Manipulation and social engineering techniques with the use of artificial intelligence are the most popular methods of data fraud in 2024. Individuals who become victims of fraud often lose money as a result of “BLIK” and “PIT” scams. Nearly one in four attempts to defraud is successful. These are just some of the takeaways from the latest BIK Anti-Fraud Report, 2024 edition, where experts point to fraud schemes and deceptive practices affecting all consumers, entrepreneurs, large companies – essentially all of us.
Illegal criminal groups focused on financial gains often use unusual methods of hacker attacks. Despite having increasingly advanced technological tools, fraudsters prefer to use social engineering attacks. These are various techniques of manipulating people. Mostly, their methods of influence are based on instilling fear and panic. Scammers often force actions under time pressure, thus coercing their victims into making a transfer or sharing data that will enable theft.
Social engineering attacks rely on the scale effect and eliciting extreme emotions, which turns out to be a more effective way of illegal financial gains than breaking complicated corporate security. This phenomenon is one of the most significant threats to consumers, companies, and institutions. The latest edition of the BIK Anti-Fraud Report shows an increasing number of Poles who have encountered this type of operation.
What tricks do scammers use?
Thieves who use manipulation techniques rely on human naivety, propensity for quick assistance to loved ones, and even a sense of responsibility. They establish contact with the victim and under an excuse, e.g., redirecting to a supposed security department (e.g., a bank), they persuade them to provide their social security number to confirm a transaction, or even make a transfer or withdraw money themselves.
This year, 37% of people have encountered at least one method of fraud using social engineering. This percentage is steadily increasing – it has increased by 5 percentage points since 2022 and by 1 percentage point compared to 2023. This increasing trend of increasingly used fraud techniques confirms that anyone can fall victim to fraudsters.
“PIT” scam among the most popular manipulation methods of cybercriminals
Not only “BLIK” scam is among the most popular hacker methods. Fraudsters have visibly intensified “PIT” attacks, which turn out to be very effective. In short, such a scenario of hacking into bank accounts involves thieves impersonating tax office employees. They contact potential victims under the pretext of tax underpayment.
The alleged representative of the tax office calls the client with information about irregularities in the tax return. They suggest clicking on the sent link and filling in the missing data. And unfortunately, this method works! One in five cases confirmed the effectiveness of the “PIT” scam in 2024, while a year earlier it was 14%.
In addition to the “PIT” method, frauds are carried out under the pretext of charitable collections (20%), e.g., to support families affected as a result of a flood or for the benefit of refugees from Ukraine. On a similar scale, criminals still impersonate a policeman, grandson or a famous person.
Plague of fake advertisements – fraudsters ignore the rules
In this year’s edition of the Anti-Fraud Report, BIK draws attention to a procedure that can potentially expose hundreds of unsuspecting people to the loss of data and money. It is about data theft method using false marketing campaigns on websites. Fraudsters can unpunishedly buy spaces from legally operating publishers, publishing advertisements that encourage false investments. The security risk increases when one is not aware of new technologies.
“Fraudsters increasingly use ads purchased from legal online sources to, for example, entice users to invest money or data under the pretext of investment opportunities. This is currently a very serious problem that is difficult to fight. Usually, before such contents are reported, verified or removed, fraudsters find their victims,” says Andrzej Karpiński, Director of Security in the BIK Group, and explains how to cope with this technically:
“Adblockers, special browser plugins, which task is to block advertisements, can be helpful in stopping harmful content and links leading to advertisements purchased by fraudsters.”
Increasing awareness of threats among consumers
The 2024 Anti-Fraud Report conveys a few positive trends. The numbers confirm that social education brings positive effects.
Over a quarter of Poles surveyed (26%) declare that if their data were defrauded, they would check in BIK if someone has not used them to take a loan or a loan agreement. Awareness in this area is growing – in 2022, this percentage reached 19%.
What’s striking is the higher awareness of tricks used by hackers. Respondents indicate that they more often as they thoroughly check the address of the website they enter. The habit of verifying potential typos in the address increased by 10% year-on-year in 2024.
More and more people are more cautious about messages received from unknown senders by different channels. In 2024, 44% of respondents declare to always carefully verify the sender’s email address. As many as half of the respondents confirm that they cautiously approach phone numbers from which they receive text messages. In each of the above cases, progress can be seen year after year.
Source: https://managerplus.pl/manipulacje-socjotechniczne-i-sztuczna-inteligencja-dominuja-w-wyludzeniach-danych-w-2024-roku-raport-bik-53140
