The benefits of running an online business, or having a website or web presence to connect with online customers, are many. As well as having global access to a greater array of customers, the improved customer service, cost savings and speedy delivery options you can provide as a result make conducting part or your entire business online an attractive prospect. Doing business online doesn’t just put you and your products or services out there to potential customers however.

Your online presence may attract unwanted attention from hackers and other cyber criminals, but you shouldn’t have to boycott the net to run your business safely and securely. Cybercrime is a big business in itself, a fact that means online scamming techniques are evolving rapidly. Keeping up with the latest threats is an important part of operations for small and large businesses. With fraudulent scams in particular expected to increase dramatically by the end of this year, there’s no doubt that cyber criminals are getting smarter. Outwit them by getting clued up on the most up-to-date tactics being used by cyber criminals and utilise this information to successfully safeguard your business and its customers.

ICOs

With the rise and rise of cryptocurrency use, cyber criminals have of course taken a special interest in the sector. Initial coin offerings (ICOs) are completely legitimate routes to selling cryptocurrency stock but with every genuine ICO comes a lot of scams. ICOs are similar to the campaigns you’ll find on Kickstarter and Indiegogo, with the phenomenon used to crowdfund crypto-startups. Knowing how to distinguish a genuine ICO from a scam is therefore important.

Being unable to view team profiles or ICO creators, failing to supply viewable public contracts, providing few technical details and setting unrealistic goals are all considered signs of an ICO scam.

Social hacking

Social media scams are growing increasingly common, and you can understand why. Social networks are now used by 39 million people in the UK, with the likes of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram growing more and more popular across all age groups. Social media scams are simple; usually the cyber criminal behind them will send a suspicious link which upon access will help the hacker infiltrate a user’s wider profile. From there, hackers can use the profile to ask for money and other personal details.

Advance fee

Advance fee scams are no new thing. They’ve been around for years yet still remain one of the most popular and profitable phishing techniques. News of free products, services and money are of course music to anyone’s ears, these scams however ask for a small (or not so small) fee to process the order. Once the fee is provided, said freebies are nowhere to be seen, leaving you with nothing but a lighter wallet.

Advance fee scams are so heavily publicised that it’s rather easy to identify them these days. In recent years however, advance fee scammers have used increasingly sophisticated techniques, such as posing as someone you know and trust, to increase success.

There are many more online scamming techniques that both businesses and individuals need to be aware of to protect themselves online. Want to know more? Keep up-to-date with the latest advice and insights via our blog or contact us direct.

A specialist IT Company based in Corby, Northamptonshire, Syntec Systems provide expert IT Solutions and IT Support services to businesses in the local area. Syntec Systems specialise in IT Management, IT Consultancy and IT Procurement, and their experienced technicians also offer a 24/7 helpdesk service to help resolve untimely IT Issues for all businesses with no prior contract.