Security | Threat Detection | Cyberattacks | DevSecOps | Compliance

Top tips is a weekly column where we highlight what’s trending in the tech world today and list out ways to explore these trends. This week, we’re showing you how to spot a fraud call and avoid getting scammed. Microsoft, AT&T, the FBI, and the IRS—what do these four entities have in common? Most likely, you or someone you know has received a call from somebody impersonating these entities.

A large-scale fraud operation, dubbed "Ticket Heist," is exploiting over 700 domain names to sell fake tickets for the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris. This campaign, which appears to predominantly target Russian-speaking users, extends beyond the Olympics to other major sports and music events, posing a significant risk to potential ticket buyers. Details of the Ticket Heist Campaign.

Pretexting is a type of social engineering attack in which the scammer manipulates their target into sharing private information or sending money by making up a story. Pretexting can occur on the phone, via text message, through email or in person. The goal of pretexting scams is typically to infect your device with malware, steal your money, breach private data and more.

Read Also: Four cybercrime ring members arrested for hacking government websites, teen gets one year in prison for hacking teacher’s laptop, and more.

Employee fraud is not just a rare occurrence, but a prevalent issue in the American workplace. Shockingly, three out of four employees have confessed to stealing from their workplace at least once for personal gain. The types of fraud are diverse, ranging from petty theft to complex schemes involving benefits, accounts receivable fraud, or intellectual property. The risk of employee fraud affects both small and large businesses.

Researchers at Check Point observed more than a thousand newly registered malicious or suspicious web domains related to Amazon last month. The criminals are likely gearing up to target users during Amazon Prime Day next week. “While Prime Day offers incredible savings, it is crucial for shoppers to remain vigilant, exercise caution while clicking on links or providing sensitive information, and ensure they are navigating legitimate platforms,” the researchers write.

WhatsApp is a messaging app that enables users to message and voice call other WhatsApp users. Many people from all over the world use WhatsApp to communicate. This has made it a common platform for scammers to target people. Some of the most common scams on WhatsApp include an invitation to “WhatsApp Gold,” impersonation scams, WhatsApp tech support scams, as well as charity and romance scams.

As social media becomes more intertwined with our daily routines, cybercriminals are using it to trick people with fake job offers. What are these social-media recruitment scams, and how can you spot the red flags? With unemployment surging in many countries around the world, in particular countries like South Africa, which is currently at the top of the highest unemployment list in the world at over 32%, it’s no wonder that scams targeting job seekers are becoming more common.

Nowadays, cryptocurrency is a buzzword in society. It’s mostly seen as a high-risk investment or associated with fast profit-making schemes. Despite this, its adoption has surged in recent years, and according to crypto.com, the number of cryptocurrency holders has now hit 580 million. Unfortunately, not all of them hold it for legitimate reasons. We are at a juncture where criminals have the knowledge, services, and tools to channel their illicit profits through cryptocurrencies.