LCyber scams are becoming more sophisticated and well thought out. The well-known CEO fraud, where a cybercriminal impersonates the head of a company to defraud its employees, is mutating into ‘customer fraud’. This is a new twist on social engineering to steal from self-employed and freelancers.
The most important problem with this new form of social engineering is that cybercriminals are becoming true experts in taking advantage of Artificial Intelligence in an extremely professional way. Their attacks with generative AI and synthetic AI require a titanic effort on the part of companies that oversee cybersecurity to provide innovative training to all professionals. But that is not all, it is essential that the regulation includes robust cybersecurity measures,
Fortunately, the EU is working towards a European agreement to regulate artificial intelligence. However, it is not an easy thing to achieve, as AI is going to change everything, especially the labour market. Without going any further, the latest Hostinger Observatory on Digital Transformation reveals that 89% of Spaniards expect AI to transform the labor market in all its aspects. And 70% of Spaniards believe that new jobs and opportunities will appear.
An increase that is going further in Spain
In 2023, Spain experienced a significant increase in the number of cyber scams. According to official data, More than 470,000 complaints were filed for scams related to digital fraud and cybercrime. Which represents an increase of 70% compared to previous years.
CEO fraud and other cyber scams are increasing by around 70%
“This increase is linked to the growth of e-commerce, digitalisation and the sophistication of scammers’ techniques, who use methods such as phishing, identity theft and scams on online buying and selling platforms. The increase in digital scams has generated concern among both authorities and users, which is why we need to improve cybersecurity measures and digital education in the country.” comment Hervé Lambert Global Consumer Operations Manager at Panda Security, a WatchGuard brand.
From “the good boss” to fake job offers
Employment scams in Spain have grown in a worrying way, especially with the increase in remote work and the digitalization of recruitment processesThese scams often take a variety of forms, including fake job offers, bosses who act strangely, fraudulent companies seeking to obtain personal or financial information, and jobs where a down payment or purchase of materials is required as a condition of employment.
- Fake job offers. Scammers post attractive adverts on job portals or social media. After attracting candidates, they ask for money in advance for formalities such as training, materials or uniforms, or ask for confidential personal information.
- Fake interviews and selection processes. Some scammers set up fake interviews, collecting personal information or even asking candidates to make payments for supposed background checks or administrative tasks.
- I work from home. With the growing popularity of remote work, some “work from home” offers are simply a hook for pyramid scams or Ponzi schemes. Where the main goal is to recruit more people to invest money rather than offering real work.
- Shell companies. Sometimes scams come from companies that look legitimate but don’t exist. They use fake corporate identities to trick applicants, who often discover the sham too late.
- Workplace phishing. Scammers send emails that appear to be from legitimate companies requesting personal information under the guise of a job offer or selection process.
Tips to prevent your work life from becoming hell
In this sense, the cybersecurity company Panda Security recommends carrying out a series of practices to ensure that you are not affected by cyber scams:
- Verify the company. Before accepting an offer or making any payment, research the company online and on social media. Look for employee reviews and check if the company is officially registered.
- Be suspicious of offers that are too good to be true. Job offers that promise disproportionately high salaries for low-skilled jobs are often a red flag.
- Never pay anything in advance. Never send money to secure a job or to cover supposed initial expenses.
- Maintain the privacy of personal data. Be careful with the personal information you share and avoid sending documents such as ID or passport until you are sure of the legitimacy of the employer.
