Fake party invitation scam can hijack your computer
You sit down at your computer to clear out your inbox.Then you spot a party invitation from someone you recognize.
Maybe it appears to come from a friend.Perhaps the sender belongs to a group you know.
Either way, the familiar name makes the message feel safe enough to open.Inside, everything looks cheerful.There is an envelope graphic, a friendly note and what appears to be an invitation for a wedding or retirement party.
However, you cannot see the event details yet.The message tells you to save the invitation or install something to join the guest list.That request should stop you cold.
A legitimate party invitation should not require you to install software before you can see when or where the event takes place.That small download could give a criminal remote access to your computer.
Here’s how this fake invitation scam works and what you can do before one click puts your computer and contacts at risk.CyberGuy Live: Missed "Sick of Spam?" Get the replay and checklistOur free CyberGuy Live class, "Sick of Spam?", has ended, but you can still watch the full replay and download our spam-stopping checklist.Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson walks you step by step through simple ways to reduce robocalls, spam texts, junk email and unwanted messages.
You’ll also learn how to curb political texts, clean up your inbox and spot messages that could put your personal information at risk.Get the free replay and checklist now at CyberGuyLive.com.FAKE SHINYHUNTERS SEXTORTION EMAIL USES CARNIVAL BREACH DATAA fake party invitation can trick recipients into downloading software that gives criminals remote access to a Windows computer.(Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)The scam begins with trust.
An invitation appears to come from someone whose name you recognize, so you become less suspicious.Criminals may copy the look of a legitimate invitation platform.
They can add a colorful envelope, an exclusive-sounding message and a button that promises to reveal the details.The email has one ...