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As you may have heard, the Olympic Games begin in a few days which means worldwide attention will be turned to the athletes in London. While excitement about the event is building among fans, it’s also building among thieves who are intending to use the Internet to part you from your money.
I recently spoke with Angel Grant, Principal Product Manager of RSA Security, who alerted me to the dangerous scams being concocted by Internet hackers in anticipation of the Olympic Games. “In the past three months over 60% of the phishing reports we saw came from the UK,” she advised.
By taking some precautions, you can be safer from Internet crime.
Scams
Fake Websites
Be on the lookout for fake Olympic-related websites that could contain malware. If someone emails you a link to a site, look at the URL to see if it appears legitimate. Also watch out for fake coupons that promise you discounts if you fill out a survey. Downloading a fake coupon could infect your computer plus you could be giving away personal information when you filling out the survey form.
Text Messages
Spam text messages are on the rise and during the Games thieves will be sending out fake text messages with links that can infect your cell phone. Grant warned, “Scammers will send you a fake text message and when you click on the link you can infect your mobile device.”
On your computer, you can hover over the link to see the web address where you’ll be going, but you can’t do that with text messages. “More people are falling for that because they see these text messages and they’re just clicking on the links. People have their guard up more when they’re on a physical computer. When they’re on a mobile device they’re not paying as much attention and hackers are taking advantage of this.”
If you’re doing mobile banking or mobile shopping from an infected device, hackers can steal your financial information. Grant explained that this scam is called a “Man in the Mobile” scheme. Hackers can also re-direct links from legitimate text messages, from your bank for example, to their fake websites for fraudulent transactions.
Social Media
According the Grant, the London Olympics Committee will be heavily using social media sites such as Facebook to promote the Games and get people engaged with the events. But fraudsters know this and are planning to take advantage of people’s trust of their friends.
“You think your friend is posting a cool video from the Olympic Games, you go to click on it and at that point you can infect your computer.” She advises keeping your guard up when you see Olympic links posted by your friends on social media.
Grant also explained about the scam called Likejacking: “It’s where you think you’re liking one site and you’re redirected to a different site such as an embarrassing site.”
Facebook email accounts may actually come in handy during the Olympics. According to Grant, hackers haven’t yet harvested Facebook email addresses, so you may want to use these to share legitimate links with your friends. Just be sure what you’re sharing is from authentic sites!
Mobile Apps
The London Olympics Committee has released three official mobile apps that work on iOS, Android and Blackberry. You can access those apps from the official Olympics website. Grant warns against downloading apps from other suspicious sites.
Videos
Be careful of clicking on links that claim to show clips of Olympic events. Those links could contain viruses. Instead, go to YouTube or Vimeo and search for the video.
Links to streaming videos can also infect your computer. Because of the time differences between London and the rest of the world, people want to watch streaming video of live events from work. Avoid infecting your office computer by clicking on a fake link that directs you to a spammer’s website. “If you go to one of the bogus websites from work, you may not just be infecting your computer, you could potentially be harming the company you work for. You may be giving hackers access to your company’s internal servers so be extra cautious on your work devices,” said Grant.
Fake Mascots
Olympic sponsors will be giving away free apps, wallpaper, screen savers, mascot images and other downloads to Olympic fans. Scammers will be trying to use these incentives to infect your devices with viruses. Make sure to go directly to the sponsors’ websites to download any freebies instead of clicking on links.
Tourist Information
Scammers are setting up fake tourist sites and apps with shopping tips, maps, weather and other tourist information. These sites are designed to infect your devices with malware. The official Olympic website and apps have tourist information available.
Olympic Tickets
The London Olympics Committee sold tickets by holding a lottery where winners had the right to purchase tickets. This lottery resulted in people receiving email notifications that they had won the opportunity to purchase tickets to the events.
Hackers have mimicked these email notifications with phishing scams sending out fake notices that look exactly like the real ones. Grant explained, “A lot of people who originally got scammed when trying to buy Olympic tickets. People got notifications that they won the lottery for tickets to certain events, all they had to do was download a PDF file and give some personal information and submit it. When they downloaded the PDF they were infecting their computers and they supplied the fraudsters with personal information for identity theft later.”
Fake Olympic Ticket Form
The London Olympics Committee has set up a web page that lists legitimate websites selling Olympic event tickets. Official Olympic Ticket Checker Website
On that page you can also search websites to see if they’re legitimate sellers of Olympic tickets. If you are offered event tickets, be sure to visit the official Olympics website before giving out your credit card number or other personal information.
Staying Safe
Grant advises using common sense before clicking on a link or revealing information about yourself. “Step back and think, ‘Do they really need my Social Security number, credit card information or my mother’s maiden name for me to get this coupon or cute mascot screen saver?”
Don’t enter your credit card number or personal information to get a free download. If a sponsor is giving away a free incentive, then a credit card number should not be required. If you want a coupon, free game or other download from an Olympic sponsor, go directly to the sponsor’s site. When you visit a Facebook page, make sure it’s the page you’re expecting before you click “Like”.
If you discover an instance of fraud, make sure to report it to the Metropolitan Police. They have a fraud reporting website for both fraud reporting and ongoing investigations. The official Olympics website also has a fraud detection page that helps you spot scams.
Bottom Line
The 2012 Olympics will offer record-setting opportunities to stay connected using tech. By taking a few precautions, you can make sure that the Olympics don’t result in you becoming a victim of cyber-crime. These scams will live on beyond the Closing Ceremony so make sure you follow this advice well after the Games are over.
Were you aware of these Olympic scams? Are you going to take extra precautions during the Games? Let us know in the Comments section below!
* Tower Bridge image by edwc
Informative indeed Carolyn!
I just about knew that the Olympic Games are round the corner, but had no idea whatsoever about such scams that could take place!
Yes, we do get a lot of spam emails, but then such activities could aggravate during the games, which calls for us to remain all the more alert during such times. I am however glad that our country doesn’t seem to be among the top countries attacked by phishing scams. Nevertheless, we shouldn’t wait for things to happen and then realize or think about it.
I have a cousin living in London, and would be forwarding the email to him so that he can be more aware of such things coming up in the near future.
I guess we all just need to be more aware and careful all the time and keep a look out for anything that doesn’t look familiar or raises doubt. Not opening such emails and links is something I do follow, but yes, sometimes they look as if they have come from people who are really trying to contact you and you do get caught. I think you just need to be more careful now on. 🙂
Thanks for sharing this wonderful piece of information with all of us and reminding us to be careful even after the games are over. 🙂
Hi Harleena, Yes, when Angel told me about these scams, it was alarming. But by following her suggestions, we can try to avoid being duped. Although cyber thieves will be especially busy during the Olympics, this advice is relevant at all times.
Thanks for sharing this post with your cousin, Harleena!
Superb advice Carolyn, that is timely and valuable. I will be sharing:) Thanks. Cheers! Kaarina
Hi Kaarina, Yes, Angel was extremely helpful in not only telling us about the scams but also ways we can be safe from them. Everyone should enjoy the Olympics and not have to worry about being a victim of cybercrime.
Thanks for sharing this, Kaarina. The more people who can be on the alert the better! :-bd
Hi Carolyn,
There will be lots of scams. If you get an email asking if you want to buy an ice cream. Don’t! They are always a rip off in London. I think a lot more products will join the ice creams for a while.
There is a dress code for the Olympics. No trainers! 😉
Hi Mike, Yes, you’re right, scammers are everywhere, but these tricks surrounding the Olympics seem particularly cunning. I can’t imagine too many people are interested in buying ice cream over the Internet, but you never know!
I told my girls about the dress code for the Olympics and one of them asked, “Wow, that’s going to be tough for the athletes!”
(Translation for US readers -> trainers = sneakers)
Most of my Olympic experience will be via television so I should be pretty safe.
It’s a shame the ‘hackers’ see this as their business model and the unsuspecting public has to take all of these precautions.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Bill, Good to know that you’ll be safe from the hackers during the Olympics. Unfortunately, the Internet opens us up to thieves worldwide. You’re right, I wish that hackers would turn their attention to being productive in society, but that’s true for all thieves.
Well thanks Carolyn. I’m going to be in London during the Olympics and I wouldn’t have thought to be hyper-aware about computer security. I probably would have rationalized suspicious or odd requests as being just cultural differences.
Riley
Hi Riley, yes, when you’re traveling it’s easy to let your guard down as you try to blend into a different culture. Be aware of these scams and any other links, downloads and emails that appear suspicious.
Good luck at the Olympics, Riley. I’ll be rooting for you! :-bd
Hi Carolyn,
I am so glad that I read this post. I love watching the Olympics and would’ve probably clicked on a link that someone posts on Facebook. Thanks for the heads up. I will watch videos and get updates from legitimate sources.
Hi Jamella, I’m glad this post was helpful to you. I can imagine that if you weren’t aware of these scams, you could be very vulnerable to hackers who will try to take advantage of the Games. Stay safe while enjoying the Games, Jamella!
Hi Carolyn
Whenever there is a big event there are also some bad guys there trying to take advantage of people. Just remember if something is too good to be true, it properly is 😉 I have just downloaded the London 2012 App for my Windows Phone and all I have to say is: “Let the games begin” 😀
Hi Thomas, I’m so glad you have downloaded the Official Olympics App. That’s one way to stay safe during the games. Yes, it probably is too good to be true if you won the right to buy tickets to the Games and it’s definitely too good to be true if you live outside the EU!
I am excited about the Games too. Fun times ahead!
It is for sure fun times. I love that the games are in London this year. That means only 1 hour of time difference so I don’t have to stay up all night to watch the Danish athletes 🙂
Getting Facebook Account exploited with these new methods as you’ve specified, LifeJacking, could be disastrous.
Great article to insure security of internet users. Before moving into transaction or any action, we should check the URL and see if it matches the official site
Hi Gautham, Yes, Likejacking could be disastrous. As more and more companies are looking at people’s Facebook profiles, you want to be very careful on the pages you Like. Checking the URL is a great way to protect against embarrassment!
Hi Carolyn,
Thanks for letting us know about all this and giving us an education. It’s unbelievable what hackers are doing.
I just got a email saying is that you in the video? We must all be aware of emails that force you to click on them.
If you don’t who it’s from just get rid of that email. One of the best ways to protect your self is avoiding spam, no matter how interesting it may be.
Terry Conti
Hi Terry, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! You’re right, that is another scam, asking people if that is them in the video. I have seen that as a Direct Message on Twitter and it’s very tempting to click on the link to make sure that it isn’t you in the video. Best to write back the person asking if the link is fake rather than clicking on it.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts with us, Terry!
My friend was studying in the UK last year and she almost fell into the free ticket trap for the “upcoming Olympics”. She was asked to fill her information in a form along with her password and personal details. Though she was able to recover things quickly after but then she had her email hacked a few hours into this.
It is weird what people across the web do!
Hi Hajra, I can see how it would be very easy to think you had won the ticket lottery when the notices were sent by email. Scammers had a simple task in copying the form for fake notices. I’m sorry your friend got hacked, even though she realized that the form was a fake. The more we know the better we can be prepared to avoid these scams!
Hi Carolyn,
Its quite obvious that Olympics are going to be huge hit as always. 🙂
But the hackers will play the spoilsport as usually they are addicted to.
Most of us will look up for the Olympic tickets at a cheap rate and for that we browse new sites which are fake and can empty our pockets if we provide them our credit card details.So to avoid this kind of discrepancies people should only visit official websites only.
People will visit from all over the world to watch Olympics and have a great time but if they are not aware of the scams they can face it may/can ruin their spirit to watch olympics.
My sister is in London and i hope she is aware of the scams that can happen.Whether she is aware or not i am sending this information to her.
Thanks for making all your readers aware of the scams.Appreciate your post. 🙂
Hi Aditya, I’m glad you’re sharing this post with your sister in London. I was shocked when I saw how many of the phishing attacks are directed to the UK. The way the lottery was set it, people could easily mistake fake notices of winning the ticket lottery with the real notices.
I hope you and your sister stay safe during the Games!
Phishing attacks in UK is surely a matter of great concern but the countries who are less prone to these attacks are in more dander as people think that they are safe but its there misunderstanding.Hackers are smarter then we think they are.They know UK govt. is having an eye on them so they mainly target those countries who are less aware of this issue.
Hi Aditya, Good point. Even if you’re in a country that hasn’t been popular with hackers, you shouldn’t let your guard down. Be careful no matter what country you’re in!
Yes – This is a big issue worldwide. As soon as a major international event is announced in a certain country the spammers and identity theft numbers rises. One needs to be ever more vigilant when such an event is hosted in your country.
Hi Anton, Yes, you’re right, spammers definitely follow the money and big events mean big money. Even if you’re not living in England or going to the Games, you need to be careful to stay away from scammers.
Thanks for stopping by, Anton!
Hi Carolyn,
I can hardly wait for the Olympics to get started, I really enjoy watching sports. And now that it’s in London the time difference is perfect 🙂
I have never thought about the threats during the Olympics other than terrorist, and that’s been all over the media here in Norway.
Thanks a lot for sharing. I hope you’re having a wonderful vacation.
Hi Jens, Yes, no doubt terrorist threats are the worst. But no one wants to be a victim of crime, even cyber-crime.
Check out my next post on great tech for the Olympics! I think you’ll discover some apps and websites you’ll really enjoy. 🙂
Great tips and info here. A couple of apps that may help visitors navigate the tube or call a cab without having to act like a windmill in the street. Apple App Store – London Tube will help you find the best route to your destination and Hailo allows you to hail a cab from your mobile device. Be sure to apply common sense and recommendations in this post before providing sensitive information via mobile.
Hi Debra, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Thanks so much for suggesting these helpful apps. Navigating through London during the Games will be challenging and these apps will help. Check out my article tomorrow for another great app for getting around London!
Hey Carolyn,
Never thought that hackers or spammers would take Olympics as a base for their spamming activities (I am sure that I won’t come across these, because I am not that interested in Olympics, even though I look upon news on who won what). Anyways, I will be careful.
Thank you for your reminder!
Hi Jeevan, Yes, unfortunately hackers will use any opportunity to try to steal from us. These thieves will use plenty of tricks to try to make our lives miserable. It’s unfortunate but true.
Hi Carolyn,
Fake things are always related with mostly big things. Reason is very clear, as every big thing, such as Olympic, involves billions of people so it’s easy for social animals to forge them. We should be more careful before buying anything online. thanks for sharing this important information. keep updating us.
Jess
🙂