Keep up to date with the latest in all things cybersecurity, phishing and threat intelligence with Backgrounder.
A phishing attack arrived as an ordinary Google Calendar invite. This brief traces the redirect chain behind it, the fake Google sign-in page at the end, and how Carmen Monitor caught it before a password was typed.
Read →An unsolicited USD 65 million lending offer is circulating under the name HJ Investment W.L.L., Bahrain. What the evidence shows, and what to do if you received it.
Read →A password reset does not undo everything an attacker set up while they had access. The Gmail and Outlook checks that catch what is left behind.
Read →A QR code does not show where it sends you until it is too late to check. This article explains how QR code phishing (quishing) works and the one habit that protects you.
Read →A recruiter's cold message matched almost every item on the job-scam checklist, but the recruiter was genuine. We cover what a thirty-second check found and why too much suspicion has its own cost.
Read →BEC keeps beating Google, Microsoft and traditional email security because it has no payload to catch. This article explains why, and what stops it.
Read →The checks that take under a minute and catch most phishing sites, in the order to do them, plus the three signs that mean close the tab.
Read →A live phishing campaign disguises itself as a Paperless Post invitation from a friend, then steals your Gmail login and tries to install remote-access software. This article explains how it works and what to do.
Read →US military personnel are among the most impersonated people online. How to harden your social accounts and get impersonators removed from Upwork, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Read →Scammers are using legitimate-looking special purpose vehicles, regulatory filings and MiFID II language to extract confidential data from startups seeking capital.
Read →Loom-X (app.loom-x.io) is a Ponzi scheme with a hidden wallet-draining hook. If you have been pitched on this platform, here is what the evidence shows.
Read →ChatGPT can describe scams well, and Backgrounder is built to verify them. We compare where each tool fits and why a chatbot on its own is not enough.
Read →Scam losses from for-profit transactions may qualify for a theft loss deduction. How to document intent, structure the situation, and reduce your tax liability.
Read →A quick, tactical walkthrough for reporting Facebook impersonation profiles. It covers the exact tap-by-tap steps and why multiple reports matter, and includes a one-minute video.
Read →Quick steps to remediate impersonation attempts on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Document it, report through the right channel, and protect your accounts.
Read →Before hiring a contractor or wiring money for a home project, run these checks. Verify licences, look up business registrations, and use Boolean searches to surface complaints and lawsuits.
Read →Settings you can enable right now to filter unknown senders, silence scam calls, and reduce unwanted messages from numbers not in your contacts.
Read →When someone you love is caught in a romance scam and will not listen to reason, here are the practical steps families can take to protect them financially and emotionally.
Read →Backgrounder received a phishing attempt through Meta notifications designed to harvest credentials and personal information. This post covers the attack, the infrastructure behind it, and how to protect yourself.
Read →How these scams work, why paying rarely helps, and what to do to protect yourself and the people you love.
Read →Nothing matches that yet. Try a broader term.