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Scammers Have A New Way Of Tricking People Into Giving Them Their Credit Card Info, This Person Tells How To Recognize It
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Scammers Have A New Way Of Tricking People Into Giving Them Their Credit Card Info, This Person Tells How To Recognize It

Tech Law Expert Explains How He Was Nearly Fooled By The Most Credible Phishing Attempt He’s ExperiencedGuy Walks Through The Steps Of Scammers Pretend To Be Guy's Bank But Fail At The Last Step, He Shares The Steps They UsedScammers Get The Real Bank To Message Guy In Their Very Credible Phishing AttemptPerson Warns Others About New Smart Techniques Criminals Use To Phish Out Your MoneyPerson Witnesses Scammers Trying Out New Techniques On Him, Warns Others To Stay AlertScammers Have A New Way Of Tricking People Into Giving Them Their Credit Card Info, This Person Tells How To Recognize ItGuy Posts How Scammers Almost Got Him, Says They're Getting Smarter And SmarterGuy Shares His Recent Scammer Experience, Warns They're Getting SmarterGuy Shares His 'Most Credible' Scam Attempt, Warns Others To Always Stay Skeptical
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We like to think that we’re immune to scams. However, some of them are so advanced, they can trick even the most vigilant ones. Almost. Pieter Gunst, who has spent years working as a tech lawyer, recently tweeted how he nearly fell for a phishing attempt. Outlining the steps that almost fooled him, he pointed out what everyone should be constantly looking out for in order to keep themselves safe.

More info: Twitter

Image credits: DigitalLawyer

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Microsoft’s security team constantly analyzes trends in cybersecurity threats. The company has been publishing Security Intelligence Reports at least annually since 2006, and they serve as an excellent indicator of these trends. The most recent report indicates that phishing attacks are now the most frequent threat to the cyber landscape, increasing 250% since the publication of the previous report.

To find out more about these illegal activities, Bored Panda spoke with Blue Bridge, a company that provides comprehensive IT services and solutions to large companies and public organizations, including data transmission and cybersecurity.

“Phishing is a method of social engineering, and it’s based on manipulating our emotions,” Blue Bridge cybersecurity expert Ugnius Klevinskas told Bored Panda. Klevinskas said that the reason why it’s so popular among scammers (and will continue to evolve) lies in human nature. “[We’re] curious and trustful, and, on the most part, aren’t ready to think critically in stressful situations.”

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Klevinskas also pointed out the findings of various research, saying that neither age, nor education or profession contribute to one’s resistance to social engineering. “Anyone can fall for a similar scam,” he said. “Moreover, when it comes to this particular case, it’s worth highlighting that fake data was combined with the real one. Even though it wasn’t done in a very original manner, the execution was high-quality. It’s clear that the attack was well coordinated and the scammers had been prepared.”

The expert also had some advice on how we all can protect ourselves from something like this: “If somebody asks you to disclose sensitive personal information, be it via e-mail, SMS or phone call, you have to stay vigilant,” Klevinskas said. “The best thing to do is to test the request through another channel. For example, if you received a suspicious e-mail, call the alleged organization or person who sent it and ask them about it. Or, let’s say, a bank employee phoned you, saying you have to provide them your PIN code or other similar info. In such a situation, you should end the conversation and call the bank yourself, making sure there actually is such a person working for that bank.”

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Some people asked Pieter to clarify a few things

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Which he happily did

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He then continued to explain the situation

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Here’s what others said about it

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Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Author, BoredPanda staff

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I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

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Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Author, BoredPanda staff

I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

Rokas Laurinavičius

Rokas Laurinavičius

Writer, BoredPanda staff

Read more »

Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

Read less »

Rokas Laurinavičius

Rokas Laurinavičius

Writer, BoredPanda staff

Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

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SBW71
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most companies never call on that anyways. And for them asking for your pin number, they would already have that. I had fraudulant charges on my bank card and they never once called me about it. I found it looking at my statement and then alerted them to cover the charges.

Crochet lady
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My credit card company ALWAYS calls me when they detect unusual activity on my card and it has always proven to be the case. At one point someone in Egypt was using my card for long distance calls. One time when I lived in OH they called and asked me if I was making a bunch of small purchases all over FL. and I wasn't. So, I wouldn't have thought anything was strange until they asked for my PIN number either.

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Geoffrey Holland
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if someone claiming to be your bank calls you and tries to get that sort of information, tell them you'll call the number on the back of your card and you will verify it that way.

Load More Comments
SBW71
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most companies never call on that anyways. And for them asking for your pin number, they would already have that. I had fraudulant charges on my bank card and they never once called me about it. I found it looking at my statement and then alerted them to cover the charges.

Crochet lady
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My credit card company ALWAYS calls me when they detect unusual activity on my card and it has always proven to be the case. At one point someone in Egypt was using my card for long distance calls. One time when I lived in OH they called and asked me if I was making a bunch of small purchases all over FL. and I wasn't. So, I wouldn't have thought anything was strange until they asked for my PIN number either.

Load More Replies...
Geoffrey Holland
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if someone claiming to be your bank calls you and tries to get that sort of information, tell them you'll call the number on the back of your card and you will verify it that way.

Load More Comments
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