Cybersecurity incidents rise 101% in the 1st semester to 689 – CNCS

13.7.2020

The number of incidents recorded by the National Cybersecurity Center (CNCS) increased 101% in the first half, in year-on-year terms, to 689, according to the Cybersecurity Observatory bulletin released today. “During the first half of 2020, there was a significant increase in the number of incidents between the months of February and April, and then […]

EUROPOL- ILLEGAL STREAMING SERVICE WILL 2 MILLION VIEWERS WORLD WIDE SWITCHED OFF

10.6.2020

The Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) dismantled a large criminal network illegally distributing audio-visual content in Europe, Asia and the Middle East and laundering the criminal proceeds. The investigation, supported by Europol and Eurojust, also involved law enforcement authorities from Belgium, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, France, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden, the United Kingdom, […]

Cybersecurity alerts more than double to 138 in March

14.5.2020

The number of incidents recorded by the National Cybersecurity Center (CNCS) in March rose 176% compared to the same month of 2019, to 138, according to the Cybersecurity Observatory bulletin released today. According to the bulletin, there was an increase of 176% “if we compare March 2019 with March 2020 in the number of incidents […]

Secure Video Conferencing

28.4.2020

  People are making more personal and business video conferencing calls during the current lockdowns.  Video conferencing is a live audio and video conversation between 2 or more people in different locations, conducted using phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer.  Some video conferencing services allow you to share files, pictures, or each other’s screens.  Also, […]

Cybercrimes committed in Portugal have multiplied exponentially since the beginning of the covid-19

21.4.2020

Cybercrimes committed in Portugal have multiplied exponentially since the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic and may increase by 300% by the end of April, according to indicators from the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) ). Data from the PGR cybercrime bureau on the evolution of cybercrime phenomena in Portugal reveal that the number of crimes committed […]

EDP admits to being the target of a computer attack on its corporate network.

17.4.2020

On Monday, EDP admitted to being the target of a computer attack on its corporate network. EDP’s president, António Mexia, said this Thursday that the company managed to protect “the essential” in the computer attack that was targeted last Monday, namely the supply of energy and information to customers. “Our systems detected the attack and […]

Covid 19 Tips to avoid being scammed in purchasing items

15.4.2020

Covid 19 has given fraudsters and ideal opportunity to exploit others for personal gain. Fraudsters depend on vulnerabilities of people in this case the need for protective equipment, gel and facemasks Scams include: ordering through non-existent companies; financial fraud, non-arrival of equipment; fake or hacked websites; phishing and malware attacks on your computer and so […]

UK Tax warning – Fake HMRC Letters being sent to university students

18.1.2020

TAX REFUNDS can sometimes mean a windfall of cash, however members of the public are being warned to be vigilant when contacted on the matter. It comes as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has warned that some people are being targeted by scammers with offers of fake tax refunds Since the end of December 2019, […]

Phishing attempt in the name of FBE IC3

11.1.2020

This is a fairly new email that is being circulated. Do not open the link as it is an attempt to obtain your financial data “Attn: Beneficiary REF: FLP-IP/2422-FM10089/0877 RE: Internet Crime Victim Restitution INTENDED ONLY FOR: (VICTIM,S EMAIL) Our records indicate that you are eligible to receive restitution for one or more of the […]

Eighty Five users of Remote Hacking Tool (IM-RAT) targeted across Europe, Colombia and Australia

9.12.2019

A hacking tool that was able to give full remote control of a victim’s computer to cybercriminals has been taken down as a result of an international law enforcement operation targeting the sellers and users of the Imminent Monitor Remote Access Trojan (IM-RAT). The investigation, led by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), with international activity […]

Beware fake WeTransfer emails

9.12.2019

Be aware that there are fake WeTransfer emails being sent, one of which was referred to Safe Communities Portugal this morning. In this case the senders address was: sales (at) cargoonelogistics-com.ga. The email invited the recipient to click on a download link which was based in Russia. An obvious fake. WeTransfer recommend to check the […]

US and UK bust one of the worst cyber banking hacks in a decade, charging Russians in multi-million dollar scheme

7.12.2019

The group of Russian hackers allegedly behind one of the worst cyber bank frauds of the last decade was unmasked on Thursday, with its leader indicted in America and the full scale of purported crimes revealed in remarkable detail. The Moscow-based unit was identified as Evil Corp and dubbed “the world’s most harmful cyber crime […]

New email scam targeting Netflix members seeks to steal personal information of the company’s subscriber

25.11.2019

Beware this Netflix scam A new email scam targeting Netflix members seeks to steal personal information of the company’s subscribers, potentially raising the risk of identity theft for 110 million people. Here’s what to do. Watch for this subject line in your inbox: “Your suspension notification.” The email message begins, “We were unable to validate […]

Sexual offences against children on the Internet increased 40% between January and October

18.11.2019

Lisbon, 18 Nov 2019 (Lusa) – Sexual crimes on the Internet against children increased by 40% in Portugal between January and October this year, the Chief Inspector of the Judicial Police (PJ) Carla Costa told Lusa news agency today. Speaking about the European Day for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse […]

Hundreds of millions of phone numbers linked to Facebook accounts have been found on-line

5.9.2019

Reported 4th September 2019 – The exposed server contained more than 419 million records over several databases on users across geographies, including 133 million records on U.S.-based Facebook users, 18 million records of users in the U.K., and another with more than 50 million records on users in Vietnam. But because the server wasn’t protected […]

McAfee – Experts warn proud parents not to post photos of children online

2.9.2019

Researchers from McAfee have warned of the dangers of posting photos of your children online During the last week thousands of students across the UK have received their GSCE results, following weeks of anticipation. Many proud parents will post photos of their children online to mark the occasion, but a new study warned of the dangers of this practice. […]

Hackers put “monitoring implants” on iPhones for years

30.8.2019

Investigators from Google’s external security team found evidence of a “continued effort” by a hacking group to break into the iPhones operating system over a period of at least two years. The unprecedented attack affected “thousands of users per week” until it was stopped in January. Hackers used websites to place a “tracking implant” on visitors’ iPhones and, through that […]

Combatting Fake News on Social Media in Portugal

26.8.2019

Lisbon, 01 Aug 2019 (Lusa) – Facebook today announced that Polígrafo is its second fact-checking partner in Portugal, after the Observer, who started collaborating with the social network last May . In early July, Facebook public policy director Andy O’Connell stated in parliament that the social network was “exploring ways to engage fact checkers” in […]

BEWARE EMAIL SCAM IN THE NAME OF FINANCES (TAX AND CUSTOMS AUTHORITY) CURRENTLY IN OPERATION

8.8.2019

STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE TAX AUTHORITY The Tax and Customs Authority (AT) warned last night (7th August) of fraudulent e-mail messages using the “finance portal” address and urges taxpayers not to open the suggested link. “The Tax and Customs Authority is aware that some taxpayers have been receiving email messages from the portaldasfinancas.3aqb9 @ .pt […]

Chinese police install secret surveillance app on tourist’s mobile phones

3.7.2019

An international media investigation has revealed that Chinese authorities secretly install an application on tourists’ mobile phones to watch over foreign citizens. According to an investigation by the British newspaper ” The Guardian”, in collaboration with the German “Süddeutsche Zeitung” and the American “The New York Times”, Chinese border guards in Xinjiang secretly install surveillance […]

Keeping your WordPress website safe

2.7.2019

I guess there are many people in Portugal using WordPress -Content Management System (CMS) their websites. But how secure is it? This report by State of Security gives a alarming situation if you fail to provide the site with proper security maintenance. WordPress is currently one of the fastest growing content management systems. As of […]

Gang of fraudsters jailed for 43 years following a Metropolitan Police investigation

17.5.2019

A gang of fraudsters have been jailed for a total of more than 43 years for their parts in the theft of millions of pounds from businesses and individuals in the UK and abroad. Ten people were convicted between 26 and 28 March for their roles in a large-scale “diversion fraud” scam using hacking software following […]

Portugal is the 2nd country in the world most affected by spam and phishing

17.5.2019

According to data from security company Kaspersky, recently published 22% of the Portuguese population was the target of a computer attack attempt in 2018. Portugal is the second country in the world with the highest percentage of single users affected by spam and phishing. According to the figures revealed, almost one in four of the population […]

Refund scams in the name of HMRC

27.4.2019

Young adults who may have less experience of the tax system should be especially vigilant against springtime refund scams, warns HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Scammers are increasingly targeting vulnerable or elderly people and those with less familiarity with the tax system, such as young adults. During April and May, fraudsters regularly blitz taxpayers with […]

42% of used hard drives sold on eBay still contain sensitive data

27.4.2019

42% of used hard drives sold through eBay still contain sensitive data according to new research from a leading international data security company. Of these, 15% were found to contain personally identifiable information (PII) even where sellers stated they had used proper data sanitation methods prior to the sale. The study, carried out by Blancco […]

Sextortion attempt using the name of the CIA.

20.3.2019

This sextortion attempt was launched worldwide on 18th March 2019. The senders address in this case is “althahenning (at) xfsw.gov-cia.cf”. There are many other address being used but all have the letters “cia” in the address. This is an obvious scam. Do not reply or click on any links or open any attachments. The email […]

Holiday makers warned to avoid fraudulent flight ticket sellers as they use new tactics

5.3.2019

In the lead up to the half term holidays 110 reports had been received by Action Fraud UK involving losses of £98,043, through fraudsters attempting to entice victims who are looking for cheap flights abroad. Victims are being cold called by fraudsters purporting to be travel companies. However fraudsters in these cases are using new […]

Threatening emails accusing you watching pornographic material and demanding payment

18.1.2019

What would you do if you received an email from someone claiming to have hacked your computer and recorded you via your webcam while you were engaged in watching porn, then threatening to send the video to everyone in your email and social media contact lists if you don’t pay a ransom? Would you pay […]

New Facebook bug exposed millions of photos

15.12.2018

Facebook has revealed that a software bug exposed the photos of up to 6.8 million users, including pictures they had not posted. It made the announcement a day after hosting its pop-up privacy experience “It’s Your Facebook” in New York’s Bryant Park. It said several third-party apps had access to “a broader set of photos […]

Marriott Hotel Group – Massive data breach

5.12.2018

The records of 500 million customers of the hotel group Marriott International have been involved in a data breach. The hotel chain said the guest reservation database of its Starwood division had been compromised by an unauthorised party. It said an internal investigation found an attacker had been able to access the Starwood network since […]

Phishing email in the name of Barclays Bank – Important information: How to avoid fraudsters over the festive season

4.12.2018

Beware of this email purportedly from Barclays Bank. The sender’s email address is info (at) comms.barclays.com It is convincing, providing fraud prevention information and advice which is timely with the approach of Christmas. It reads as follows: “Dear xxx, With the festive season upon us, many people will be looking forward to some well-earned time […]

Scams in the name of DHL

4.12.2018

As expected, following Black Friday and Cyber Monday we are aware of an increasing number of fraudulent emails now being received in the name of DHL, inviting recipients to click on a link or an attachment to open a delivery document. By doing this will either download a virus onto your computer or it is […]

Festive Shopping Fraud

4.12.2018

This Christmas, Action Fraud and City of London Police are reminding shoppers to take extra care when shopping for gifts online. As consumers search online for bargains and gifts for loved ones, fraudsters are seeing this as an opportunity to trick people with the promise of great deals and big cash savings. The latest report […]

Phishing email (Nigerian Scam) in name of Fonancial Management and Advisory Services Limited,¡

30.11.2018

Another of these Nigerian Scams received by email on 30th November 2018, from Martin Jones (unlikely real name) email fm8587166 (at) gmail.com. Off course there is no money and the fraudster is simply trying to obtain your personal data. Simply deleted – do not reply.   “Dear Sir, Please pardon me for this unsolicited communique. […]

Phishing Email – in name of Ibrahim Mustafa Magu.

30.11.2018

Watch out for this Phishing attempt to obtain your personal details, received 29th November 2018. This is fairly typical . “Sometimes, I do wonder if you are really, really with your senses. How Could you keep trusting people and at the end you will loose your hard Earned money, or are you being deceived by […]

Black Friday and Cyber Monday

31.10.2018

Yes, it’s that time of the year again with just 45 days to go before Christmas. For retailers this is the best time of the year, but also the most profitable time for scammers. What I am talking about is Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This is something we should be aware off, regardless of […]

Chinese spying chips found hidden in servers used by US companies

4.10.2018

A media report today revealed details of a significant supply chain attack which appears to be one of the largest corporate espionage and hardware hacking programs from a nation-state. According to a lengthy report published on 4th October by Bloomberg, a tiny surveillance chip, not much bigger than a grain of rice, has been found […]

Bequest notification

16.9.2018

A typical Nigerian fraud sent by email from a admin (at) nojami.cf. There is no will or money and the person is attempting toobtain you banking details. Just ignore and delete. DO NOT reply. “On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Mr. Edwin Gabriel, I once again try to notify […]

Executive Council concludes Macau cybersecurity law

11.9.2018

The Macao Executive Council today presented a proposed cybersecurity law aimed at preventing threats to the computer network and critical infrastructures essential to the city, such as water, electricity, the financial system and telecommunications. The draft law, which is for debate and vote in the Legislative Assembly, establishes the cyber-security system of the Chinese special […]

Alert – Cyber Criminals send Victims their own passwords in New Extortion Scam

28.7.2018

July 2018 – Cyber criminals are sending victims their own passwords in an attempt to trick them into believing they have been filmed on their computer watching porn and demanding payment. As at 13th July there have been over 110 of reports made to Action Fraud UK from concerned victims who have received these scary […]

Email deactivation Phishing Scam in the name of Gogle

1.7.2018

Beware this Phishing scam – It is an email from a Russian based email address asking you to provide personal information. This is a typical threatening message asking you to act quickly. Do not click on the “Cancel Deactivation” tab. Simply delete and do not reply.j “Email Adminstrator <Svetlana (at) lonmadi.ru>   Dear (xxx) Thank […]

Beware the email purportedly from Lloyds Bank

2.5.2018

It is a phishing email designed to get you to disclose personal information. If received do not click on “LOGIN” or reply. The link takes you to a Russian based domain. The email sender is shown as Lloyds Bank> noreply (at) mail.com Dear Customer, This e-mail has been sent to you by Lloyds Bank to […]

Action Fraud reports show £6.7 million lost to holiday booking fraud

14.4.2018

A report compiled by Action Fraud, which is run by the City of London Police, reveals the scale of reported crime and exposes the common tactics used by fraudsters. The average amount lost per person was over £1,500, an increase of 25% year on year. These individual losses are substantial, but this form of fraud also […]

Scam in the name of Central Bank of Nigeria

27.3.2018

Here is a typical Nigerian Phishing Scam received on 27th March 2018 . Off course there is no money and all the fraudster wants to do is to obtain your person details. Once the fraudster has these then it is a relatively simple measure of developing your profile take money from your bank accounts or other […]

Happy Valentines Day – But Beware Romance Fraud

14.2.2018

New statistics released ahead of Valentine’s Day prove that the UK is continuing to lose huge amounts of money to romance fraud – with victims conned out of £41 million in 2017 alone. This is according to figures from The City of London Police, whose remit covers online fraud nationwide, working with Get Safe Online […]

Inheritance Opportunity with Genuine Intentions Hoax

20.1.2018

The following is an unusual version of a Nigerian scam, in which the fraudster attempts to explain upfront that this is NOT a hoax. It cam in as a long email from a Dr Petter Gerry <info (at) synergygroup.az> Note the poor selling and grammar mistakes a giveaway that this is a fraud. Off course it […]

International Lottery Yearly Draw scam

9.1.2018

The following is a typical lottery scam, this one from a: admin (at) layaa168.top As with all of these do not respond or click on any links as all the fraudster is trying to do is to get you to divulge your personal details and then extract money from your bank account. “International Lottery Yearly […]

HMRC Tax scam warning

6.1.2018

Warning over HMRC scam email that promises you a tax refund ahead of self-assessment deadline which is 31st January Fraudsters have launched their latest effort to get people to give away their bank details by pretending to be from HMRC HMRC has warned Brits not to fall for a new scam which claims they are […]

Facebook rolls out new Facial Recognition system that will tag you in photos you don’t know exist

6.1.2018

Technology will store a ‘template’ of your face and enable Facebook to work out if somebody is trying to impersonate you online The social network has revealed how it is using facial recognition to uncover more images of you, even ones you don’t know about. The technology will also enable Facebook to work out if somebody is trying […]

Britons lose millions in online ‘get rich quick’ schemes

3.1.2018

Losses from “binary options” trading have risen from £6,200 in 2012 to £27m last year, an increase of 400,000%. An online investment scam targeting people through social media has seen the amount of money lost by victims in the UK rise by 400,000% in six years. Figures from Action Fraud show the amount lost to […]

Privacy fears raised over internet-enabled Christmas presents given to children

30.12.2017

Plenty of child-friendly tech was expected to be in high demand this festive season, from iPhones and teddies to the new Xbox. Almost half of parents who bought their children an internet-connected gadget for Christmas will not check who they are speaking to online, according to new research. Barnardo’s estimates that four million online-enabled devices […]

Worst Least Secure Passwords of 2017

29.12.2017

With 2018 just around the corner, SplashData  (password management) is out with a fresh list highlighting some of the most commonly used — and thus least secure — passwords of 2017. Not surprisingly, the list is filled with a good number of the usual suspects, including “123456” and “Password,” two perennial classics. The full list […]

Nigerian scam from a Linda Johnson Consultant

29.12.2017

At typical Nigerian scam asking people to contact her. A most unlikely story and an attempt to obtain your personal details. Note poor grammar. Do not reply. “Compliment of the Day. Despite all effort to move out the Investment funds from my Bank it was very Difficult for us and we have series of meeting […]

Google phishing scam

21.11.2017

The following phishing scam is current doing its rounds. The sender in this case is Google Inc <qc (at) sifg.co.kr, which is  based in South Korea and certainly nothing to do with Google. Simply ignore and certainly do not reply or provide any of the information requested. “GOOGLE INC Belgravia House 76 Buckingham Palace Road […]

Travel companies being targeted through on-line fraud

19.11.2017

Over the past week there has been an upsurge in reports of travel companies identities being compromised and used for crime. Businesses in the travel industry, particularly, the renting of properties should undertake a web-search regularly to pick up any bogus copycat operations, using your name. Ways to reduce the risk to YOUR BUSINESS Set […]

Fake modelling jobs advertised online and through social media

1.11.2017

Action Fraud UK have noticed that Fraudsters have been setting up fake adverts on social media (including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) and job browsing websites to dupe people into believing they are recruiting for prospective models. Once a victim shows interest in the modelling jobs, fraudsters contact victims on the false promise of a career […]

Cybercrime | Most common UK online offences

9.9.2017

The UK Office of National Statistics has compiled a list of the ten most common cyber-crimes in the UK, with number of cases reported in the year to June 2016. For those expats living in Portugal this may have some relevance, especially for those who have UK bank accounts and/or financial connections, such as pension […]

Warning over fake eBay invoice email that could steal your bank account details

9.9.2017

The scam works by renaming all of your files with a virus and will then prompt you to spend money to fix the problem EBAY shoppers are being warned not to open an email which will end up locking their computer and steal their bank account details. The fake email tells users that they’ve spent […]

Equifax hack: 44 million Britons’ personal details feared stolen in major US data breach

9.9.2017

An investigation was underway on Friday night after the personal data of up to 44 million British consumers was feared stolen by hackers in a massive cyberattack. The information commissioner said it was investigating how the hack on Equifax, a US credit rating firm, affected UK customers, many of whom will be unaware their data […]

Man Given 3-Month Prison Sentence for ‘Liking’ a Photo on Facebook

25.8.2017

On Monday evening, a correctional court in Meaux, France, found a 32-year-old man guilty of advocating terrorism after he liked a piece of ISIS propaganda on Facebook. According to a report by Le Parisien, the post in question included a disturbing photo of an ISIS fighter decapitating a woman by hand. After the man liked it, […]

Dating fraud victims are being targeted again

1.8.2017

Scammers are swindling previous victims of dating fraud out of more money through Match.com. One regular user of the website who had reported losing £32k in February found the confidence to start using the service again in March. The victim got in contact with a new Match.com user and whilst in conversation mentioned that they had […]

Cybercrime, the legal challenge of the technical revolution

1.8.2017

The term “cybercrime” was established in the Budapest Convention of 2001, taking into account realities formerly included in the category of “computer crime” that was referred to by the Portuguese Law (under former Law No 109/91). Both provisions provide for specific legal types of crime against computer systems or information systems. However, both in common sense […]

Lloyd’s says cyber-attack could cost $120bn, same as Hurricane Katrina

23.7.2017

World’s oldest insurance market warns cost to global economy of cyber-attack could be as much as worst natural disasters Lloyd’s of London has warned that a serious cyber-attack could cost the global economy more than $120bn (£92bn) – as much as catastrophic natural disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. Published two months after a ransomware […]

GoldenEye’ cyber attack goes global, exploits known code flaws

27.6.2017

A major global cyber attack dubbed “GoldenEye” or “Petya” on Tuesday disrupted computers at Russia’s biggest oil company, Ukrainian banks and multinational firms with a virus similar to the ransomware virus that last month infected more than 300,000 computers. The attack underscores growing concerns that businesses have failed to secure their networks from increasingly aggressive […]

Cyber-attack on parliament leaves MPs unable to access emails

24.6.2017

The UK’s House of Commons spokesperson said on 24th June 2017 it is investigating after unauthorised attempts were made to access user accounts Parliament has been hit by a “sustained and determined” cyber-attack by hackers attempting to gain access to MPs’ and their staffers’ email accounts. Both houses of parliament were targeted on Friday in […]

Rogue travel agent jailed for defrauding customers

16.6.2017

A rogue travel agent who stole thousands of pounds out of unsuspecting holidaymakers with non-existent flights has been jailed for a year. Anas Ahmed, director of AirBridge Travel Limited (ABT) was brought to justice by Brent Trading Standards in a detailed investigation that involved assessed and analysed reports from us. Mr Ahmed pleaded guilty at […]

Phishing attack in the name of Google Inc

16.6.2017

This email is being sent from google.co.uk <info (at) ryukyou.co.jp. the email comes with an attachment. Do not open the attachment and simply delete the email without replying. It is a phishing attack. “Google Incorporation Belgrave House 76 Buckingham Palace Road London SW1W 9TQ, United Kingdom.   Dear Google User. Attached to this email is your […]

Alert: Fraudsters claiming to be from HMRC

8.6.2017

Fraudsters are contacting the elderly and vulnerable claiming to be from HM Revenue & Customs. Victims are being told they have arrest warrants, outstanding debts or unpaid taxes in their name. The fraudsters are asking victims to purchase iTunes gift cards as payment. There are a variety of methods being used including calls, texts and […]

Greater Manchester Police warn of fraudulent online fundraising pages

28.5.2017

In the wake of the Manchester attack on Monday evening, the Greater Manchester Police is warning people to be cautious of online fundraising pages as it has emerged that fraudulent pages are being set up which request donations to support the families of the victims. Spot the signs Fraudulent fundraising websites often use topical events, such as […]

Can We Ever be Prepared for the Next WannaCry?

27.5.2017

In an interest article by Justin Fier of Security Week, he states; “The recent WannaCry ransomware outbreak is yet another wake-up call. Humans alone can no longer be expected to manually respond to brazen, fast-spreading cyber-attacks that strike without warning and routinely bypass porous network borders. The early indicators of the attack were evident, but […]

Phishing Attack in the name of Banco Santander Totta

19.5.2017

Some Banco Santander Totta customers, as well as non-customers are currently receiving emails purportedly being sent on behalf of the bank. The alert was given a few days ago. One of the senders addresses is; santandertottapt7217030 (at) mail.sapo.pt another one is santandertotta42 (at) novobanco.pt. These are Phishing scams to get you to disclose your banking details. […]

WannaCry ransomware used in widespread attacks all over the world

12.5.2017

As at 12th May 2017 it believed that there are more than 75,000 recorded attacks of the WannaCry ransomware virus in at least 74 countries. Wanna Cryptor, also known as WannaCry , is believed to use the Ethernal Blue exploit, which was originally developed by the US National Security Agency to attack computers running Microsoft Windows operating systems. Security […]

Judicial Police investigating four cases believed connected to “Blue Whale” game

4.5.2017

The Judicial Police is investigating four cases in the country and trying to determine if there is an adult market behind the dealers of the game. The evidence in the four cases of adolescents, who were hospitalized after self-mutilation in meeting challenges of the Blue Whale game are being gathered by the PJ sections of […]

Face Top 10 Concert list may be a security risk

3.5.2017

This Facebook game looks harmless, but could pose a security risk to our online security Comparing lists on social media of the top 10 concerts you first attended seems a harmless enough pastime. However the first gig you went to is often one of the security questions which banks and other organisations ask when setting […]

Social media game “Blue Whale” arrives in Portugal – PSP gives advice to parents

1.5.2017

On 27th April a young woman threw herself from an overpass over the railway line and was injured. PSP, who was aware of two other cases, has given advice to parents. PLEASE SHARE THIS. Participating in a game called the “Blue Whale” is believed to be the origin of this incident that which took place at […]

Scam in the name of DHL delivery notification

28.4.2017

Beware an email with the subject of “DHL Shipment Notification”: 1860915879 or another number, pretending to come from DHL Customer Support <support@dhl.com, which was received by a resident in the Algarve today. It states that “as DHL were unable to deliver to your home you should download the attached receipt and take it to your […]

Fraudsters are emptying bank accounts by diverting calls and text messages

28.4.2017

Fraudsters are stealing large sums of money from victim’s bank accounts by taking control of their mobile phones and intercepting calls/texts messages sent by banks.  Fraudsters are once again gathering as much information as possible on victims and using a method we have warned the public about in the past called SIM splitting to gain access […]

“Security forces should improve online patrolling to detect and prevent crime”

26.4.2017

Adriana María Tostón Díez Captain in the Spanish Civil Guard, who is currently posted to Europol, was in Lisbon last week attending an international conference, in which he spoke about the importance of research online, “cyber-patrolling”, for the detection, prevention and investigation of crimes.  He explained that this was a little explored area, but one that […]

Fraudulent Airbnb listings on the rise

22.4.2017

Fraudulent Airbnb listings are on the rise with scammers using fake pictures in a bid to lure in unsuspecting tourists. A typical example of this type of fraud was an advert of a luxurious six-bedroom property just a stone’s throw from Bondi Beach, Australia. However when checks were conducted through Google reverse image search, it […]

Airbnb scammers are robbing homes by pretending to be users with great reviews

22.4.2017

Airbnb scammers are hijacking users’ accounts with great reviews and then burgling them once they’ve gained access to the home, an investigation has found. Several users of the accommodation-booking website have had their homes burgled after scammers managed to hijack their accounts. According to the BBC, three of them had their properties burgled after leasing their home to […]

Credit card stealing malware: 1200 InterContinental hotels breached

21.4.2017

Previously, InterContinental Hotels Group said about 100 of its hotels were hacked, but now it turned out the number is 1200. According to HackRead a few months earlier, it was reported that a number of InterContinental hotels have been targeted by a credit card stealing malware now the IHG has confirmed that the reports were actually true. […]

Facebook – Easy way to steal your identity and access your accounts

21.4.2017

Fraudsters need just three details to steal your identity and access your accounts, take out loans, credit cards, mobile phones in your name. And most of it can be found on Facebook In an article by Emilia Murray, in The Telegraph Money section, she explains “all it takes is a name, date of birth and […]

Portugal arrests – Global action tackles distribution of child sexual exploitation images via WhatsApp

18.4.2017

Europol and INTERPOL have supported the Spanish National Police on Operation Tantalio, a complex investigation targeting the distribution of child sexual exploitation material through darknet platforms and Whatsapp. So far 38 suspects were arrested in Europe and South America. The arrests took place in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, […]

Portugal made eight thousand requests to Facebook, Google and Microsoft to fight cybercrime

15.4.2017

The Portuguese authorities (Judiciary Police and Public Prosecutor’s Office) have sent more than 8,000 requests directly to Facebook, Microsoft and Google since 2013 to obtain evidence in cases of cybercrime suspicions. The Diario de Noticais which covered the story states these are crimes of a distinct nature but with one point in common: those undertaken […]

Portugal: Phishing attacks increase using fraudulent bank websites.

11.4.2017

In recent weeks there has been an increase in Phishing occurrences in particular through SMS messaging.  The Centro Nacional de Ciberseguranca (CNCS) warns that these SMS are sent with sender mobile numbers from several of the national mobile network operators, through the masking of real numbers (phenomenon known as Caller ID spoofing). The fraudulent messages […]

Wonga Data Breach affects 245,000 people

11.4.2017

The payday loan firm Wonga has suffered a data breach which may have affected up to 245,000 customers in the UK. The firm said it was “urgently investigating illegal and unauthorised access to the personal data of some of its customers”. The firm said it began contacting borrowers on 8th April 2017 and was offering […]

Has your Gmail account been hacked?

9.4.2017

Gmail is the latest victim of a phishing scam that is even fooling experienced technical users. The scam is being described as one of the most convincing yet, and tricks users into giving their Google login details, allowing the attacker to sift through their messages. Emails containing the rogue attachment can come from people in […]

New law dictates information security rules for business in Europe

9.4.2017

If you are a business owner based in Europe you should be aware of the following. The legal framework for the protection of personal data in the European Union was substantially amended in 2016 with the adoption of the General Regulation on Data Protection (RGPD). The new legal framework brings some changes that will certainly […]

Beware fake HMRC tax rebate scams

9.4.2017

Beware of fake HMRC emails promising tax rebates currently being sent to UK tax payers both living in the UK and overseas. Several have been received by residents living in Portugal. Potential victims receive phishing emails and texts that claim to be from HMRC promising tax rebates. They are incredibly convincing and encourage recipients to […]

Spam and scam emails

9.4.2017

Email is both an excellent communication tool and also a way that companies can inform you about their latest products and services. However, email is frequently used to deliver unwanted material which is at best, annoying and at worst, malicious – causing considerable harm to your computer and yourself. The vast majority of email sent […]

Over 85% of Smart TVs can be hacked

6.4.2017

Due to the insecure implementation, a majority of Internet-connected embedded devices, including Smart TVs, Refrigerators, Microwaves, Security Cameras, and printers, are routinely being hacked and used as weapons in cyberattacks. Now, a security researcher is warning of another IoT threat involving Smart TVs that could allow hackers to take complete control of a wide range […]

Sexting and cyberbullying targeted by UK Government

6.4.2017

Culture Secretary Karen Bradly has announced a new Internet Safety Strategy designed to make Britain the safest place in the world for children to access and use the internet. Announcing the initiative, Ms Bradley said: “The internet has provided young people with amazing opportunities but has also introduced a host of new dangers which children […]

Fraud emails in the name of HSBC

6.4.2017

A current rash of emails masquerading as being sent by HSBC distributing malware detection software Rapport, are actually designed to steal recipients’ identities. This highlights the advice that everybody should follow, to be wary of clicking on links or attachments in unexpected emails, however authentic they may seem. The warning comes from online security vendor […]

Friend or foe? Over 200 reports of ‘friendly’ fraudster email scam in three days

5.4.2017

Action Fraud UK have reported on 31st March that fraudsters are turning to kindness with new phishing emails which encourage the recipient to open an attachment on the false premise that they could have already fallen victim to scammers. In just three days up to the end of March, Action Fraud received 226 reports from […]

Windows identity theft scam

31.3.2017

Beware of this email from Help Desk wingslip(at)@aviatorspost.org>regarding the upgrading of your Windows system. It is a scam most likely aimed at obtaining your personal details. Do not reply and simply delete. “Help Desk Scheduled Maintenance & Upgrade Your account is in the process of being upgraded to the newest Windows-based servers and an enhanced […]

Phishing attack using the name BBC News

31.3.2017

Beware this Phishing attack from an email address:  dagmar (at) 20073211.onlinehome-server.info> Do not reply, simply delete. “Hello, I tried to reach you last week; unfortunately, I was unable to get through. I got your full information through our secured database. I have gone through your business profile and decided to reach you. My name is […]

Portuguese Tax authority warn of fake email scam

30.3.2017

The Tax and Customs Authority is aware that some taxpayers have received e-mail messages requesting the settlement of tax debts. In these messages you are asked to download a file through the link that is provided: These messages are false and should be ignored. Its purpose is to convince the recipient to download a file […]

ABTA travel website hit by cyberattack feared to have affected 43,000

26.3.2017

It was reported on the 16th March 2017 that the abta.com web server for the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) was recently hacked by “an external infiltrator” who exposed the details of 43,000 individuals. Around 1,000 of these included files that could include personal identity information of customers of ABTA members uploaded since 11 […]

Sr. Diego De Martinez of Portugal fake cancer scam

26.3.2017

This is a typical example of a cancer scam message. A rich businessman (so he says) is dying of cancer and wants your help in disposing of his fortune. Alas, there really is no rich businessman and no fortune: there’s just a scammer sending phony messages like this randomly to thousands of people (like you), […]

Phishing attack in the name of Microsoft

26.3.2017

Beware of this phishing attack in the name of Microsoft. Simple deleted and do not click on the tab highlighted in bold below.The account shown as xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx below has been changed from the actual account name shown in the original email. The email senders address is  rmerenyi45 (at) hotmail.com, which is the giveaway Subject 10268 […]

Facebook cloning

25.3.2017

There have recently been a number of reports concerning this. Facebook cloning is a scam in which the attacker copies the profile picture of an authorized user, creates a new account using that person’s name and sends friend requests to people on the user’s list. The exploit is often successful because many unsuspecting friends just […]

Fraudulent text messages in the name of Santander

24.3.2017

Santander customers are being targeted by scammers using fake text messages. Here’s what to watch out for and the information you should never reveal. Criminals are targeting Santander customers using a text message trick to steal funds out of current accounts. All of the victims who have lost money are now struggling to recoup their […]

Sensitive US Air Force data found exposed online

19.3.2017

A misconfigured, unsecured backup drive containing a huge amount of sensitive (but not classified) data on US Air Force officers has been sitting online, accessible to anyone, for who knows how long The discovery was made by MacKeeper security researchers, who managed to pinpoint the owner of the device – a Lieutenant in the force […]

Cybercriminals Hijack Magento Extension to Steal Card Data

19.3.2017

Cybercriminals have been abusing a payment module to steal credit card data from online shops powered by the Magento ecommerce platform, web security firm Sucuri reported on Friday. The targeted module is the Realex Payments Magento extension, which integrates with the Realex Realauth Remote payment gateway. The Realex Payments extension allows Magento store owners to process mail […]

Computer and bank fraud case involves losses of €400,000

18.3.2017

A man of 31 years was arrested by the PJ suspected of computer fraud, forgery, illegitimate access and money laundering, crimes that caused damages of more than 400 thousand euros. In a statement released on 16th March 2017, the PJ said that the case involved the “manipulation of data on bank transfers, illegitimate access to […]

 PJ arrest suspect of cheating 13 thousand people of 15 million euros

18.3.2017

The Judiciary Police of Setúbal detained a man suspected of having cheated 13,000 people in 15 million euros, through an internet platform in which he marketed applications for mobile phones and other computer products. According to a statement from the PJ, the defendant, 46, “pretended to dedicate himself to internet marketing of mobile phones and […]

UK – Identity Fraud reaches record levels

17.3.2017

A record 172,919 identity frauds were recorded in 2016 more than in any other previous year, according to Cifas, the UK’s leading fraud prevention service. Identity fraud now represents over half of all fraud recorded by the UK’s not-for-profit fraud data sharing organisation (53.3% of all frauds recorded to Cifas), of which 88% was perpetrated […]

“Hackers” attack computers at Portugal’s National Defence Institute

16.3.2017

Computers at the National Defence Institute, under the protection of the Ministry of Defence, were attacked by hackers at the end of February and earlier this month. This computer attack hit at least two computers of the National Defence Institute (IDN), and, according to Lusa source of the Ministry of National Defence, who supervises the […]

Cybercrime was the most investigated type of crime in the region of Lisbon in 2016

13.3.2017

Cybercrime and domestic violence were the most investigated criminal phenomena in 2016 by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Lisbon region, according to the annual report released on Tuesday. The Lisbon District report for the year 2016, published on the MP’s website, states that 3493 cybercrime investigations were registered, of which 167 resulted in prosecution […]

Recently discovered ransomware attacks in Portugal

13.3.2017

Pedro Veiga, coordinator of the National Center for Cybersecurity (CNCS), warned of several ransomware attacks recently detected in Portugal. The statement was made during a short interview given to Exame Informática in December 2016, whose full content can be accessed in this short cut. It will be up to business leaders to prevent themselves (through […]

Australian Embassy issues alert over fraudulent employment scams

10.3.2017

The Australian Embassy in Portugal’s attention has been drawn to instances of fraudulent online advertisements for employment in Australia. A scam recently reported to the Embassy involves fraudulent job offers in the name of Australian company Woodside Petroleum. Should you receive such an email, we advise you not to respond and to contact Woodside and […]

Non- existent jobs in Portugal offered by scammers

10.3.2017

The Philippine Embassy in Lisbon has cautioned Filipinos against non-existent jobs in Portugal offered by scammers on the internet. According to the embassy, the warning was issued due to the rising number of cases of Filipinos who have been victimized or have received e-mails purportedly from Portugal-based law firms or companies that offer jobs or […]

Cold callers fraudsters using background music to convince people call is genuine

10.3.2017

Criminals are attempting to defraud members of the public by impersonating the customer’s bank and according to a convicted fraudster the methods used by them are evolving. Police in the UK have been made aware that fraudsters are now using background music, similar to that used by the bank, when the customer is put on […]

Google Shares Data on Corporate Email Attacks

19.2.2017

A corporate email account is much more likely to receive malware, phishing and spam emails than a personal inbox, according to an analysis conducted by Google. Google’s Gmail service has more than one billion active users and the company says it blocks hundreds of billions of attacks aimed at these accounts every week. At the […]

Travellers warned after surge in ‘fake’ booking websites for holiday villas

18.2.2017

Holidaymakers were urged today to be wary of “fake” booking websites that are fleecing customers of significant sums of money. Several new alleged scams have been detected this month after hundreds of travellers were taken in by similar sites last year, the boss of a leading holiday booking website today warned. A UK police source […]

Beware in booking holidays through Airbnb

17.2.2017

  We have received information concerning fake villa rental booked on the Airbnb website. It appears that criminals are placing fake adverts using stolen photos of genuine properties. People have paid deposits or the full price only to find the villa does not exist. Airbnb says it is ‘extremely rare’ for customers to lose money […]

Facebook scammers are copying users’ names, profile pictures and statuses to steal their money

14.2.2017

The scammers are making carbon copies of legitimate profiles in order to trick users into revealing financial and personal details, in a tactic known as ‘cloning’. By creating a new account using the exact same name, personal information and profile and cover photos included on your own profile – even going as far as copying […]

Two thirds of European children afraid to use the internet

14.2.2017

Released on the day of Safe Internet Day, the study points out that “the increasing number of threats that children encounter online is now having a negative effect.” Two thirds of the children surveyed in a European study admitted being afraid to use the Internet for fear that a stranger to the bully, ask them […]

Cybersecurity: Queen to open centre to protect against attacks

14.2.2017

A new centre to protect the UK against cyber-attacks was officially opened by the Queen on 14th February 2017. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in London is designed to improve Britain’s resilience to attacks and act as an operational nerve centre. “We want to make the UK the hardest target,” Ciaran Martin, the centre’s […]

UK faces  60 serious cyberattacks every minute security chief says amid Russian threats

14.2.2017

Hackers have targeted Britain with a serious of cyberattacks following a “step change” in Russian aggression, Ciaran Martin, head of GCHQ’s new National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has chillingly claimed. Mr Martin said there were 188 serious attacks in the past three months, many of which threatened national security. He highlighted the surge in Russian […]

Two-thirds of European children are afraid to use the Internet

7.2.2017

Released on the day of Safe Internet Day,7th February 2017 the study points out that “the increasing number of threats that children encounter online is now having a negative effect.” Two thirds of the children surveyed in a European study admitted being afraid to use the Internet for fear that a stranger to the bully, […]

Alert for UK tax payers – HMRC and Apple gift card fraud

29.1.2017

Action Fraud UK have reported that fraudsters have been continually requesting victims purchase Apple iTunes gift cards as a means of payment for cons involving Her Majesty Revenues and Customs (HMRC). The fraudsters are using the following contact methods to defraud people: Voicemails: Fraudsters are leaving victims automated voicemails stating they owe HMRC unpaid taxes. […]

Weak passwords are still the root cause of data breaches

23.1.2017

Key findings of a new study conducted by Keeper Security that analysed 10 million hacked accounts from breached data dumps for the most popular passwords. Users’ bad habits are still one of the biggest problems for the IT industry, weak passwords and their reuse on multiple websites every day potentially expose a billion users to […]

Facebook started filtering fake news in Germany

23.1.2017

After accusations of being a fake news vehicle during the US presidential race and turning the result in favour of Donald Trump, Facebook is reacting and reports that it will debut scanning tools in Germany. Facebook will debut a tool for verifying false news in Germany in time for the federal elections scheduled for this […]

Europol Awareness campaign on on-line counterfeiting

15.1.2017

The Internet has become an essential channel for e-commerce. Its instant global reach and anonymity make it possible to sell nearly anything to anyone at any time. Counterfeiters know it and are increasingly exploiting the unlimited opportunities offered by the World Wide Web. Fake products such as clothing, cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, electronics or automotive parts, […]

Social media being used to elicit donations to fake animal welfare charities

14.1.2017

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau’s (NFIB) Proactive Intelligence Team have identified an emerging fraud where social media platforms are being used to attract members of the public to donate money to animal welfare charities overseas that do not exist. The NFIB has discovered that criminal groups based in Spain or Cyprus and are using social […]

Ransomware expected to dominate in 2017

10.1.2017

According to Computer Weekly magazine, ransomware or malware that locks up data and demands payment for its release is set to evolve and make up the majority of cyber attacks in 2017, according to most predictions by security commentators. Ransomware, typically in the form of encryption Trojans, grew rapidly in popularity with attackers in 2016, and […]

Fake Amazon emails claim you have placed an order

7.1.2017

Action Fraud UK  has received several reports from victims who have been sent convincing looking emails claiming to be from Amazon. The spoofed emails from “service@amazon.co.uk” claim recipients have made an order online and mimic an automatic customer email notification. In one example below, the scam email claims recipients have ordered an expensive vintage chandelier. […]

Yahoo hack: 1bn accounts compromised by largest data breach in history

15.12.2016

Yahoo said on Wednesday it had discovered another major cyberattack, saying data from more than 1bn user accounts was compromised in August 2013, making it the largest such breach in history. Yahoo said the stolen user account information may have included names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, hashed passwords and, in some cases, […]

ALERT – Watch out for Facebook Marketplace Fraud

11.12.2016

Action Fraud is warning people to watch out for fraud on the Facebook Marketplace after receiving reports from victims who have tried to purchase items and never received them. Facebook’s Marketplace lets you buy and sell items with people in your community for free. All you have to do to access the Marketplace is tap […]

Sophisticated Fraud involving bank letters

11.12.2016

Lloyds Bank customers should be on the lookout for a new sophisticated fraud that involves fraudsters sending fake bank letters. The convincing letters being sent are a replica template from Lloyds and include their logo, address and signature from a customer service representative. The letter tells recipients that there have been some “unusual transactions” on […]

Fraudulent emails in name of Tax Authority demanding Via Verde toll payments

9.12.2016

Via Verde has warned people of fraudulent emails to motorway users, which appeared to have been sent by the Autoridade Tributária (Tax Authority) (TA), requesting the payment of toll debts. In a statement, Via Verde reports that emails of undetermined origin have the appearance of having been sent by the AT with the subject Via […]

Fraud and cybercrime cost UK nearly £11bn in past year

23.10.2016

Action Fraud UK report that the UK public and small businesses are today being urged to start making every day safer as the latest online crime figures from Get Safe Online and Action Fraud reveal that a staggering £10.9 billion* was lost to the UK economy as a result of fraud, including cybercrime, in 2015/16. […]

Phishing Alert – Portuguese Banks

21.10.2016

Very recently we learned of a new massive phishing attack targeting clients of several Portuguese banks. The request is for personal information and the recipient is requested to fill in a form which is either an attachment or a link. There are several types of financial fraud, one of the most recurrent is sending emails, […]

Major Breakthrough in preventing uploading, storage and sharing of child abuse images

21.10.2016

Digital fingerprints – “hashes” – of child sexual abuse images are a revolutionary step for victims Internet giant Microsoft has teamed up with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) UK to create a revolutionary system that stops the upload, storage and sharing of “potentially millions” of child sexual abuse images on the internet. Called the IWF […]

China Registry Domain name scam

19.10.2016

Be care of this phishing attack aimed at those who manage websites. Simply delete as it is trying to obtain your personal details. It is a scam. It reads as follows: “Sender:  Bob Xu<bob (at) chinaregistry.cn> <chinaregistry138 (at) aliyun.com> Subject: (It’s very urgent, please transfer this email to your CEO. Thanks) We are the domain […]

Yahoo confirms ‘state-sponsored’ personal data hack of 500m accounts

23.9.2016

Details including names, passwords, email addresses, phone numbers and security questions were taken from the company’s network in late 2014 Hackers stole the personal data associated with at least 500m Yahoo accounts, the Sunnyvale, California-based company confirmed today. Details including names, passwords, email addresses, phone numbers and security questions were taken from the company’s network […]

Action Fraud UK warns of fraudulent anti-fraud warnings posing as Action Fraud

14.9.2016

Phishing emails promise free money Fraudsters are phishing for what remains in fraud victims’ bank accounts under the guise of British anti-fraud campaign Action Fraud. An email using the City of London Police logo – Action Fraud works closely with it – has circulated offering free money from the Fraud Intelligence Unit and National Fraud […]

5,300 Wells Fargo employees fired over 2 million phony accounts

12.9.2016

Everyone hates paying bank fees. But imagine paying fees on a ghost account you didn’t even sign up for. That’s exactly what happened to Wells Fargo customers nationwide. On Thursday 9th September 2016 , federal regulators said Wells Fargo (WFC) employees secretly created millions of unauthorized bank and credit card accounts — without their customers […]

Hajj fraud

12.9.2016

Every year millions of Muslims from around the world make the journey to Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia, for the annual pilgrimage or Hajj and tens of thousands of British Muslims will have booked trips to Saudi Arabia to make the pilgrimage to the Mecca and celebrate Hajj. They spend as much as £125 million […]

Nigerian scam in the name of Gen. Abdullah Ayyoub

12.9.2016

A typical Nigerian scam was sent to us from a person who received this. These are very common on circulation each day. There is little that can be done in terms of investigation of these unless you actually respond and become involved in taking up the “offer”. Of course you will not receive anything, instead […]

Fake profiles on social media lure people into “investing” in Binary Options

12.9.2016

How does the scam work? Fraudsters are setting up fake profiles on popular social media websites and making out they are successful Binary Options or Forex Traders. To draw victims into investing the scammers post photos posing in exclusive locations, supercars and flashing high end watches. They have also been known to post “testimonials” which […]

Beware of fraudsters on social media stock markets

28.8.2016

Action Fraud UK are advising people that fraudsters are taking advantage of a rise in popularity of currency exchange online trading schemes with bogus claims of get-rich-quick schemes. Foreign exchange – or forex for short – trading is a much more simplified version of stock market investments. Punters will stake a ‘call’ or ‘put’ on […]

Phishing attack in the name of Windows

13.8.2016

Watch this fishing attack aimed where attacker is trying to get access to your computer and all the information on it. Just delete without reply or clicking on any links.  The senders address is Help Desk <joan23 (at) patronatjoan23.org> “Help Desk Scheduled Maintenance & Upgrade Your account is in the process of being upgraded to […]

Smartphones will become the number one target for cyber criminals within five years, according to police and security experts.

14.5.2016

In a reported published on 14th May 2016, Sky News has been shown how hackers are developing viruses to by-pass a phone’s security, including the latest biometric systems. The malware ‘Trojan horse’ gives cyber-criminals undetected access to a phone’s internal systems, where they can see every key stroke entered by a user. This has serious implications […]

Phishing attack in the name of the FBI

17.3.2016

This is a typical phishing attack this time using the name of the FBI asking you to send your personal details, so that foreign debts that are owed can be passed to you. Off course no such funds exist. Providing your details will enable scammers to steal money from your bank account. The sender is […]

Nigerian scam in the name of Skoda Hanza

15.3.2016

This is a typical Nigerian scan as a phishing attack. Do not reply or provide any information requested; people do not give away money like this. “From: ab12345678 (at) talktalk.net Subject: donation Greetings, Based on your good profile, I want you to solicit help in fulfilling my wish to help charity poor needy in your […]

Online dating fraud cost victims £27 million last year

22.2.2016

On line dating fraud in the UK cost victims a heart- breaking £27 million last year, according to the latest stats from the City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. Over 2,700 online dating related crimes were reported to UK’s Action Fraud over 12 months with the average loss standing at £10,000. However, the actual […]

Valentines Day Scams

10.2.2016

Yes it that time of year again. How nice to receive a romantic wish from a secret admirer; but that admirer may want to remain secret for a very good reason – it’s your money he/she is in love with not you!  Here are some scams to look out for. Emails that link to a […]

British Commonwealth National Card Scam

22.1.2016

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau’s (NFIB) proactive intelligence team in the UK are warning that victims are being contacted electronically by fraudsters claiming to be from the UK’s Home Office offering them a National ID Card for Commonwealth Citizenship. Fraudsters are selling the “British Commonwealth National cards” to victims for around £150 – £300. The […]

UK Royal Mail UK parcel scam involving overseas post

22.1.2016

Fraudsters are sending out virus infected emails that claim a package has been seized by HM Revenue & Customs upon arrival into the United Kingdom. The official looking scam emails claiming to be from Royal Mail contain a link to document which will install malicious software on your computer designed to steal credentials like account […]

Property Rental for research group scam in the name of William Frank

3.1.2016

If you receive an email from a William Frank with a similar or the same message as the following then it is a scam. The senders address is “barr.williams40frank (at) gmail.com”. and the suubject is “I wait to hear from you soon”. This has been in circulation for over a year and is current doing […]

Beware this domain name scam originating from China.

2.1.2016

Beware the following email originating from John Liu <chinaregistry177 (at) aliyun.com address individually to you. It is a scam trying to get you to part with your money. The website at the end of the message does not exist. Subject: CN Domain and keyword “(It’s very urgent, please transfer this email to your CEO. Thanks) […]

Phishing attack aimed at “cpanels” on websites

20.12.2015

Phishing attack aimed at “cpanels” on websites An email is being circulated by “hackers” attempting to gain access to the cpanel on your website which as you know controls the use and functioning of your website. Access to this by hackers could have disastrous results. It accompanied by a cpanel logo and reads: “Our records […]

Victims defrauded after booking on fake holiday websites

17.12.2015

It was reported on 17th December that police in the UK have received multiple reports from people who have been defrauded after paying for winter holiday accommodation on RightSki.com and ChaletHunter.com. According to the UK’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) RightSki.com and ChaletHunter.com were set up by fraudsters using fake details and false information. The NFIB […]

Fraudsters could hack your bank account if you use public WIFI to check balance

15.12.2015

People often ask how their bank account could be hacked into. The following is one way, which is prevalent this time of the year.  Mobile phone and laptop users are warned over the risky practice of checking bank balances or entering any personal details while using public WIFI because hackers could steal their details. During […]

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Cybercrime Alert

26.11.2015

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are consumer shopping events offering deals, bargains, and coupons.  Cyber Monday occurs the Monday after the American Thanksgiving holiday, and has become “one of the biggest online shopping days of the year.” Consumers are expected to spend $105 billion in online shopping this year, and while Cyber Monday offers convenience, […]

Customer credit card and bank details may have been compromised in TalkTalk cyber attack

22.10.2015

Police are investigating after a “significant and sustained cyber-attack” on the TalkTalk website, the UK company has confirmed. The phone and broadband provider, which has over 4 million customers in the UK, said credit card and bank details could have been a accessed. A statement on its home page reads “Our website came under a significant […]

Phishing attack – Windows based servers

22.10.2015

Please be aware of this phishing attack from an unknown sender “AStovell (at) ulohc.org”. This attack is trying to obtain your personal data in order to commit fraud. Note the senders address which does not appear to be on behalf of any legitimate organization and the threatening nature of the email. Do not reply and […]

Cybercrime Survey reveals 20% believe they were specifically targeted by fraudsters

22.10.2015

In a week long survey just completed by international research organization One Poll, for “Get Safe Online Week”, over one in five (21%) victims of a cybercrime believe they were specifically targeted by fraudsters and over a third (37%) had been left feeling vulnerable as a result. Only 38% of the victims believed that the […]

Fraud and cybercrime are the most prevalent crimes committed against people in England and Wales.

17.10.2015

The results for the British Crime Survey for the first time show that fraud and cybercrime are the most prevalent crimes committed against people in England and Wales. The introduction of questions around fraud and cybercrime show the changing face of crime with offences enabled by use of the internet changing the nature of offending […]

Massive new phishing attack has targeted several Portuguese banks

15.10.2015

As reported by SAPOTek, there is an ongoing massive new phishing attack aimed at customers of several Portuguese banks. This manifests itself by emails requesting recipients to complete a form that links to fake websites. Caixa Geral de Depósitos, Novo Banco and Montepio Geral are the names of banks used in the latest phishing attack aimed […]

EU Business Register 2015/16 Scam

15.10.2015

This is a scam that is being sent to many business inviting you list your company in what is in fact a non-existent register. Attached to the email is a PDF document which you are invited to complete and return to the sender.  In the fine print you agree to pay a large amount of […]

Cybercriminal hacked victim’s webcams and spied on them having sex

13.10.2015

According to a UK report a cybercriminal who used malicious computer software to spy on people through their webcams has been added to the sex offenders register for seven years and has been given a 40 week suspended sentence. Stefan Rigo, 33 hacked the computers of unsuspecting victims and watched them having sex through their […]

Scam in the name of Microsoft Corporation.

4.10.2015

Here is a classic phishing scam in the name of the CEO of Microsoft Corporation. The email came with a large signature of the CEO. The email  address is finance (at) ctplo.com which is not a Microsoft address. Note also the poor grammar in places and other mistakes. Basically the sender is trying to convince […]

Apps that tell you who is digging into your personal information

29.9.2015

Did you know that sometimes, the apps you use for your smartphone have access to your personal information and are capable of sharing it? Are you aware that your privacy can be invaded across the network board? That includes Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google+ and more. The following article by Robert Siciliano an identity theft […]

PayPal Scam

21.9.2015

The following Phishing attack in the name of PayPal was received on 21 st September. The sender is trying to get people to reply and then will be taken to a website where you will be invited to disclose your personal details – simply delete without clicking through or replying. The clues that this is […]

Malware attack in the name of City of London Police

18.9.2015

Cyber criminals have launched a new malware campaign which aims to install malware on victims’ computers via an email alert supposedly sent by the City of London Police. The cyber attackers have been sending out thousands of automated emails with the subject ‘Homicide Suspect’. The email provides some vague information around the subject, telling the […]

World Rugby 2015 Scams

18.9.2015

World Rugby are warning fans to be vigilant regarding a growing number of scams in the form of fake lotteries or sweepstakes claiming to be connected with or authorised by Rugby World Cup 2015, Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) and/or World Rugby. Fans are being contacted (mostly via email), in the name of (or using […]

Carphone Warehouse Hacked- 2.4 Million Customers at Risk

20.8.2015

Action Fraud UK has reported that the personal details of up to 2.4 million Carphone Warehouse customers have been accessed by hackers and 90,000 credit cards exposed, the mobile phone firm has admitted. Carphone Warehouse, which is owned by Dixons Carphone said the “vast majority” of customers are unaffected, but if you’ve done business with […]

Benjamin Basha Nigerian Scam

13.8.2015

The message shown below is a real example of a Nigerian or 419 Scam, received by email in August 2015. The message promises the recipient a share in a large sum of money and invites recipients to contact him by phone or email. This sum of money does not exist. Recipients who initiate a dialogue […]

Phishing attacked in the name of US Treasury Dept

3.8.2015

This was received a few days ago from allegedly the US Treasury Dept. Do not open the attachment or reply to them with the information requested. This is a phishing attack aimed at the scammer getting you to divulge your personal details in order to remove money from your bank account. It is easily identifable […]

Student Accommodation Fraud Alert

3.8.2015

The following has been reported in the UK in the last few days.  If you have any sons, daughters or grandchildren off to university then please check this out Seasonal rental fraud is an emerging trend with students looking for suitable accommodation around August, before the start of the new term. Fraudsters use a variety […]

Scam tricks Facebook users into hacking themselves

2.8.2015

Police are advising Facebook users to watch out for a scam that tricks people into hacking into their own accounts. The hoax works by telling people that following a series of instructions will guarantee them access to anybody’s account. It tells victims to open up Facebook in a web browser and go to the Facebook […]

On-line Parcel Delivery Scams

27.7.2015

These are some examples of parcel delivery scams that have been received in the last week or so. Both contain zip files as attachments. The second has a Russian email address. Do not open these as they will likely introduce Malware to your computer. Example 1: “From: Paula Land Sent: Saturday, July 25, 2015 6:24 […]

Malware attack in the name of Linkedin

23.7.2015

Beware the following email which is from a scammer but pretending to be from Linkedin. If you click here as instructed it will allow the scammer to download malware onto your computer. Do not reply and simply delete. This was brought to our attention on 23rd July 2015, by someone who received this in the […]

Hackers threaten to expose 37.5million cheaters who use adultery site Ashley Madison

20.7.2015

A hacking group calling itself The Impact Team is threatening to expose the identities of 37.5m users of notorious extramarital dating website Ashley Madison Ashley Madison, the website for people seeking extramarital affairs, has suffered a major cyberattack, with hackers threatening to expose the names of adulterers unless the site is taken offline. The controversial […]

Spam emails drop as hackers alter tactics

19.7.2015

Spam emails are at their lowest level for 12 years suggesting that Cyber criminals are looking at new ways to target victims, according to an article published in the UK’s Daily Telegraph. Less than half of emails scanned last month by the security company Symantec were junk, the lowest position since 2003. The company said […]

Major new campaign reveals growing threat from identity fraud

17.7.2015

Millions of people in the UK are failing to take basic steps like redirecting post or updating firewalls to protect their identities from criminals, a new survey shows. The results have been published as the City of London Police and partners launch the ‘Not With My Name’ campaign to target the growing threat of identity […]

Algarve – Scam in the name of Gracy, Ricardo and Liliana Biss

29.6.2015

Please be aware of this scam that was circulated on 28th June 2015 in the Algarve and possibly beyond. The persons whose name the email is from, had her computer hacked into and the email address book compromised on 27th June. The following email has been sent by the hacker puportedly from Gracy Biss to […]

Europol – Major Cybercrime Ring Dismantled by Joint Investigation Team.

28.6.2015

A joint investigation team (JIT) consisting of investigators and judicial authorities from six different European countries, supported by Europol and Eurojust, has taken down a major cybercriminal group during a coordinated action in Ukraine. With on-the-spot support from Europol, Austrian and Belgian law enforcement and judicial authorities, the action in Ukraine on 18 and 19 June […]

533 reports of Ticket Fraud received in June relating to Gigs, Concerts and Sporting Events

27.6.2015

Action Fraud UK has reported that in this month (June 2015) alone they have received 533 reports of ticket fraud relating to gigs, concerts and sporting events. Of the 533 reports, 228 mentioned a company called Circle Tickets which has recently ceased trading online. Circle Tickets was advertising tickets for Taylor Swift, Fleetwood Mac and […]

Lottery Phishing attack in the name of Coca-Cola

27.6.2015

This a fairly typical lottery scam received on 27th June 2015. The subject is “Coca-Cola Promotion sent by nibm-agent (at) foxmail.com. This is a Phishing attack seeking to get you to divulge your personal information, with the aim of removing money from your accounts. If you have not entered a lottery then of course you […]

Toll Road Malware Attack

26.6.2015

Similar to the last post, this is another Malware attacking using an email with an attached Zip file being circulated at present in Portugal. This maybe more tempting if you have recently used local toll roads! Simply delete – do not reply or open attachment. “Notice to Appear, You have not paid for driving on […]

Court Appearance Malware Attack

26.6.2015

Please be aware of this email doing its rounds at present. There is a Zip file attachment. If you click on this it may infect your computer through Malware. Simply delete. “Notice to Appear, You have to appear in the Court on the June 30. Please, prepare all the documents relating to the case and […]

Massive holiday villa scam in Spain allegedly operated by a British couple

19.6.2015

British couple cancelled hundreds of bookings for ‘phantom’ luxury Marbella villas and kept hundreds of thousands of pounds after claiming their firm had gone bust According to a report in the UK’s Daily Mail Newspaper dated 13th June, a couple allegedly defrauded British holidaymakers of hundreds of thousands of pounds after advertising ‘phantom’ luxury Marbella […]

Investment Phishing Scam in the name of Robert Lucas

8.6.2015

This is a Phishing scam received by a resident in the Algarve on 8th June 2015, offering a high (too good to be true) investment requesting an urgent reply. Do not reply and simply delete the email. The sender is attempting to obtain your personal details in an attempt to commit fraud. “Dear Friend, RE: […]

Banco Bancaja Phishing scam

4.6.2015

The following email is being circulated Do not reply to the email. It is a phishing scam from a cyber criminal who is trying to steal your information. Simply delete. “Banco Bancaja Madrid Spain Address: Avenida de la Albufera 111, 28038 Madrid Spain. Email: banco_bancaja (at) accountant.com   Contract Fund Credit From Banco Caja Bank […]

New iOS bug lets anyone crash your iPhone with one text message

30.5.2015

A bug in Apple’s iOS means that anyone can crash an iPhone by simply sending it a certain string of characters in a message. It was reported by Action Fraud UK that users on Redditt have found that iPhones can be crashed if they receive a text message containing one specific line of Arabic characters […]

The number of people falling victim to identity theft in the UK has risen by almost a third, new figures suggest.

27.5.2015

The BBC reported on 26th May 2015 that criminals are increasingly using internet forums to buy and sell data. They use the information to open bank accounts, obtain credit cards and commit fraud in other people’s names. Fraud prevention agency Cifas said the number of victims rose by 31% to 32,058 in the first three […]

Lottery Phishing Scam

23.5.2015

The following email was received on 23rd May 2015. It is a phishing scam. Do not click on the email link provided or pass personally details. Simply delete it. The bottom line is if you have not entered a lottery then there is no way that you are a winner – only a loser if […]

Nigerian scam in the name of Capt. John Kelly Afghanistan

1.5.2015

Here is a long email which is certainly a Nigerian Scam and should be deleted. Often these scams are in the name of military personnel, in order to impress the reader. It is typical in that it aims to obtain a sympathetic response from the reader with the objective of obtaining money. Clearly it is […]

Nigerian Scam in the name of Gillian Bayford

1.5.2015

Here is a typical example on a Nigerian scam. Note the manner in which the sender tries to make the receiver feel sorry for the plight the sender is facing. Received 29th April 2015 Am Gillian Bayford and I would like to know if you can handle some huge amount of money (US$7.5 Million ) […]

Scam – 2015 Worldwide Branding Registry of Distinguished Professionals and Executives

23.4.2015

An email is currently in circulation asking people to click on a link to verify your profile and accept candidacy for the 2015 Worldwide Branding Registry of Distinguished Professionals and Executives. This is a Phishing attack and by clicking on the link will take you through to a fake website based in Russia. Simply delete […]

Judicial Police arrest seven computer hackers in major operation

2.3.2015

On 26th February 2014 the Judicial Police, through the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Board, in close coordination with the Gabinete do Cibercrime da Procuradoria-Geral da República (Cybercrime Office of the Attorney General’s Department), conducted “Operation CARETOS” in various parts of the country in connection with computer crime known as “hacktivism”.  The operation was conducted by 70 […]

Phishing attack in the name of DHL

28.2.2015

This email phishing scam was received by a resident here on 28th February 2015. Note the poor grammar and punctuation, which is typical of these scams.. If you receive this do not reply, click on the links or phone the person concerned, as it is aimed at inducing you into providing personal information, which will […]

Scammers steal customer details from TalkTalk broadband and phone operator

28.2.2015

TalkTalk customers are being warned about scammers who managed to steal account numbers, names and personal information from the company’s computers. Broadband and phone operator TalkTalk emailed customers yesterday to tell them that it suffered a major data breach in which account numbers, addresses and phone numbers have fallen into the hands of fraudsters who […]

Dating Fraud up 33% in the UK

28.2.2015

The statistics just issued by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) show the UK public lost £34 million to ‘romance’ fraudsters in 2014, a 33% increase in fraud cases in compared to 2013. Get Safe Online and Action Fraud are urging people to be careful with not just your heart but also your safety, if […]

Phishing attack National Lottery

20.2.2015

Please be aware of this phishing attack that has been circulating in the last few days. The sender is Dawes – Info (at) dangerousloves.com and  it is entitled “Congratulations”. It reads as follows:  “Attention, This is a personal email directed to you, I am Dave Dawes, My fiance and I won a Jackpot Lottery of […]

Phishing attack – Nigerian Fraud – Charitable Foundation

20.2.2015

A resident in the Algarve reported to us the following email she received a few days ago. Curious she replied to the sender asking for more information. The email  (abbreviated) reads as follows: Sender: motherofmarcey04@…………… Subject: I want to sent up a charitable foundation in your country “I am Mrs. Anna Maria Picarelli from Italy […]

Person identified selling credit card (ATM) skimmers on ebay

20.2.2015

A crook who used eBay to sell electronic devices that clone bank cards at cashpoints has been unmasked by The Mail on Sunday.  Known as skimmers, the matchbox-size machines fit on to card slots to read unsuspecting bank customers’ private data, enabling criminals to clone their cards and steal cash in a widespread fraud that […]

Holiday Letting Fraud Alert

20.2.2015

Firstly to make it clear this does not involve a property in Portugal, BUT it could easily occur anywhere.  A very interesting holiday letting scam was reported in the UK media recently which illustrates the extent that fraudsters will go to in such cases, as well as serving as an example of why it is so […]

Fraudsters pretending to be Police making cold calls in the UK

24.1.2015

A person posted the following on Facebook page here in the Algarve. This is useful information and advice provided by Action Fraud UK is at the foot of the page “Many of you may be aware that there is a terrible scam operation going on in the UK. Sadly an elderly member of my own […]

Dating Fraud up 33% in the United kingdom

24.1.2015

The statistics issued by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) show the UK public lost £34 million to ‘romance’ fraudsters in 2014, a 33% increase in fraud cases in compared to 2013. Get Safe Online and Action Fraud are urging people to be careful with not just your heart but also your safety, if you […]

419 (Nigeria) Scam – Mrs Debbie Anani

23.2.2014

The following email scam is doing its rounds at present. This is typical of what are known as 419 (Nigeria) scams. Do not reply to this email if you receive it or pass on any information. “Mrs. Debbie Anani. 56 Aviende Libertie Cote d’Ivoire. My Dear, I am Mrs. Debbie Anani, from Cote d’Ivoire and […]

Warning about fraudulent phone calls on behalf of Microsoft regarding Malicious Software installation

21.2.2014

On  20th February the judicial Police issued an alert following complaints concerning callers pretending to be from Microsoft “Over the past few days, there has been, a massive malware distribution attempt, beginning with fraudulent phone calls using abusively the company name Microsoft.  These phone calls, randomly directed, are from callers pretending to be officials from […]

Cold callers pretending to be from Microsoft

21.2.2013

There have been a number of telephones calls received in the last few days from persons in the USA pretending to be from Microsoft. They usually speak in an Indian accent stating that your computer has a problem that they offer to resolve over the phone. This may be along the lines that the computer […]

Phishing attack in the name of United Nations

20.2.2013

This phishing attack purports to come from the United Nations but instead originates from Russia, as does many of these scams:  It is entitled “Reward from the UN” and reads as follows: “Your Email, Please be informed that your email address has been given a compensation grant for the sum of Ђ920,000.00 (Nine Hundred and […]

Phishing attack – Reward from the United Nations

20.2.2013

Here is another attack doing its rounds at present. If you receive it do not open the email link or phone the number which is based in Italy and instead simply delete.  “Subject: Your email  Please be informed that your email has been given a compensation grant for the sum of Nine Hundred and Twenty […]