From posing as the IRSto selling fake vaccines,tinys riding sex videos scammers have kicked itinto overdrive since the coronavirus pandemic began.
Online scams have become so prevalent during the past few months that Google decided to take action. On Thursday, the search giant launched a new website called Scam Spotterto address the problem.
The purpose of the site, which was created in partnership with the Cybercrime Security Network, is mainly to educate people so they can protect themselves from falling for fraud. Scam Spotter includes details about specific types of scams and common strategies scammers use to trick you. There’s also a quiz to check how prepared you are to spot a scam.
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According to a Federal Trade Commission report, based on the complaints it’s received, people have lost around $40 million due to COVID-19 related scams. The FTC estimates that scams will result in more than $2 billion in losses, up from $1.9 billion last year.
Scam Spotter urges users to follow three simple rules to avoid getting scammed online: "Slow it down," "Spot Check," and "Stop! Don't send." The steps highlight some common tricks fraudsters use, such as creating a false sense of urgency so you don’t think about what they’re asking you to do.
Along with the website, Google published a post to their blog written by Vint Cerf, who is recognized as one of the “fathers of the internet.” Cerf notes that while “people ages 25-40 are most likely to be scammed, research shows it’s seniors who stand to lose the most, with their median losses more than double the average.”
The site is now live at scamspotter.org.
Topics Cybersecurity Google COVID-19