Fake Boss Scam Eliminated by A1 Cybersecurity Centre

A1 has detected and analysed the Fake Boss scam which targeted employees of big companies and organisations. Impersonating senior executives of major companies and law enforcement and regulatory officers, scammers were trying to gain access to victims' money via messengers.

Luckily, as a result of pro-active efforts by A1 Cybersecurity Centre, the online threat was eliminated. Determined to spend significant amounts of time on each person, scammers were collecting information on the victim's bank accounts and financial transactions, in addition to obtaining SMS access codes. A1 experts are sharing tips on how to avoid a scam of this type.

This is what the Fake Boss scammers usually do:

• impersonate company directors and use their real names to gain trust;
• exert psychological pressure, create the feeling of urgency and confidentiality;
• forward the victim to fake officers from law enforcement and financial regulation agencies.

Scammers hunt for victims by studying users' accounts on social media, while focusing on users that reveal their place of work, phone number, or links to other digital accounts. This allows them to communicate with people on a more personalised level and build trust with a potential victim.

This is how you can protect yourself online:

1. Company directors and state authorities will never ask you to perform any actions in messengers.

2. Do not share SMS access codes, banking card details, and information on your banking accounts.

3. Pressure, secrecy, and haste are the key indicators of a scam.

4. Verify information by calling official phone numbers and visiting official websites.

5. Do not post personal and work-related information on social media.

Visit safety.a1.by to learn more about effective ways of fending off fraudsters, as well as the basics of Internet safety. Sometimes, you only need to think a few moments to avoid becoming another victim of scammers. In response to the scamming problem, A1 launched the #Take5seconds nation-wide information campaign that aims to raise awareness of online scams and ways to avoid them.

This is how businesses can avoid scammers:

1. Keep your employees updated on the latest types of scams.

2. Minimise the amount of personal and work-related information in public access.

3. Make a rule that would require employees to double-check any "urgent" requests from higher management.

4. Provide your employees with an easy and fast way to contact the IT department.

5. Analyse leaks and outdated employee data.

6. If possible, hire a contractor to automate the above-mentioned processes.

A1 Cyber Defence Centre offers a full spectrum of services for ensuring cyber security and responding to cyber incidents:

1. 24/7 monitoring and responding to IT events. A1 experts detect and analyse threats, as well as take steps to prevent them or minimize their effects on a 24/7 basis.

2. Security assessment of information infrastructure objects. A1 professionals analyse information systems and perform their security testing, detect potential vulnerabilities, and implement proactive defence.

3. Investigation of cyber incidents. In case of a cyber attack, A1 determines what caused it and helps eliminate the effects and prevent its repeated occurrence.

4. Professional consultations and expertise. Customers can benefit from cyber security consultations by certified specialists.

In providing its services, A1 Cyber Defence Centre relies on its own Tier III data centre, one of the largest and most advanced in the country. Reliable infrastructure and high work standards guarantee a high level of security for all customers.