The last message in your family group chat may have seemed completely harmless.It could have been a beach photo, a flight arrival time, a dentist appointment or an update about Dad's cardiologist.These are the everyday details that keep families connected.
They can also give scammers the information they need to impersonate someone you love.A criminal may already know your relatives' names, phone numbers and addresses before making contact.Your family group chat can supply the current details that make the scam believable.New! Free live CyberGuy class: Protect Your Money From Today’s Biggest ThreatsJoin us Saturday, August 29, at 10 AM ET for a free CyberGuy LIVE class covering five simple steps to help defend yourself against AI scams, fraud, identity theft and financial hacks.
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You’ll also receive our financial protection checklist, and every registrant will get a link to the class recording afterward.Reserve your free spot today at CyberGuyLive.com.YOUR SENIOR PARENTS ARE EASIER TO IMPERSONATE THAN YOU AREHijacked messaging accounts can give criminals direct access to family conversations, names and routines they can use in impersonation scams.(Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Scammers do not always need to hack an account.
Instead, they may need only a few minutes and access to a data broker site.Sites such as Spokeo, Whitepages and BeenVerified may reveal your name, address history and phone number.
They may also list your relatives, including your spouse, adult children, grandchildren and siblings.That information gives a scammer the outline of your family.
Meanwhile, your family group chat can fill in the missing details.For example, you might post that you just returned from Florida.Your daughter may mention tha...