Check out our Avast Q1/2023 Threat Report to see how social engineering scams have surged a whopping 61% on mobile and 23% on desktop.

We’re in the throes of another pandemic, but this time, it’s not transmitted through the air – it spreads with just a click. Welcome to the world of deepfakes. While COVID-19 significantly impacted our physical and mental well-being, deepfakes affect our minds differently. Their influence is causing confusion, mistrust and a distorted perception of reality, both personally and globally.

The FBI has issued a warning to US retailers about a financially-motivated malicious hacking ring that has been targeting employees with phishing attacks in an attempt to create fraudulent gift cards. Staff at the corporate offices of US retail companies have been the target of highly-sophisticated email phishing and SMS phishing ("smishing") attacks. These attacks attempt to gain access to employee accounts, IT systems, and cloud services used by the company.

Travel fraud is a growing concern within the industry, posing significant challenges to businesses and consumers alike. As travel becomes increasingly digital, the opportunities for fraudsters to exploit online transactions and reservations have also expanded. Research from global Edgar, Dunn & Company, on behalf of eNett, said in total, fraud costs the travel industry over $21 billion dollars annually, including $6 billion dollars in damages and $15 billion in overheads.

MLM (multi-level marketing) business models are believed to have existed since the 1920s - it is estimated that approximately over 1,000 companies in the US currently use this model. MLM has gained immense popularity over the past years, especially among individuals who wish to earn extra income, want flexible work opportunities, have financial independence, or become entrepreneurs without the associated risks and overhead costs of starting a business.

Snapchat is a mobile-based social media platform owned by Snap Inc.; it is a global platform, hosting over 734.8 million users, the majority of which are Gen Z. The platform began as a resource for sharing pictures between friends but has evolved to include options for creator content, group conversations, and the sharing of media. As Snapchat’s audience continues to grow, so too, do the threats those members face.

Best-selling writer Maria Konnikova once wrote, “Fraud thrives in moments of great social change and transition.” These words ring truer than ever as additional aspects of business and everyday life move swiftly online. Whether you think about eCommerce, remote work, online banking, or digital government services, the opportunities for fraudsters continue to multiply. The online world currently creates such a fertile ground for fraudulent activity that U.S.

The “Security Alert” scam is a prevalent tech-support fraud that threatens both Windows and Apple users. It exploits the trust of users by masquerading as an official support site, using fake pop-up warnings to lure users into dialing scam phone numbers by conveying a sense of urgency. The ultimate goal is gaining remote access to the user’s system and pilfering personal data to extort money.

Suspected North Korean threat actors are attempting to trick software developers into downloading malware during phony job interviews, according to researchers at Securonix. The threat actors contact software developers with seemingly legitimate employment opportunities before scheduling virtual job interviews.