New Cybercriminal Attack in Montana from Beyond the Grave

In the Merriam Webster dictionary, the definition of "desensitize" reads as follows:

1: to make (a sensitized or hypersensitive individual) insensitive or nonreactive to a sensitizing agent
2: to make emotionally insensitive or callous
specifically: to extinguish an emotional response (as of fear, anxiety, or guilt) to stimuli that formerly induced it

Turning on a TV or scrolling the news feed via phone or computer can make you feel that way about the news. It seems like nothing can startle us anymore. But I think I have a new scam that is going to make you feel something. And it's probably rage.

Scammers are Now Targeting Funeral Announcements Online in Montana

Criminals will never cease to amaze. In an ultimate new low, cybercriminals are now targeting families, relatives and friends of someone who has lost a loved one. And it is incredibly easy to see how someone may fall victim to this scam.

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READ RELATED: Online Blackmail in Montana - What to Know

In an announcement through clients, the security specialists at KnowB4 explained how this is perpetrated by the criminal:

stealing photos of the deceased and personal details from social media posts
creating a fake social media page about a livestream of the funeral
post the link to the relative's social media page

Once a person clicks on the fake profile link, they are taken to a page and are requested to enter credit card information for access to the livestream.

You guessed it. There isn't one. But the cybercriminal now has your credit card information.

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It Really Is Happening, Even in Our Little Neck of the Woods Montana

Within the last week, this has happened in Central Montana. After returning from a service for a relative, a friend noticed a new post on the funeral announcement. With a link for a livestream of an already over funeral!

The link even had 77 people that had checked it!

It really is happening here in Montana. We can't fool ourselves about this one. KnowB4 offers the following to help protect yourself in these instances:

Never donate money to an online fund unless you can verify it has been set up by an official source.
If you’re experiencing a major loss, set your social media websites to private before posting details about the deceased person. This will make it more difficult for cybercriminals to steal personal photos and information.
Always use caution when entering financial information online. Make sure that the website you're visiting is legitimate.

12 Shrewd Email Tactics Hackers Use To Rip You Off

Computer hackers are working full-time nowadays --not only to hold major corporations hostage with ransomware -but they're also hard at work trying to gain access to private computers and personal information of unsuspecting victims. Surrendering access to these schemers could have disastrous consequences, but sometimes it can be difficult to tell what's legitimate and what's not. That's why I'm sharing 12 emails I've personally received that appear to be as bogus as a three-dollar bill.

No doubt, you have received very similar emails in your inbox and wondered if they were legit. A good rule of thumb to follow is when you receive an email from an unverified source - do not, under any circumstance click on anything in the email or download any attachments. That is exactly how hackers can gain instant access to your computer and your information.

Gallery Credit: Zane Mathews