Tag: Facebook

The U.S. Is the Most Scammed Country In the World

by Advantage One, posted in Announcements, Lifestyle, online security, security, Tips & Best Practices, Uncategorized

A recent report by Social Catfish, an online investigation service, found that the U.S. is the most scammed country in the world. A staggering amount of money was lost to scams in 2022, and that number will likely continue to trend upward, thanks to newly available mediums for scammers, like artificial intelligence (AI). 

The good news is, with the right information, you can protect yourself from being part of next year’s scam statistics. 

Let’s take a look at some of the significant findings of the report, and how you can keep your money and your information safe. 

Who gets scammed the most?

With an astounding 466,501 online scams in 2022, the U.S. leads the world as the country with the most scam victims per year. The U.K., Canada, India and Australia follow as the respective second through fifth most-scammed countries across the globe. 

Of the 50 states, California had the most online scam victims in 2022, at 80,766, with an average of $24,921 lost per victim at a total loss of $2,012,806,866. Florida is next in line with 42,792 victims with an average loss per victim of $19,746. North Dakota takes the prize for the lowest number of scam victims, at just 703. It’s important to note that these are actual numbers and not percentages of each state’s population. Of course, more populated states, like California and Florida, have higher numbers of scam victims than more sparsely populated states, like Montana.

Among age groups, teens and children have seen the largest percentage increase in money lost. Victims in the under-20 age group lost $210 million in 2022, compared to $8.2 million in 2017. Seniors still hold the place as the most victimized group, though, with their overall losses totalling $3.1 billion. 

How much money was lost to scams in 2022?

A record $10.3 billion was lost to online scams in 2022, up from $6.9 billion in 2021. This represents an increase of 277% from $2.7 billion in 2017, according to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. When including an estimate for unreported scam victims, the total money lost to online scams in 2022 jumps to a staggering $200 billion. In addition, the average loss per victim per incident was a whopping $12,859, which is up from $8,142 in 2021. 

The report also shows that 81% of romance scam victims do not come forward. As one of the most common scams, this means there are likely thousands more victims who are not part of the report.

Unfortunately, only 4.2% of stolen funds were recovered, the report shows. The FBI IC3 Recovery Asset Team was only able to recover $433 million of the $10.3 billion lost in 2022. This is largely due to the fact that the majority of scams originated out of the country and out of the jurisdiction of the FBI. 

Where are people getting scammed?

Social Catfish polled 5,500 online scam victims to identify the platforms and apps where people are getting scammed most often. The poll found that most online scams happen on Facebook (32%), Google Hangouts (16%), WhatsApp (16), Plenty of Fish (16%) and Instagram (14%). 

How to avoid scams

Keep your money and your information safe with these protective measures:

  • Keep the security on your devices at its strongest settings and updated with the most recent patches.
  • Never share personally identifiable information, including your Social Security number, banking details and credit card number, with an unverified contact. 
  • When interacting with a new online friend or love interest, perform a reverse photo search on any shared pics to verify their authenticity. 
  • Never click on embedded links or download attachments from emails sent by unknown contacts. 
  • Never wire money to an unverified contact. 
  • Use strong, unique and long passwords for each of your accounts. A password manager can help you generate and remember unbreakable passwords. 
  • Watch out for these red flags in websites, ads and emails: poor grammar and spelling, lack of a physical address and/or phone number, claims of being in the military and/or working overseas, demands to be paid by wire transfer, or in gift card or cryptocurrency and use of a URL that is very similar to a reputable company’s web address.
  • Report any scam and scam attempt to the FTC, IC3, FBI and your financial institution.

The statistics on scams may be frightening, but you don’t have to be the next victim. Follow the tips outlined above to stay safe. 

All You Need to Know About the Metaverse and NFTs

by Advantage One, posted in Announcements, App Reviews, Lifestyle, News & Events, online security, security, Tips & Best Practices, Uncategorized

If a time-traveler from the 19th century landed in your living room, you’d likely have a hard time explaining the way our world works – especially the way we deal with finances. Your visitor can watch as you hold an oblong object in your hands and proceed to order a full summer wardrobe, new bedroom furniture or maybe even airline tickets. Who would have imagined we’d be able to do all that and more or without ever touching a dollar bill, coin or even a credit card?

But the changes to the way we handle our money continue, and the world of finance evolves along with technology in the most incredible ways. Let’s take a look at two major innovations in the world of technology and finance, as well as how they may affect us in the very near future: the metaverse and NFTs. 

The Metaverse

What is the metaverse?

The term “metaverse” has generated many curious Google searches since Facebook rebranded itself as Meta in October of 2021. In short, the metaverse is a scaled, interoperable network of real-time rendered 3D virtual worlds that can be experienced simultaneously by an infinite number of users. In addition, the metaverse has continuity of data, which includes identity, objects, communications and payments. In simple English, the metaverse is an all-immersive digital universe where users can live, connect and even make financial transactions through virtual reality and augmented reality. If you played “Second Life,” you’ve already had a taste of this.

Does the metaverse exist?

While some forms of the metaverse already exist, the full experience that tech giants envision likely won’t be ready for consumer use for another five to 10 years. However small aspects of the metaverse, including ultra-fast broadband speeds, online worlds that are always “on” and virtual reality headsets to bring the user into another world are already quite common across the internet and gaming world. 

What are some examples of the metaverse?

Here’s where you can get a feel for what the metaverse is actually about: 

  • Meta. Formerly known as Facebook, the platform’s CEO speaks openly and often about the metaverse and the role Facebook will play in its rollout. 

“The next platform and medium will be even more immersive and embodied than the internet, where you’re in the experience, not just looking at it, and we call this the metaverse,” Zuckerberg said after the company’s rebranding. 

  • Microsoft. Similarly, the software giant has made no secret about where it believes the future of technology lies. Microsoft is already developing mixed and extended reality applications through its Microsoft Mesh platform, which blends the real world with augmented reality and virtual reality. Of course, Xbox Live already connects millions of gamers across the globe in a small-scale metaverse. 

 How will the metaverse affect the world of finance?

Experts envision a world where a consumer can enter a massive virtual shopping mall, purchase a unique digital item and sell that item in a different virtual world, such as on Twitter or eBay. In addition, the expected meteoric rise in popularity of the metaverse creates a unique investment opportunity for the savvy investor. 

NFTs

What are NFTs?

NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are a kind of crypto asset in which each token has a unique value. This is as opposed to “fungible” assets like Bitcoin and dollar bills, which all have exactly the same value. Because every NFT is unique, they can be used to authenticate ownership of digital assets including artworks, recordings and virtual real estate or pets.

How do NFTs work?

NFTs are part of the Ethereum blockchain. Ethereum is a cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, but its blockchain can support NFTs as well. It’s important to note that other blockchains can easily implement their own versions of NFTs. 

NFTs can be anything digital, like music, videos or drawings, but digital art has been monopolizing NFT trading since its inception. NFT art collecting is not unlike fine art collecting in the real world: Millions of people can buy a Monet print, but only one person can own the original – and pay for it. Similarly, while anyone can own a copy of a digital piece of art, the original can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars, or in some cases, even millions. The irony here is that while the owner of an authentic Monet has a genuine piece of art, there is no real difference between owning a copy of a digital artwork and owning the original.

As bizarre as it may sound, NFTs are gaining popularity at record speed. A 50-second video by Grimes sold for $390,000, a tweet by the founder of Twitter sold for just under $3 million, and a video by Beeple sold for $6.6 million.

What’s the purpose of NFTs?

NFTs present a world of financial possibilities for artists and collectors alike. 

Digital artists with real talent can earn a pretty penny through NFTs. Instead of posting a creative meme they designed on their Facebook page, digital artists can now try selling their work as an NFT. The good news is the artist will continue enjoying dividends of their work far beyond its sale. Every time the NFT changes hands, the artist gets paid a percentage of the profits. This way, if the work only becomes popular a while after it’s created, the artist can still pocket their share of its ultimate value. 

Collectors can use NFTs to purchase unique digital artwork as a financial asset. A work of art always carries with it the possibility of becoming wildly popular and spiking in value. Digital artwork is no exception. In addition, owning an NFT comes with some basic rights, which include being able to post the image online or use it as a profile picture.

The world of finance is constantly evolving as technology races to stay ahead of current trends and futuristic visions. The metaverse and NFTs are just two mediums that can change the way we handle our finances in the near future. Use the primer here to learn all about these technological wonders so you are better prepared to participate in and invest in the future. 

Your Turn: Do you think the metaverse and NFTs will play a major role in our finances? Why, or why not? Share in the comments. 

8 Side Hustles Anyone Can Do

by Advantage One, posted in Tips & Best Practices

Young lady drives young men to their destination in her minivanWho wouldn’t love some extra pocket money? These freelance jobs don’t require any experience and can be done by practically anyone. Plus, some of them might pay you for tasks you’re already doing! Read on for eight easy side hustles and to find those that may be right for you.

1.) Play with dogs
This job is for true animal-lovers. Why not earn some extra cash watching your furry friends? When you offer your services as a dog-walker or pet-sitter, you can charge as much as $25 an hour, depending on the going rate in your area. To get the word out, you can hang up flyers to advertise your services or sign up with Rover, an Uber-like service that matches up pet-owners and sitters for a small fee.

2.) Social media guru
Yes, your Facebooking talents and clever tweets really are marketable skills. You can offer your services to local and remote businesses as their social media brander. Depending on your skill set, you can write the company blog posts, manage their Facebook page, post new pics on Instagram and send out their tweets. You’ll need to get a feel for the core values and mission statement of the company you represent, but otherwise, it’s just doing what you love on your favorite social media platforms!

3.) Yard work
Do you wield real power with a weed-whacker? Are you an expert lawn mower? Get paid for tending to people’s yards. You can charge by the hour or per job. You may also want to do a survey of other local yard workers to get a good idea of fair asking prices.

4.) Take online surveys for pay
Make the time you spend online count by taking surveys on sites like Survey Junkie, Inbox Dollars and Swagbucks. Most of these sites are easy to use and will pay you as soon as you complete a survey. It’s a quick, easy way to pad your wallet with extra cash.

5.) Turn trashed items into treasure
If you’re crafty and love working with your hands, this one’s for you!

Late spring is the perfect time for finding discarded pieces of furniture in the trash. Take a spin around the neighborhood, scouring each block for curbside furniture in decent condition. Haul your finds home and get to work, refinishing, painting, changing drawer pulls and more to give the tossed piece of furniture new life. When you’ve finished glamming up your treasure, put it up for sale at a local flea market, sell it to a second-hand or consignment shop or market it online through eBay or Craigslist. If you really work at it, you may be able to turn a trashed piece of furniture into several hundred dollars.

6.) Work for Uber
The ride-sharing giant gives the term “flexible job” new meaning by allowing you to set your own schedule and decide just how many hours you want to devote to driving passengers.

If you don’t like the idea of strangers riding in your car, you can work for Uber Eats instead. With this sister service of Uber, you get paid to pick up fast-food meals and deliver them to customers. Uber Eats offers the same flexibility and great terms as the original Uber and, in some locations, you can even deliver the food on a bike or scooter. It’s a fantastic way to boost your income without committing to long hours or hard work.

7.) It’s fair time!
Summer is the season for local fairs of all kinds. Spend some time researching community fairs in your town and the surrounding areas. Is there one scheduled that features a special talent of yours? If you know you can bake a mean pie or you’ve been told your caramel fudge is to die for, try your hand at competing in a fair that features these competitions. You can earn hundreds of dollars in award prizes just for doing something you enjoy. Plus, there’s no limit to how many fairs you can enter each summer, so you can do this over and over again.

8.) Teach and tutor
Are you a geometry whiz or a genuine science buff? Offer your services as an individual tutor for school-aged children this summer and you’ll have a meaningful way to earn extra money. You can help a struggling student work through summer homework or pass makeup exams so they earn their promotion to the next grade. You’ll be using your brains to make a difference in a child’s life while making good money on the side.

If you’ve got a spectacular talent outside the classroom, you can use it to make money this summer by teaching it to students who want to learn how to do it, too. Specialized instructors like guitar teachers or art coaches can charge a pretty penny per session.

While it helps in some cases, you don’t need special training or credentials for earning extra pocket money. Use this list to find the side hustle that works for you and start boosting your income.

Your Turn:
Do you have a side job you love? Tell us all about it in the comments.

SOURCES:

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/part-time-jobs-to-boost-income-4126475

https://workfromhomehappiness.com/internet-jobs/

https://financebuzz.com/ways-to-make-extra-money/

What’s Up With WhatsApp?

by Advantage One, posted in online security, security

WhatsApp Logo on green backgroundA cybersecurity breach in Facebook’s WhatsApp app last month left users vulnerable to spyware attacks via voice calls. An undetermined number of the 1.5 billion users of the popular messaging app may have had malicious spyware installed on their devices.

Let’s take a closer look at the security breach and the steps you can take to protect yourself, both now and in the future.

What happened?
Security breaches are old news in the app world, but a breach of extremely high magnitude and reach is something new and fairly frightening. The fact that the breach hit WhatsApp is especially alarming. WhatsApp utilizes strong encryption for both voice and text messaging and is used as a communication platform for government and security officials around the world.

Here’s how it went down:
A government-grade intelligence collection tool was employed to target WhatsApp users via voice calls. The spyware has been endowed with the ability to seize control of the affected smartphones and to access any private information stored on the device.

The spyware utilized in the attack was allegedly created by the NSO Group, an Israeli cyber surveillance company that has developed this advanced technology for the express purpose of allowing government agencies to infiltrate terrorist groups and to fight crime. Unfortunately, when the spyware fell into the wrong hands, it helped scammers pull off one of the greatest cybersecurity breaches of all time.

The Financial Times reported that the WhatsApp breach was made possible because of a loophole in the app’s code that allowed hackers to transmit spyware onto smartphones by calling targets through the app. The malicious code could be injected into the device whether the user picked up the call or ignored it.

According to WhatsApp, the cyber breach was first discovered in early May and had been used to target an undisclosed number of WhatsApp users. The Facebook-owned messaging company claimed it briefed human rights organizations about the breach and also asked U.S. law enforcement agencies to assist it in conducting an investigation. When WhatsApp had more definite information, it notified the public about the breach.

Who was affected?
It doesn’t matter what kind of phone you have; the security vulnerability affects both iPhone and Android devices. The good news is that not every version of WhatsApp was affected. To check whether the version you have on your phone was part of those impacted by the breach, check out Facebook’s official advisory confirming the vulnerability, which outlines which versions were affected.

The messaging giant has not confirmed a specific number of targeted victims. Rather, it has only shared that a “select number of users were targeted through this vulnerability by an advanced cyber actor.”

What do I need to do now?
Since the vulnerability that caused the breach lies in the makeup of the app and not in an unsafe or negligent practice in the hands of a user, there is no way you could have prevented your device from being affected. However, now that the facts are on the table, you can take the recommended steps to keep your device safe from this vulnerability.

Since the breach was discovered, WhatsApp engineers have been working hard to close the app’s security vulnerability. The company has started installing a fix to servers and to private customers. It has also created an updated, safer version of the app that it has urged all users to employ on their devices as soon as possible.

Here’s a quick guide for updating your WhatsApp.

  • For iPhone users: Open the App Store, choose updates, select WhatsApp and then click Update.
  • For Android users: Open the Play Store, click the three lines in the upper left-hand corner, choose My Apps & Games, select WhatsApp and then hit Update.

If you haven’t yet updated your device, do it now. It only takes a few seconds of your time to make sure your WhatsApp is operating at its safest level.

You never know when those scammers are going to hit next. Practice safe measures by always using the latest version of any application or operating system, keeping yourself in the know about recent security breaches and never sharing sensitive information online.

Stay safe!

Your Turn:
How do you keep yourself safe from security breaches? Share your tips with us in the comments.

SOURCES:

https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/consumerwatch-what-you-should-know-about-whatsapp-breach-23607175

https://www.people.com/human-interest/whatsapp-security-breach-update-app/amp/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/05/14/whatsapps-cybersecurity-breach-phones-hit-with-israeli-spyware-over-voice-calls/amp/

All You Need To Know About Facebook’s Latest Bug

by Advantage One, posted in online security

Young black woman scrolling through an app on her smartphone in a cafeWith its wide range of features, easy-to-use interface and streamlined access, Facebook is the darling of the social media age. It helps people stay connected with family and friends, allows new relationships to blossom and creates a culture of community for new and established businesses alike.

However, in December, Facebook announced its internal team found a photo API bug in its platform which may have exposed the unshared photos of 6.8 million users. As the latest in a stream of publicized security issues, this breach has the public confused and worried about their privacy.

Read on for all you need to know about the recent Facebook bug.

What happened because of the photo bug?
According to Facebook’s policy, apps linked to Facebook are only allowed to access photos that users give them permission to view, such as those posted on their Facebook timeline. The recent bug, however, may have allowed third-party apps to access loads of other pictures without their user’s knowledge and permission.

An estimated 1,500 apps built by 876 developers were affected by the bug. All of these apps are approved by Facebook, and were authorized by users to access their photos.

The photos breached include those shared on Facebook Stories or Marketplace as well as photos that had been uploaded but weren’t yet posted on Facebook.

The bug was active from Sept. 13 to Sept. 25, 2018. Although, Facebook waited to come clean about the breach in mid-December, 2018.

What steps has Facebook taken to fix the bug?
Facebook fixed the bug as early as Sept. 25 and has openly apologized for the breach. They have promised to let app developers know which of their users have been affected by the bug so they can take steps on their own. Facebook has also claimed to be working on strengthening their platform’s privacy to prevent future photo leaks and security breaches.

When asked why the social media giant did not inform the public about the bug immediately, a Facebook representative told CNN Business, “We have been investigating the issue since it was discovered to try and understand its impact so that we could ensure we are contacting the right developers and people affected by the bug. It then took us some time to build a meaningful way to notify people, and get translations done.”

Despite the statement, the jury remains out on whether Facebook has really taken the responsible course of action after the bug was discovered.

What does the bug mean for impacted Facebook users?
Having your unshared photos posted on public forums can lead to a host of safety issues. Thankfully, no crimes have been linked to the photo leak to date, but crooks can use revealing photos to stage a home robbery or worse. For reasons such as this, it’s always best to use the strongest privacy settings on your social media platforms and to be super-careful about which apps you allow to access your photos.

To be extra careful and keep yourself safe in the event of security breaches like Facebook’s recent photo bug, never post pictures that are too revealing about your personal life and your financial situation.

How can I check if my photos were leaked?
Facebook has issued an official alert to all affected users with clear steps for protecting their photos. The alert directs users to a Help Center Page where they can check if they’ve used any apps affected by the bug and get instructions on how to proceed from there.

Facebook also advises users to log into any apps they use to share photos and check which ones are accessible. If you’re worried about an app’s privacy, log into Facebook’s Manage Your Apps page and contact the app developer directly to inquire about the accessibility of your photos.

Facebook’s latest security breach may have impacted millions of users, but with the proper reactive steps and an eye toward a more secure future, it can help the social media giant and all its users practice stronger security measures and protect their privacy against potential breaches.

Your Turn:
Have you been impacted by Facebook’s latest breach? Share your experience with us in the comments below.

SOURCES:
https://betanews.com/2018/12/16/facebook-photo-api-bug/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2018/12/14/tech/facebook-private-photos-exposed-bug/index.html

https://www.geek.com/tech/facebook-photo-bug-how-to-check-if-you-were-impacted-1766300/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2018/12/14/facebook-bug-exposed-photos-from-up-to-6point8-million-users.html