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October 17th, 2024
Skype is a video chatting platform that has been around since 2003. It is very commonly used for international communication. As the people of the world connect through the Internet, text messaging, and social media, Skype (or Skype Technologies) is yet another method of interacting. Telecommunications software, Skype connects users through voice calls, video chat, and instant messaging (IM).
Although many scammers try to avoid video chats, many scams still take place on this popular platform. Skype scams have become increasingly common lately, putting unsuspecting login information at risk. Criminals may present themselves as someone you know or as a business offering an incredible deal. They may even attempt to chat with you with the intent of gaining personal information like login credentials. It is important to be wary whenever engaging in any activity involving login data, especially those found on Skype, due to the potential consequences involved.
There are a few scams that you should look out for on Skype. In this article, we’ll outline these scams and show you how to spot and avoid them.
Skype Dating Scams
Online video chat scams are a very common way that romance scammers get their victims to trust them. With a fake video chat, a romance scammer can convince someone that their assumed identity is real. The main reason scammers do this is to make their lies more credible, which makes compliance from their victims more likely.
Skype Scams In Business
Business owners have become subject to a multitude of Skype scams in recent years. Scammers target business owners by pretending to be potential customers and sending links, which when downloaded can lead business owners to unwittingly giving away their login information or allowing scammers to access sensitive business information.
In addition, business owners have been victims of fake video calls where scammers record business secrets for their own benefit. Online business is becoming increasingly vulnerable as attacks on the sector continue to skyrocket; business owners need to stay vigilant when using Skype and avoid downloading any unexpected links during a call or online conversation.
Sextortion Scams: Your Worst Nightmare
I’m imagining a situation where a stranger has sexually explicit videos and images of you. And worse, what if they threatened to send the video to each of your relatives on social media unless you do a favor for them? This favor could be sending money, or even more pictures.
This is known as sextortion. One example of this was covered by BBC news. A young man from Palestine (we will call him “Abed”), living abroad added a stranger on Facebook, per her friend request. After they became Facebook friends, they began messaging. They engaged in a racy conversation and moved the interaction to Skype. Once there, the sexually charged conversation continued then escalated, then climaxed. Once it was all over, Abed was contacted shortly after. He was told that he was recorded and the video would be sent to all of his friends and family.
It turns out that abed was being catfished the whole time. Shortly after the skype call, a man contacted Abed and blackmailed him for over 6,000 dollars (5,000 euros). It is likely that the man got the video from a pornography website. and decided abed by playing it during the skype call. Although your first instinct might be to assume Abed was foolish for falling for such a trick, sextortion happens more often than you might think. It is also a crime affecting both men and women alike.
Although this scam is especially heinous against teens, it happens to men and women of all ages across a multitude of platforms.
Scam #2: Malware
Although scam #1 is awful enough to imagine, another Skype scam is even more covert. It is when a Scammer has malware installed on your computer, without you knowing. From there, the scammer can operate your webcam and, worse, record multiple images of you without your knowledge! Malware is also used to steal your personal information so that scammers can commit identity fraud.
The camera’s indicator light isn’t a dead giveaway of being hacked as the scammer can disable even this. By recording embarrassing things, users can then be blackmailed, much like in scam #1.
Use Social Catfish to check to verify the identity of the stranger you met online through Skype:
Scams on Skype
- Only interact with those you know, even when it is tempting. It’s unlikely a stranger would add or message you on Skype without knowing you.
- If someone friend requests you through another platform, such as Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, or Kik, and immediately wants to video chat on Skype, don’t take a chance.
- If someone or something on Skype (or the internet in general!) seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Update your virus scan or malware/security software, before using the Internet.
- If you take off your clothes online, do so at your own risk. It’s impossible to know if you’re secretly being recorded for later sextortion. Do not assume the person you’re sharing the experience with, over Skype, is the only one seeing it.
- Always remember that many people create fake online personas and pretend to be someone they aren’t.
- Don’t click on any phishing links to any fake websites.
- Keep your details to yourself – name, address, job, etc.
- If you are scammed, don’t blame yourself. It happens to many users daily.
If You Have Been Threatened, Take Action!
Scammers who blackmail others trust you to be scared and give them what they want (usually money).
If you find yourself being coerced:
- Save the information in a file or folder on your computer and make printed copies. Use it to report your experience to the police.
- Paying a Blackmailing Scammer doesn’t mean they won’t try and get money in the future!
- Warn friends and family that someone is blackmailing you and not to open any emails addressed from you.
- Block the scammer! At least then you can show them you are not going to be an easy victim and they may give up!
- Report fraud or blackmail to Skype directly at [email protected].
Even if you avoid video chatting on Skype, you might still reveal personal details which can be used against you. Proceed with caution!
Avoid Online Scams With Social Catfish
Finding out if someone is using a fake identity online doesn’t have to be hard. With sociacatfish.com, you can find out if someone is using stolen images in just seconds. Don’t let online scammers waste your time or money. Run a reverse image search to see who’s really in the photos.
