A campaign to warn people about online scams and deception starts on Monday under the motto “Don’t get hacked”. Its message is simple: think for three seconds before you click, respond or pay. If you are unsure, click away.
The campaign is an initiative of the Dutch Ministries of Justice and Security and the Interior. A study commissioned by the ministries found that 94 per cent of Dutch adults sometimes question whether a link, advertisement or message is trustworthy. Despite these doubts, people still click on them, sometimes with unpleasant consequences.
“Two out of three Dutch people experience an attempted cybercrime annually; 2.4 million people become victims. Criminals often impersonate a known or trusted sender, such as a parcel service, a bank, or the government. They pressure you to pay quickly, respond, or share data,” the ministries said.
Four in ten respondents said they had regretted clicking on something at some point. Examples include offers that appeared too good to be true or requests for immediate payment.
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“Online criminals know exactly how to put you under so much pressure that you ignore any doubts you have,” said Justice and Security Minister David van Weel. “They use the latest technology to do so. With AI and data from data breaches, they create messages that are virtually indistinguishable from real ones. As a government, we are working hard to combat this. For yourself, the moment of doubt offers the best protection.”
Police specialist Aad Lensen said anyone could fall victim, particularly when in a hurry or distracted. “Therefore, always give yourself three seconds before you click, respond, or pay.”
In recent days, there have also been many reports of a WhatsApp phishing scam. People receive a message that appears to come from someone they know. It asks them to support a girl named Eliška, who supposedly has a chance to win a free dance lesson, and includes a link.
Anyone who clicks the link unknowingly sends a similar message to all their contacts. This method of taking over someone’s WhatsApp account is known as “ghost pairing”. It can give scammers access to the user’s in-app conversations. The best solution is to disconnect all linked devices.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
