Cybercrime, Phishing, Fraud and Online Scams Workshops
Do the young people you know and work with really understand how criminals use the internet to attack, trick and steal from their victims?
They will after emerging from a 2020 Dreams Cybercrime, Phishing, Fraud and Online Scams Workshop. Better still, they will be able to avoid the snares.
From rogue states to opportunist hackers, there are many villains on the internet, looking to defraud, abuse or disrupt those who fall into their traps. When those victims are part of a network – like a school intranet – the results can lead to system damage, privacy breaches, ransom demands and even stolen funds.
Although young people are often more tech-savvy than their parents, they are often less aware of the risks of being scammed. We created our 2020 Dreams Cybercrime, Phishing, Fraud and Online Scams Workshops to shore up young people’s defences, minimising their – and your – exposure to danger.
Cybercrime and fraud: the century’s most common threats
According to nidirect, people are now more likely to experience fraud or cybercrime than any other crime. So, wouldn’t it be a good plan to arm children, teens and young adults with the knowledge of how they might be targeted – and how to stay safe?
Some common examples of cybercrime are phishing, dating scams, fake offers and fraudulent transactions.
How do scammers and hackers harm young people?
Online scammers are always coming up with new schemes to get behind our children’s defences, but their goals usually fit into one of four categories: stealing money, stealing personal data, causing disruption or grooming.
Online theft and extortion.
Cybercriminals may either steal directly from their victim or use extortion to coerce them into payment. Phishing is one tool that could be used for both ends. This is where the criminal sends a fake email that impersonates a trusted source (bank, tax office, online store, etc.)
One scenario might be a fake account breach email from the student’s online bank. They think they are entering their password and username to secure their hacked account. In reality, the email link has taken them to a fake page and the scammer is collecting their credentials so that they can steal money from their account.
In another scenario, clicking a link in an email might lead to ransomware being downloaded to the student’s computer. They are warned that the computer’s contents will be wiped if they don’t pay up by a certain deadline.
Identity theft
Young people have been so conditioned into sharing information that they can easily be duped into revealing personal identifiable information (PII) to strangers. This is then used to impersonate that student (or the details are sold on the Dark Web). Identity theft can lead to problems obtaining credit in the future (if the criminal has accessed and defaulted on loans, credit cards, etc.). Fake identities might even be used by organised crime groups or terrorists.
Sabotage and disruption
‘Hacktivists’ and state actors may want to disrupt and damage systems and infrastructure for political reasons. Others just enjoy causing disruption.
Online grooming
A parent’s worst nightmare is their child becoming hooked by a paedophile or sociopath online. Grooming is a process by which a person builds trust with another in order to abuse or control them.
2020 Dreams Cybercrime, Phishing, Fraud and Online Scams Workshops
Our 2020 Dreams Cybercrime, Phishing, Fraud and Online Scams workshops are a valuable part of the fight against online crime. By educating a generation of security-conscious IT users, we can keep them – and the networks they use – safe.
Our combination of tried and trusted engagement strategies and skilled facilitators guarantee a fun and productive result, whatever the age of the workshop group.
We also provide high-quality training and consultation packages for those schools, groups and institutions who prefer to create their own online safety programmes.
To find out more or to make a booking, please contact our friendly team, either by sending an email to hello@2020dreams.org.uk or by calling 0800 471 4983.
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