“Black Friday”, “cyber Monday” and “black week” are among the offer phenomena that will soon sweep across the country. What the concepts have in common is that they can be used by fraudsters, warns the National Communications Authority.
– There is every reason to be extra vigilant now, says senior adviser Johannes Vallesverd in Nkom.
Nine out of ten Norwegians have been exposed to fraud attempts in the past year, one shows examination which Nkom presented in October. Fraud attempts are becoming increasingly clever, and authorities, companies and telecom operators are stepping up their efforts to stop them, it says.
– Uses spoofing, forgery and scam links
The bait that fraudsters use to lure in victims is also becoming increasingly difficult to detect, and it is easy to get swept up in the wave of offers or fall for fraud, says Vallestad.
– Fraudsters like to connect with moods and ongoing everyday activities of potential victims. With the help of digital tools such as spoofing, forgery and fraud links, and often with a message that something is urgent, they manage to get us in the act.
And for criminals, there is a sea of ​​potential victims in the last week of November. One in three Norwegians state that they plan to shop during the offer week, according to a black week survey carried out by Prize hunt.
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The tricks against fraud
Nkom warns against links that you receive in text messages and e-mails, especially if you do a lot of shopping over a period of time. Then you get many links related to delivery and payment, and you may risk becoming less critical of what you click on, according to Vallesverd.
Other advice they offer is:
* Check whether the sender address in text messages looks correct, and check whether those that appear correct may have been manipulated.
* Please be aware of all links, especially those with typos.
* If you are expecting a package delivery, use the supplier’s app or the company’s website for package information.
* Never provide bank account information or BankID if someone asks about this over the phone.
* Be critical if someone asks you to transfer amounts to several different accounts or to foreign accounts.
* Be critical if someone contacts you on social media with requests for large sums, even if it is from people you know. Check with friends and acquaintances whether this is actually true.
The senior advisor at Nkom also mentions a general piece of advice: If an offer seems too good to be true, it usually is.
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