contain lots of data that can be used against you. But what if you don’t have a chance to reset them? Here’s how to remotely wipe the data from your phone and computer.
90% of workers
Use their company-issued laptops for non-work surfing. That includes (brace yourself) viewing adult content, gambling, accessing the Dark Web and streaming sports illegally. Beyond the fact your IT gal or guy sees everything you do on a work machine, it’s a major security risk. Don’t be that person.
⚠️ 2.9 billion records leaked: Background-check company National Public Data may be responsible for one of the biggest data breaches in history. A lawsuit claims their negligence exposed 2.9 billion Social Security numbers, full names, addresses and so much more on the Dark Web. We all need to freeze our credit. Steps here.
You, on the dark web: Google’s dark web report service will soon be free for anyone with a Google account. On the Results about you page, you’ll see any personal info that may have been stolen or found in a data breach. Look for it later this month.
“Needless Markup” hacked: Hackers stole info from at least 64,472 Neiman Marcus customers and employees, including names, contact details and birth dates. The data is for sale on the dark web for $150,000.
Scammers’ newest trick: They’ve racked up a whopping 850,000 fake orders across 10,000 sketchy retail websites, and they’re using PayPal and Stripe for payments. The twist: They don’t charge you for the phony order. Instead, they capture your credit card info to sell it on the dark web. These are probably the crappy bogus products hawked on social media feeds. Don’t fall for ‘em.
Everything but your autograph: Ticketmaster was hacked, with cyber thieves snagging 500 million customer details. That includes names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, financial details and full order histories, now up for sale on a sketchy dark web forum for a cool $500,000. Get ready for a spam influx, and be extra cautious of what links you click from an email or text.
$100 million
In narcotics trafficked on the dark web by a 23-year-old. Authorities finally bagged the Taiwanese kingpin, Rui-Siang Lin. Over four years, he sold up to $5 million in illegal drugs every month on his site, Incognito Market. For reference, the guy who created the Silk Road was 29 when the feds caught him. He’s serving two lifetimes in prison.
Dead man walking: On the dark web, Incognito Market sold illegal drugs, firearms and more. Its owner said everything was anonymous. Nope. He closed it down and is threatening to hand over all buyers’ and sellers’ names to law enforcement — unless they pay him a ransom. His biggest customers? Drug cartels.
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It’s one place online you’ve heard about, but probably never crossed into. Here’s the scoop.
What to do if your credit card is on the dark web
Not sure of the steps to take next? Hear these tips.
Gaza deepfake horror, Mac malware alert & IG small biz tricks
Plus, too much phone time could be bad for your marriage. Bad news: Here’s how much your social media logins cost on the Dark Web. Also, how selfies could be a health risk and what’s up with AI hallucinations.
Here's what your digital life is worth
What could your credentials fetch on the dark web? Here’s why they’re worth a lot.