Not all hackers wear hoodies – how to protect yourself and others from prevalent online scams
Poor weather and shorter days combined with the return to work, especially after a particularly sociable period like Christmas, can result in emotional vulnerability. So, it’s understandable that the prospect of an exciting new relationship might be particularly appealing.
Cybercriminals are aware of this. To them, this vulnerability represents a significant opportunity. Most hackers, despite widespread misconception to the contrary, are socially adept and expert manipulators. One common way for cybercriminals to connect with their victims is to exploit an emotional weakness. They use social media and dating sites to gather information and identify vulnerable people before using their extensive social skills to form a relationship to exploit the emotional connection to extract money.
This type of attack is usually observed using one of the following methods:
Serious problem
This is not a small problem. According to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, the UK lost over ￡94.7 million to romance scams, with the average victim losing ￡10,774. Many of these scams originate from Nigeria, Ghana, Malaysia, and South Africa and it is often extremely challenging to prosecute or recover losses.
Exploiting vulnerable people on an emotional level can be traumatic, with sometimes devastating outcomes. Murray Dowey, a victim of a sexploitation attack who took his life in 2023, is a stark example of the seriousness of these types of scams. With these attacks becoming more widespread and sophisticated, understanding how best to respond is extremely important.
Play your part
Understanding how these threats are carried out can help you to recognise patterns and behaviours that might signal a developing problem. Understanding will not only help you to protect yourself but also help you to spot odd or unusual behaviours in your friends and family.
Spot the signs
The challenge lies in the fundamental conflict between emotional and logical decision-making. When someone is emotionally invested in a potential romantic connection, and their capacity for critical thinking often diminishes, it can be challenging to discern between reality and fantasy. There are simple ways to steer clear of these predators.
Signs someone may be under attack
What you can do
Firstly, when you think ‘hacker’, remind yourself that it is far more likely to be a smooth-talking match on Tinder than it is to be a TV trope brought to life. By understanding what a cybercriminal is and how they operate, you are far better equipped to deal with the problem.
Next, spot the signs. If you begin a new relationship online, watch out for:
·?????? Model-perfect pictures
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·?????? Refusal to video chat or meet in person
·?????? Declarations of deep emotional connection or love that happen too quickly
·?????? Attempts to move your conversation off the platform that you met on
These attacks almost always rely on isolation. The attacker will do their best to force their victim into a position where they have to make decisions on their own. They might ask to keep the relationship private or attach urgency to their request preventing you from taking time to talk about it. The single best weapon against these scammers is talking to others. Having someone else aware of what is going on can help take the emotion out of it and give you a more objective view.
What you can do to help others
Talk about it – remove the stigma. The easier it is for people to talk openly when something doesn’t seem right may prevent unnecessary loss, pain and suffering. Children and young adults are more likely to be targeted using sexploitation, so it is essential that they feel safe to report something that they may be very embarrassed about.
Where children are concerned, try to establish social norms that make it acceptable – even expected – to discuss and question online relationships. Simple phrases like "it's normal to double-check" or "everyone needs a second opinion sometimes" can help normalise protective behaviours rather than ostracise those who might be vulnerable.
What to do if you believe you are part of a scam
Report it. Do not be afraid to contact your bank, police or action fraud for advice. If you feel uneasy or unsure, trust your instincts and talk to someone. It might just be the difference between you being scammed or not.
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