It is apparent some people will stop at nothing to steal from unsuspecting victims. Scammers are capitalizing on the death of the British monarch to dupe people. They have devised sneaky tactics especially on social media that cybersecurity experts are warning the public about.
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Non-existent tickets
The Sun reports coming across at least three fake accounts on Twitter purporting to offer people tickets to Monday’s royal funeral. If you click on the link of these tweets claiming to be from staff at Buckingham Palace, you will land on a webpage that asks you for your online banking log in details.
Some scammers are also sending out emails claiming that the late Queen left behind a huge sum of money to be distributed to her subjects. They then ask unsuspecting users to enter their login credentials to access their share of the royal inheritance.
Speaking to The Sun, cyber expert Javvad Malik wants the public to be extra vigilant.
The scams can range from asking people for donations towards fraudulent causes, to enticing people to give up personal information, or download malware.
Meme coins
Another avenue scammers are using is to create cryptocurrencies based on the monarch's passing. Called ‘meme coins’, these cryptocurrencies are then promoted on social media accounts that have huge following to entice more people into buying it thus driving up the price.
Early buyers then abruptly sell their coins to make a quick buck, sending the price into a nose dive that leaves later investors out of pocket. According to James Walker, CEO Rightly, at least 40 meme coins about the Queen have been created following her death. He told The Sun:
When it comes to crypto, never buy anything that relates to a celebrity or the death of a celebrity. Do your research before you invest and ensure the firm behind a cryptocurrency is well known and legitimate.
In the days leading up to the funeral on Monday, more scams are expected to be sent over WhatsApp, SMS and email, so keep your guard up.
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