ISpoof - What Happened?
It has been reported in the media that recently International law enforcement authorities, including An Garda Síochána, have closed down a website that was used by cyber criminals to defraud people of €115 million worldwide.
The website, Ispoof.cc allowed criminals to make spoof calls, where they impersonated other companies, government agencies or other entities. The criminals would then attempt to get access to personal information by telling people that there was a problem and they needed to act.
How do Spoof or phishing Calls work?
When a cyber hacker makes a spoof call, they can introduce themselves as a service provider, government agency, tax authority or online retailer. They may attempt to inform you that you have an outstanding payment due or inform you that there is a problem with your computer or account. They can have very well prepared scripts, will sound professional and will use the information you have provided to gain access to your online accounts and steal your information / money.
What can I do to protect against spoof calls?
It can be really hard to know what is real. We suggest the following;
1): Information
Never give personal information, contact information or passwords / login details over the phone
2): Zero Trust
If You receive a call and they claim it is important, take their name and call them back. The number to call them back on should be what is on the companies website, not what they have provided you with.
3): Block Numbers
When you get a spoof call, block the number
Want to know more?
For more information on Cybersecurity best practice and how to increase awareness, contact us at cybersecurity@lss.ie or +353 1 8226460
