Did you know scammers can now clone your voice?

THIS week, as we hear about LabHost, a site set up in 2021 to created by a criminal network to steal personal information such as email addresses, passwords and bank details. We are told that it had enabled more than 2,000 users to set up phishing websites that have reportedly tricked as many as 70,000 UK victims into passing over approximately 480,000 card numbers and 64,000 PINs worldwide to fraudsters. But with high profile busts taking place in connection to sits like LabHost, just how easy is it now for wannabe fraudsters to get your information? Well in fact it is shockingly even more of an issue, and it is not just your personal information that can be stolen.

On the back of this, we thought it might be worth noting the way we are now more connect then ever and how we now communicate has opened up the world to many new avenues for scams and predatory behaviour.

We must now be even more aware that everything from video and photos, even our own voices can be stolen, and it's crucial for to become more be aware of the ever growing risks, particularly for parents and small businesses. We need to be far more aware risks around us, online and offline, in order to protect ourselves and our families.

Like anything, it is not all doom and gloom, and it is still safe to get out of bed, well on most days. But seriously, we need to think past just putting an antivirus system on our computers, and shredding our paperwork rather than just putting it in the bin. Criminals are getting more and more sophisticated than ever.

Over the last year we have all heard about perpetrators are impersonating others to deceive individuals and businesses into signing up to fake services, requesting personal information, or making you do financial transactions. Also, then you have the romance scammers, and the list goes on... Even phone numbers that appear on your phone cant be trusted, as popular way for scammers and telemarketers to contact you is by using a false caller ID. But what if you are the person on the other end of a call that is trying to deceive your family, friends or even employees, into doing something they shouldn't. For example, can we always trust the voice on the other end of the phone? Yes, even your voice and face can be used by those wanting to course harm.

This week we got contacted by the cyber security team at Ignite SEO, who are a Warwickshire based company, founded in 2020. They have sent us a list that explores some of the most common scams, that take place on popular platforms, such as:- X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Telegram, WhatsApp, and Snapchat. IT expert Adam Collins has also discussed with us specific concerns related to Snapchat's Live Map feature, and also a less known, but growing issue of using AI to peoples fake voices and even your image.

These are a few social media issues Ignite SEO has suggested you should be aware of:-

• X (formerly Twitter) Scams - Scams on X often involve phishing attempts and fake giveaways. Phishing might occur through direct messages or tweets that ask users to click on suspicious links, supposedly to verify account details but actually designed to steal personal information. Fake giveaways, which often mimic real promotional tweets, lure users into providing personal details or sending money under the guise of entering a contest or claiming a prize. Always verify the authenticity of such tweets and look for verified badges on profiles.
  

• Facebook Scams - Facebook is ripe with various scams including:- fake friend requests, malicious apps, and scam advertisements. One common tactic is creating duplicate profiles of real people, then sending friend requests to their friends and family to collect sensitive information or spread malware. Be wary of any friend requests from people you are already friends with and check their profiles for authenticity.
  

• Telegram Scams - Telegram's encryption and privacy-oriented features make it a hotspot for scams, including cryptocurrency scams and fake investment schemes. Scammers often create groups or channels promising high returns on investments or impersonating legitimate crypto platforms. Always cross check the legitimacy of any investment opportunities with reliable sources and avoid sharing personal financial details.
  

• WhatsApp Scams - On WhatsApp, scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, including the troubling rise of voice cloning. Here, scammers use software to mimic your voice from a short audio sample, which can be as simple as your greeting in a voicemail. They then use this cloned voice to make requests for money or sensitive information from your contacts, who might believe they are actually speaking to you. Another prevalent scam is the:- 'This is you?' tactic where users receive a message with a video link that supposedly includes them. The link leads to a phishing site designed to harvest credentials. Always verify unusual or unexpected requests through a different communication channel before responding.
  

• Snapchat Scams - Snapchat scams typically involve compromised accounts sending out spam messages to friends, often luring them to click on phishing links. There's also the threat of the:- 'Snap Map' feature, which can inadvertently share a user's location with all their contacts or even the public, depending on the privacy settings. This can make young users particularly vulnerable to stalking or predatory behavior.
  

• Parental Concern: Snapchat's Live Map Feature - Parents should be particularly vigilant about Snapchat's Live Map feature. This tool can broadcast a user's location in real-time, which could potentially be seen by predators if privacy settings are not strictly managed. It's vital for parents to educate their children about the dangers of oversharing location information and ensure their privacy settings are configured to share such details only with close friends and family or turned off completely.

Adam Collins, an IT expert from Ignite SEO says:- "Awareness and education are key defences against social media scams. Users of all ages should learn about the potential dangers on these platforms and take proactive steps to protect their personal information. Parents, in particular, need to be aware of the features and risks associated with each platform their children use, especially concerning location sharing features like Snapchat's Live Map."

At Southport Reporter are aware of issues related to using peoples image and peoples voice, as it has been long associated with Fake News, but now, with the growing reach of AI, it is increasingly hard to spot the fake from the real. We sites, like LabHost, helping to make it easier for anyone with fraudulent intent to trick you, it is harder and harder to have absolute confidence in those you are dealing with online or over the phone. Just like with fake news, do not believe all you see or hear. We strongly suggest you have safe words and phrases, as well as gestures that only you, fiends and family know, as well as some for business, as an added line of defence.

If believe you are a victim of fraud, we encourage you to report it to Action Fraud or via their telephone reporting line:- 03001232040 or visiting:- ActionFraud.Police.UK.

To ensure your data is completely secure we would recommend doing the following:-

You should change your regular password across your accounts, such as:- online banking, regular shopping sites and mobile phone providers, and never use the same one for each site. You can check out the UK Government's online:- 'See Stop! Think Fraud' guidance  for creating strong passwords.

Check your accounts as often as you can for any suspicious activity, and if in doubt contact the company involved who can help and advise, or contact Action Fraud.

Tips for spotting a phishing email:-

• Please remember not all emails are fake that have spelling errors in them, but this is a good starting point.
  

• Phishing is when fraudsterssend fake emails claiming to be from real companies. They are usually trying to steal your details and money. The below information can help you spot phishing emails from criminals.
  

• Fraudsters sending emails often pretend to be from official entities such as:- Banks or Government departments to gain trust. They often use familiar logos and branding to make their messages appear legitimate.
  

• Fraudsters often us pressure tacktics on you, such as warning about penalties or time limited rewards. Do not trust those rushing your decisions to try to manipulate you by appealing to emotions, such as:- fear, hope, curiosity, and generosity.
  

• Fraudsters often try to exploit you in saing things are in short supply, or use exclusive offers to prompt quick responses, such as buy now to win, or buy now to get a disvount on concert tickets or holidays.
  

• Fraudsters often try to lach onto your worries by exploiting current news events, or specific times of the year, such as tax deadlines to make their schemes on phishing emails appear more relevant and credible.

The Metropolitan Police have published 3 very useful posters that you can print out and put up at:- home, at school, or in your work place, that cover the following topics:-

• 7 red flags for spotting fraudulent emails:- Click here to download a .PDF file from us - Click here to download a .PDF file from the Metropolitan Police website.
  

• How phishing works:- Click here to download a .PDF file from us - Click here to download a .PDF file from the Metropolitan Police website.
  

• 5 tips for spotting a phishing email:- Click here to download a .PDF file from us - Click here to download a .PDF file from the Metropolitan Police website.

Schools and charity join forces to tackle air pollution

SCHOOLS in South Sefton have teamed up with local charity, Rimrose Valley Friends, to create a film highlighting the impact of air pollution in their borough.

Recorded in the style of a news bulletin on its YouTube Channel:- 'BBA News' (Breathe Better Air News) sees pupils from:- Chesterfield High School, Forefield Juniors, Great Crosby Catholic Primary School and Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School despatched as:- 'roving reporters' to locations across the area.

Together, they highlight the state of air quality in South Sefton, which is among some the worst in the UK, and note that much of the pollution experienced is attributable to the borough's busiest roads.  They also draw attention to the discrepancies in life expectancy between:- Sefton's poorest, most polluted Council Wards in the South, to more affluent and rural Wards further a field.

Each reporter urges people in South Sefton to improve the quality of the air they breathe by reconsidering the way they travel; encouraging people to ditch the car wherever possible in favour of public transport and active travel (walking, cycling and scooting).

Speaking about the project, which has been funded by Community Foundation for Merseyside's Breathe Better Air Fund Stuart Bennett of Rimrose Valley Friends said:- "We're delighted with how this project has turned out and are massively thankful to all the Schools and pupils involved. Right from the off, it was clear how well they understood the issues and how keen they were to get involved. We spend a lot of our time highlighting how much HGVs, the Port of Liverpool and heavy industry contribute to the air pollution we experience, but it's true to say that by leaving the car at home, we can all do our bit to make our roads quieter, safer and South Sefton healthier. We hope everyone enjoys the film and that it strikes a chord, particularly with parents, as air pollution affects our children the most. All credit goes to these amazing pupils for being so professional and conveying this serious message. We reckon there are a few budding reporters in the making."

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