According to Donatas Drakickas, Tele2 product manager, fraud schemes are increasingly designed so that a dangerous action looks like a completely normal part of internet browsing.
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“A person is not necessarily asked to immediately enter bank details or a password. Sometimes the first step seems completely innocent – scanning a QR code, pressing a video play button, or opening a free broadcast. This is precisely what makes it difficult to identify threats,” says D.Drakickas.
QR code can lead to a dangerous website
In one of the fraud cases observed in July, QR codes were used. When a user visited a website, it was stated that to confirm that they are not a robot and to play the video, they needed to scan the QR code displayed on the screen with their phone. However, after scanning it, the user could be redirected to unsafe websites containing malicious content or executing other fraud scenarios.
This method is unique in that the dangerous action moves from one device to another – for example, a QR code is displayed on a computer, and the link is opened on a phone.
“We are used to using QR codes daily, for example, in cafes, so the action itself often no longer raises suspicion. If an unfamiliar website unexpectedly asks you to confirm your identity or launch content in this way, it is worth stopping and evaluating whether such a request is logical at all,” notes D.Drakickas.
Free sports broadcasts – another bait
Another tactic recorded in July was fake sports streaming websites. They may resemble regular platforms and promise free access to matches, but upon clicking, the user may be redirected to unsafe pages.
“In such cases, a very simple desire is exploited – to see what you are looking for as quickly as possible. If the match has already started, people analyze less what page they have opened and click faster on what promises a broadcast,” says the Tele2 product manager.
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Fake store looks increasingly like a real one
In July, a phishing page imitating the “Valora” brand was also discovered. The fake website replicated the visual style of a real business and could give the impression that the user was visiting an original online store. On such pages, a person might be lured by an attractive offer, and when paying, hand over payment card or other personal data to fraudsters.
“A fake page can have a logo, professional photos, and look almost identical to a real one. Therefore, it is important to evaluate not only the appearance of the website but also its address, how you got to it, and what information is requested on it,” states D.Drakickas.
Almost every second device – at least one incident
In July, Tele2’s “Internet Protection” blocked over 107 million threats and prevented access to 315 thousand malicious domains, websites, or links.
The largest part consisted of threats related to malicious software, and over 85.8 million attempts to access addresses included in lists of untrustworthy sources, 47.1 million phishing cases, and over 6.6 million compromised websites were also blocked.
Although the total number of threats decreased compared to June, at least one security incident was stopped in July on almost 45% of devices with the service.
“This shows that a cyber threat can be encountered while performing completely normal actions – shopping, watching a video, or looking for a sports broadcast. The scenario itself changes, but the goal remains the same – to encourage a person to click, provide data, or perform another thoughtless action,” says D.Drakickas.
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