Youngsters More Likely To Be Scam Victims When On Line
Youngsters More Likely To Be Scam Victims When On Line
Microsoft has just published a report that shows that young people are more likely to fall victim to online scams than pensioners because they are more trusting while using the internet, new research has revealed.
While those aged 18 to 34 often believe they more experienced with technology than older people, this also means they can be lured into a false sense of security, with scammers tricking them into clicking links in emails and pop-up windows that allow access to devices and expose personal information.
Around 13% of 18 to 24-year-olds across the world have lost money to online and telephone scams over the past year, rising to one-in-five people in the 25 to 34 age group, according to Microsoft’s study, which looked at 12,000 people in 12 countries and was released as part of Cyber Security Awareness Month. This compares with just 3% of people aged over 65.
Fraudsters are increasingly using so-called “tech support scams” to extract money from victims, which falsely warn people that their computer or device has a problem that needs to be fixed. Internet users then download software, visit a scam website, give the fraudsters remote access to their device or provide credit card information or another form of payment.
However, British internet users are much more security conscious than most countries. While 69% of people in this country experienced a tech support scam over the past year, just 2% of them lost money.
In India, 80% of people had come into contact with a tech scam, with 22% of those losing money. The US was almost as bad, with 79% of people reporting they had come across a scam, and 21% of them saying they were out of pocket as a result.
Germany emerged as the best country for tackling cyber scams, with 49% of people reporting that they had never been contacted by a fraudster via telephone or online.
Read more at http://news.microsoft.com/en-gb/2016/10/17/scams/#m3Mejh0Zub2IO4f5.99
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Duncan is a technology professional with over 20 years experience of working in various IT roles. He has a interest in cyber security, and has a wide range of other skills in radio, electronics and telecommunications.