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Starlink is powering a new wave of pig-butchering scams
Pig-butchering scams are getting more sophisticated — and more costly — by the day. One report found criminals have swindled an estimated $75 billion from victims. And just recently, a criminal organization in Asia was taken down, adding another $46 million to that tally.
I’m sad to say I’ve talked to lots of pig-butchering victims. One guy called my show because a woman DMed him on Facebook about a crypto investment. He gave her money and did not want to believe me when I told him he was being set up for “slaughter.”
No surprise, AI is making these crimes a lot easier to pull off. I’ve got the scoop on the latest tricks so you don’t fall for them.
The missing link
Pig-butchering scams rely on a formula. It starts all lovey-dovey with promises of quick riches over the course of months to “fatten you up.” Then, once they have your trust, they send you to “slaughter” with a crypto or other financial scam.
In the past, these scammers would say no to video chats so you didn’t know your new “girlfriend” or mysterious financial advisor is really a network of clever criminals. Now, they have deepfake software good enough to face-swap in real time. With just a click, the person on the other end of your video chat can change their appearance and “prove” they’re who they claim they are.
These scams, though, won’t work without a strong internet connection. That’s hard to come by in many of the countries where pig-butchering schemes originate. To solve that problem, crooks are buying Starlink satellite dishes.
The U.N. reports 80 Starlink satellite units were seized in Southeast Asia between April and June of this year. Thai police rounded up 58 devices in June alone. In another bust, law enforcement picked up 10 Starlink satellites and almost 5,000 preregistered SIM cards. Wow.
A real drain
“Crypto draining” is another scamming technique on the rise. The criminal sends a link to what looks and feels like a legitimate trading platform or service. You connect your crypto credentials, and, just like that, your money is redirected right into a criminal’s wallet.
Crypto drainers are all over social media, too. In one campaign that ran from March to December of 2023, they got away with $59 million from over 63,000 victims worldwide.
The chop shop
Hacker's latest threat - embracing AI chatbots
You: “Sweet! ChatGPT just wrote that email to my landlord for me.”
A hacker: “Sweet! ChatGPT just wrote some phishing emails for me.”
Sure, they grew up with tech in their hands, but Gen Z falls for more online scams than any other generation. What percentage of people between 18 and 25 have been tricked into giving up their info or money? Is it … A.) 10%, B.) 20%, C.) 27% or D.) 34%?
Watch out for the 9 most creative scams from Kim's inbox — they're scarily deceptive
People always say there are only two certainties in life: Death and taxes. I’d like to propose a third item on the list: Scams. I get so many cons over text and email that I wanted to share them with you in a most creative scams roundup.
7 things to never search for on Google
You might consider yourself a tech-savvy individual who would never fall for an online scam. You regularly mark suspicious email messages as spam, and you never click anything that doesn’t seem legitimate.
Who do you think is the most vulnerable to online scams? Tap or click here to find out which age group keeps falling for them.
Free money? Yes please - Class-action lawsuits paying out right now
There are thousands of class-action lawsuits every year. While they don’t amount to much for those affected, you could still walk away with a little payday. Companies rarely notify you that they’re being sued. You have to seek these lawsuits out, and we’re here to tell you how.
5 silly mistakes putting your online privacy and security at huge risk
There are so many online scams and tricks out there I can’t cover them all on my website and national radio show. I make it my duty to inform you of the tactics bad actors use to fool you.
A great podcast was the episode when I dove into the mind of a hacker. Tap or click to listen to an episode of my podcast, Kim Komando Today, with an IBM social engineer. She spills the secrets hackers use to scare and confuse people.
The best time to get the CHEAPEST hotel room (and get a free upgrade)
They say the best things in life are free. But sometimes, it takes a good deal of money to set yourself up for those so-called “best things.” Take travel, for example: Although it’s a fun way to make lifelong memories, it can cost an arm and a leg. Luckily, this guide on how to get the cheapest hotel room will help you save a ton of money.
Before you die, decide who gets access to your online accounts and digital files
Have you given any thought as to what you want to happen to your accounts, files, photos, and the rest of your online life once you’re gone? If the number of calls and requests I am getting for help on my national radio show is any indication, do it now while you’re thinking about it.
Shopping scams are ramping up - Here's how to protect your wallet
It is difficult to grasp that the year is already so far along. Plans are being made for winter getaways and where Christmas will be spent. But just as you are making holiday and shopping plans, so too are scammers.
With the end-of-year shopping spree reaching billions of dollars, criminals will look for their piece of the financial pie. Every year a variety of online scams are deployed to part you with your money and personal information. Tap or click here to see last year’s top holiday scams to watch for.
Have a Windows PC? Don't fall for this bogus Windows Defender charge
Online scams come in all forms, including phony links, apps, files, phone numbers and websites. Scammers reach out to victims via phone, email and text message. It’s not always easy to spot a scam, but there are signs you can look out for.
Renting a new home or apartment? Top money-stealing scams and how to avoid them
You can’t turn a corner without running into a new scam or hustle nowadays. These scams touch nearly every aspect of life, including renting a home or apartment. In 2020 alone, more than 13,000 victims lost $213 million to rental scams, the FBI reports.
Ransomware: Yes, you're vulnerable to this, too. Here's how to stay safe
Online scams have been around since the internet entered the public space. When online shopping and surfing were new, people didn’t consider fraud and crooks quickly moved their craft into the digital space.
We can now access the internet from anywhere thanks to smartphones, tablets and laptops. While convenient, this has only helped to spread crooked activity. With nearly 2 million apps in Apple’s App Store, some are inevitably fraudulent. Tap or click to see how bad apps have scammed iPhone users out of nearly $50 million.
These apps leaked personal data on 100M users. Delete them now!
We use mobile apps every day, and when downloading them, we assume our data will be stored securely. Most users don’t even think twice about the possibility that the app they have just installed is a privacy leak waiting to happen.
Windows 10 warning: New ransomware changes all your passwords
The internet brought about a lot of great changes, online shopping anybody? But it also brought about many risks. Hackers have become a constant concern in our daily lives. Every time we enter our credit card online to buy something, we put our finances at risk.
4 online shopping gotchas you need to know about to protect your wallet
This year has been a lucrative one for scammers. As of late September, more than 200,000 complaints of scams and fraud had been filed, and more than $145 million had been lost by Americans in COVID-19 scams. That’s a ton of money.
Election 2020 security: Hackers are using fake websites and email accounts to fool you
It seems like there’s always a new warning about yet another online scam. Not only have Americans dealt with typical scams the last several months, but we’ve also had to contend with COVID-related scams, too.
The thing about online scams is they’re not only annoying; they’re expensive. As of mid-September, consumer complaints to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) related to coronavirus exceeded 200,000 — and reported losses topped over $140 million. Those numbers are only likely to increase as COVID rages on. Tap or click for tips on protecting yourself from these con artists.
Scam warning: Fake puppy sellers are scamming people online
What comes to mind when you think of scams? Most people conjure up images of sketchy emails asking for large bank deposits or scam phone calls requesting personal information under the guise of official government business.
10 mistakes people make online
Ever clicked something in an email or on the web and right afterward thought, “Boy, that was dumb”? You’re not alone. Every week on my national radio show, I take calls from people just like you who know better but make common tech faux pas.