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- The matter of technology: how scammers speculate on the topic of rising prices of electronics due to the war in Iran
The matter of technology: how scammers speculate on the topic of rising prices of electronics due to the war in Iran
Fraudsters may speculate on the topic of rising prices of electronics due to the war in Iran, experts warn. According to analysts, with a protracted crisis in the Middle East, electronics and other imported goods in Russia may rise in price by 15-30% in the next two months. This situation creates anxiety and haste among potential buyers, making them more vulnerable to intruders. For more information about what schemes to expect from scammers on the topic of rising prices of electronics, what are the dangers of such tricks and how to protect yourself from them, read the Izvestia article
Why is the prospect of an increase in the price of electronics interesting to scammers
Any information channel that affects the increase in demand for goods, services and events can be used by fraudsters for the purpose of enrichment, says Daria Lavrova, senior analyst at the Positive Technologies research group, in an interview with Izvestia. The aggravation of the geopolitical conflict in the Middle East has affected international logistics chains, as the cost of air and sea transportation has increased.
— First of all, the reason was the need to create alternative (and longer) routes, — says the expert. — The logistical situation in the region has called into question the timing of the next deliveries and thus stimulated an increase in prices for products of popular brands.
The news agenda related to a possible shortage or a sharp jump in prices is a gold mine for intruders, says Alexey Korobchenko, head of the information security department at the Security Code company. The prospect of rising prices creates two key factors that scammers exploit with high efficiency: excessive demand and panic.
When a consumer is afraid that tomorrow the product will disappear from the shelves or will cost twice as much, he loses his vigilance and is ready to buy here and now, without checking the seller. It is this state of haste and anxiety that plays into the hands of scammers.
What schemes on the topic of rising prices of electronics are worth waiting for
Against the background of discussions about a possible rise in the price of electronics, fraudsters can play on the fear of users "not having time to buy equipment at the old price" or promise access to goods that allegedly will soon become scarce, says Kaspersky Lab cybersecurity expert Olga Altukhova.
"Under such pretexts, they can spread phishing links, create fake online stores, or place ads for the sale of equipment at a "bargain price" on popular online platforms," warns Izvestia's interlocutor.
When clicking on the link, as the expert notes, a person can get to a fake website that mimics the pages of well-known brands or stores. On such resources, attackers will seek to obtain users' payment details or convince them to transfer money for a non-existent product.
Fraudsters will explain the favorable price with leftovers from previous deliveries, fueling the excitement with a small amount of goods and an uncertain situation with the further import of equipment, adds Daria Lavrova. At the same time, changes in fraudulent schemes may relate to technical aspects: more payment options (by QR code and phone number) and the use of backup Telegram channels in case the main ones are blocked.
— We should expect the appearance of fake sites for "pre-order": users will be offered to "fix the old price" for equipment by paying the full cost now, arguing that logistics chains are being disrupted and tomorrow it will be too late, — predicts Alexey Korobchenko. — In addition, speculation on alternative supplies will be actively developed.
As part of such schemes, fraudsters will begin to present themselves as sellers who allegedly already have goods imported bypassing problematic routes, and demand prepayment for this "exclusive" and "fast" channel, the expert explains.
Finally, there is a high probability of fake logistics brokers offering services for the purchase and delivery of equipment from other countries that are not affected by the crisis. Naturally, all this will be accompanied by demands for full prepayment for their "services," warns Alexey Korobchenko.
What schemes on the topic of rising prices of electronics have been encountered before
Meanwhile, this is not the first time fraudsters have tried to speculate on the topic of a possible rise in the price of electronics. In particular, according to Sergey Polunin, head of the Gazinformservice IT infrastructure solutions protection group, in 2020-2022, real problems with chip production became relevant information guides for hackers, which led to an increase in electronics prices.
— A little earlier, there was a stir around gaming video cards that were used for mining cryptocurrencies, — says the interlocutor of Izvestia. — From the very recent one, we can recall the crisis in the production of storage devices and memory, which, naturally, will lead to a shortage of equipment that uses these components.
Earlier, the Network had already seen waves of fraudulent ads exploiting the theme of shortage and rising prices for RAM and video cards, Alexey Korobchenko adds. The schemes were typical: against the background of news about a shortage of chips or factory shutdowns, "sellers" with favorable offers appeared on social networks and forums.
They used sophisticated terminology and "price rise" schedules to convince potential victims to transfer money for a product they had never owned. In general, any jump in the exchange rate or news about logistical problems instantly turn into scripts for deception, the expert notes.
"The danger of such schemes is related to the possibility of fraudsters posing as legitimate sellers of equipment for a long time: an increase in delivery time is a real situation, and the words about the delay of goods sound as convincing as possible," says Daria Lavrova. — The longer the scammers remain undisclosed, the more money they will be able to steal from the public.
How to protect yourself from speculation about the rise in price of electronics
Schemes related to a possible rise in the price of electronics are primarily aimed at end users — from gamers and IT specialists who need hardware to work, to ordinary people who want to buy equipment for their homes or as a gift at a discount, says Alexey Korobchenko. At the same time, the least technically savvy categories of citizens who are less well versed in market prices are at risk.
— The risks of such schemes are not limited to the loss of money, — said the interlocutor of "Izvestia". — When transferring funds to fraudsters, people often transfer their card details, which leads to their compromise and further debiting of funds. In addition, such stories undermine confidence in the market as a whole.
In order to protect yourself from the tricks of intruders, security experts recommend following simple but strict rules of cyber hygiene. First of all, according to Alexey Korobchenko, it is necessary to ignore the artificially created hype. Scammers specifically target potential victims with phrases like "two hours left" or "last copy," so you shouldn't make decisions in a hurry.
It is important to check the seller by searching for real reviews, not to follow unknown links and not to enter bank details on third-party websites, clarifies Daria Lavrova. In addition, the specialist advises tracking typical "markers" of fraudulent behavior: if the seller persuades you to purchase the product urgently, scares you that there is a risk of not being able to purchase the last copy at a low price, or offers to transfer money to his personal card, then the probability of fraud is high.
— To reduce threats, it is important to use security solutions that have been independently tested. Such tools help to identify phishing and scam resources, as well as significantly reduce the risk of losing money," concludes Olga Altukhova.
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