What is “Spoofing”? This is how the fraud that drains your bank account works

Las bank scams have become increasingly frequent and sophisticated as digital fraud has evolved into methods such as data falsification and identity theft. “spoofing” It is the new modality of bank fraud that empties your accounts.

Today, it is very easy to simulate a person’s voice to make fraudulent calls, use facial recognition technology to manipulate biometric systems, and send text messages or emails from fake addresses to obtain confidential information. Here we tell you how spoofing works and what to do to avoid falling for this fraud.

What is “spoofing”?

According to the Bank Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA (BBVA)he “spoofing” It is a technique used to impersonate individuals in order to commit online crimesmake purchases or fraudulent transfers, y spread viruses among the victim’s contacts.

To carry out this type of action, cybercriminals They pose as trustworthy entities, such as banks, stores or companies, through phone calls, emails or fake websites, with the aim of obtaining sensitive information from their victims.

This practice allows criminals operating under stolen identitiesthus reducing the chances of being identified or captured by the authorities.

Types of “spoofing”

According to the same source, four variants of “spoofing” are identified, classified according to the means used to obtain the information: One of the most common methods is through email, where criminals send infected messages from fake addresses.

These emails can persuade the victim so that download malicious filesvisit fraudulent websites or disclose sensitive data. For example, by sending an email supposedly sent by a social network requesting to update the password, with the aim of capturing the password and accessing personal accounts.

Another method is through fraudulent websites, which imitate legitimate pages, but with slightly modified addresses. These sites trick users into entering sensitive information, thereby infecting their devices.

The IP address manipulation It is another technique used in “spoofing”, where criminals change the victim’s IP address to another one to send malware packages to your devicescompromising your security and privacy.

Spoofing can also involve DNS Spoofing (Domain Name System), redirecting users’ queries to malicious websites instead of the legitimate ones they were trying to visit.

In addition to digital methods, “Spoofing” can occur through phone calls and text messages. In these situations, scammers may impersonate trusted entities, such as banks or businesses, in order to trick victims into revealing sensitive information or making money transfers.

How to avoid being a victim of “spoofing”?

In case of being the target of a spoofing attack, the bank advised Contact the National Guard at 088 to receive assistance, and Contact CONDUSEF If misuse of information to make unauthorized purchases or transfers is detected.

He also mentioned that if you suspect you have been a victim of fraud in your digital account, it is crucial block the credit card immediately and report any unrecognized transactions to the bank. In addition, he gave the following recommendations:

• Use two-step authentication.
• Do not open emails or answer calls from unknown people.
• If you receive requests for personal information via email, it is advisable to verify the authenticity of the request by calling the company or institution directly before providing any data.
• Before clicking on a link, confirm that it begins with “https.”
• Avoid downloading files or opening links sent by unknown people.
• Have different passwords and change them every three months.
• Have an antivirus and download the latest updates for your systems.
• Analyze messages for suspicious signs such as spelling mistakes or threats such as “if you don’t do it in 5 minutes we will cancel your account.”

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