October 18, 2023 at 02:55AM
The FBI warns of cybercriminals targeting plastic surgery offices in the US using spoofed emails and phone numbers. After accessing networks, the attackers steal sensitive data to extort surgeons and patients. This data is enhanced with open-source information for more convincing extortion attempts. The cybercriminals contact targets through various means and threaten to share the data unless a cryptocurrency payment is made. The FBI advises protecting personal information by configuring social media profiles for maximum privacy, using strong passwords, monitoring bank accounts and credit reports, and reporting incidents to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Key Takeaways from Meeting Notes:
1. Cybercriminals are targeting plastic surgery offices in the US through phishing attacks and spreading malware via spoofed emails and phone numbers.
2. Once inside the network, attackers steal sensitive data, including personally identifiable information and medical records, to extort surgeons and patients.
3. The stolen data is enhanced with open-source information, such as social media details, to make the extortion attempts more convincing.
4. The cybercriminals then contact plastic surgeons and patients through social media, email, text messages, or messaging apps, threatening to share the sensitive information unless a cryptocurrency extortion payment is made.
5. They may also share the stolen data with friends, family, or colleagues of the victims and create public-facing websites to increase the pressure.
6. To protect against such extortion attempts, individuals should ensure maximum privacy settings on social media, audit friend lists, accept requests only from people known to them, and enable two-factor authentication.
7. It is recommended to create strong and complex passwords for all accounts and monitor bank accounts and credit reports for suspicious activity.
8. Victims are encouraged to file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and provide specific details about the incident, including the identity of the perpetrator and the payment details.
9. The FBI has also issued a warning about ‘phantom hacker’ scams targeting senior citizens nationwide.