Valentine’s Day scam: Beware of phishy emails, cyber expert warns – ‘You need to be safe’

According to a cyber security expert, Valentine’s day is a bumper time of year for fraudsters looking to exploit people. Cyber expert Bree Fowler shared a few warning signals one should look for as we approach Valentine’s Day.

Speaking to The Daily Charge, Ms Fowler, a CNET Cyber Security Expert, said: “You need to be safe.

“There are a lot of lonely people out there, who this time of year can be vulnerable.”

Explaining the nature of the scams, she said that it can come from just about anywhere on the internet.

She said: “Phishing emails are still the most common method, but we’re seeing all kinds of stuff, texts, phone calls, robocalls, or even scam QR codes are a thing these days.”

“A sudden drop in the prices of an item or some lovely Russian lady sending you an email saying that she thinks you are cute; are some of the ways scammers are trying to get into your system.”

She added: “When you see something that’s a limited-time offer, or they have absolutely have to hear from you right away, that should be a red flag, as well.”

That said if it’s something that truly interests you, Ms Fowler says you should go to the main website and ignore the offers.

According to Ms Fowler, the goal of these scammers is to get people to click on links and use ploys aimed at your wallet by way of your heart.

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“Check out their social media profiles. Profiles that don’t have a lot to them, I think you should be sceptical of anything that was maybe opened up in recent months.”

Most importantly is to keep the deeply personal information to yourself.

She concluded: “Whatever you do, don’t send banking information, keys to your crypto wallets, or anything like a social security number to someone you just don’t know.

“Just because you think you know someone online, you still probably don’t.”