The Red Hot Scams of 2026 are Heating Up

While we all tend to look forward to retirement, scammers never actually get around to it. In fact, they are entering 2026 with sharper tricks and colder hearts. AARP’s latest warning highlights several “red-hot” scams already spreading across the internet and phone lines, from fake job offers to terrifying “digital arrest” threats. Knowing how these schemes work could be the difference between keeping your money safe and watching it vanish. READ FULL STORY

Know The Signs Of A Social Security Scam

Scammers frequently change their approach with new tactics and messages to trick people. We encourage you to stay up to date on the latest news and advisories by following SSA OIG on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook or subscribing to receive email alerts. READ FULL STORY

Firewall vs. Antivirus: What’s the Difference?

In today's interconnected world, cybersecurity is more important than ever. Businesses of all sizes face the threat of cyberattacks, and the stakes are high. A successful attack can result in the loss of sensitive data, financial damage, and reputational damage. Fortunately, there are a variety of cybersecurity solutions available to help businesses protect themselves. By investing in these products and services, businesses can defend themselves against a wide range of threats, such as viruses, malware, and SQL injections. READ FULL STORY

Your Bank Is Calling. Or Is It?

A phone call that looks like it’s coming from your financial institution could be the opening move in a fast-moving chess game the FBI is warning about. Using spoofed numbers and convincing scripts, criminals create a sense of urgency, claiming your account is under attack. The next move includes a carefully guided attempt to extract passwords, verification codes, or even push you to move your own money straight into their hands. Knowing when to hang up could be the difference between staying secure and watching your account drained in a flash. READ FULL STORY

The PayPal No-Phish Phishing Scam

It’s not your typical email phishing scam, but then cybercriminals are always looking for new ways to swindle us. And we’ve seen many warnings about PayPal scams lately. Yet another one, this PayPal “No-Phish” email phishing attack is rampant. Scammers are tricking PayPal users into handing over their accounts thanks to this highly sophisticated phishing scheme. The way this no-phish phish is constructed, it also gets beyond the typical phishing detection software. READ FULL STORY

Shell Out Some Cash For Your Free Trip To The Beach

It’s summer! And from the temperatures most of the U.S. is experiencing, that’s not a surprise to anyone. With summer comes wonderful, relaxing, exciting vacations for so many of us. And wouldn’t it make your summer even better if you won a 5-day, 4-night vacation in the Bahamas? Well, it seems that you certainly have an opportunity to win it, but is it too good to be true? Let’s take a look at one in particular that has gotten a lot of traction in the forums on the travel website, TripAdvisor. READ FULL STORY

Keeping Your Bank Account And Credit Cyber-Smart

Financial institutions and hacking go hand-in-hand. Hacking banks and their account holders is the most direct cash infusion a hacker can get…and they know it. According to Kaspersky Lab, attacks on ATMs alone hit an all-time high in 2017 with malware-as-a-service (MAAS) opportunities. With this service, even hacking “hacks” who have no cybercrime experience can watch an instructional “how to” video on how to target an ATM successfully. Guarding our finances with common sense protection is something we all need to do. READ FULL STORY

Scammers DropBox Into Your InBox

A newly uncovered phishing campaign is slipping past defenses using a clever multi-stage strategy. Cybercriminals are refining their craft. By exploiting trusted platforms, harmless file formats, and layered redirects, attackers are dodging traditional email scanners. The result? Victims land on convincing fake login pages without ever seeing a clear red flag. In today’s phishing landscape, the danger is not always obvious. Here’s how it works and how to avoid the trap. READ FULL STORY

U.S. Businesses Warned to Brace for Iran-Linked Attacks

A conflict thousands of miles away could still create very real cybersecurity problems here at home. U.S. officials are warning that Iran-aligned cyber actors may be targeting American businesses, critical infrastructure, healthcare systems, and government networks. Some threat groups are believed to already be scanning for weaknesses and, in some cases, may have quietly planted themselves inside vulnerable systems. For organizations with weak defenses, this is not the time to hope for the best. It is the time to lock things down. READ FULL STORY

Experts Warn: Malvertising on the Rise

The name is short for malicious advertising, but malvertising’s long record of infecting devices is growing fast. Last fall, Malwarebytes found month-to-month, a 42% increase in malvertising in the U.S. It’s a strong message that users need to be hyper-aware of these aggressive and hazardous online ads. Cybercriminals use malvertising to download malicious code onto a device. Once a device is infected, any number of cyberattacks can happen. READ FULL STORY

What's Behind Man-In-The-Middle Attacks and How to Avoid Them

It’s not the game many of us played as kids, but it is a distorted take on the same idea. Man-in-the-middle (MitM) cyberattacks do put someone in the middle of two sides, but that someone is a cybercriminal. And those on either side are clueless victims. In reality, MitM attacks are anything but a game. A typical MitM attack can disrupt operations, intercept usernames and passwords, emails, banking, and other financial details. Read on about how MitM attacks play out, including ways to avoid being caught up in these crimes. READ FULL STORY

Simple Habits That Make You a Tougher Target for Cybercrooks

It’s already well into the new year and a fresh year usually brings fresh goals—exercise more, spend less, maybe try a new hobby. But one resolution that deserves a permanent spot on everyone’s list is tightening up your personal cybersecurity. Cyberthreats don’t take holidays, and scammers aren’t slowing down. In fact, they’re getting bolder, trickier, and faster at finding new ways to get into your accounts and steal your money or data. READ FULL STORY