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Thursday, November 21, 2024

Florida warns residents about "Evil Twin" cyber scam threats

State AG
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Attorney General Ashley Moody | Office of Attorney General Ashley Moody

In recognition of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Attorney General Ashley Moody has issued a Consumer Alert warning Floridians about the "Evil Twin" cyber scams. These scams involve hackers creating fake Wi-Fi networks with names similar to trusted ones, intending to trick users into connecting and sharing personal information. In some cases, scammers also create fraudulent mobile apps to steal user data.

Attorney General Ashley Moody stated, “October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and we are warning Floridians about an online threat called Evil Twin scams. Cybercriminals can use this scam to target victims both through fake Wi-Fi networks and imposter mobile applications to steal personal information. To avoid this scheme, verify the Wi-Fi network is legitimate with the provider before connecting and check reviews of apps before downloading them to your phone.”

The alert describes two main methods used in these scams:

1. **Wi-Fi Networks**: Hackers set up fraudulent hotspots that mimic legitimate networks in public spaces like coffee shops or airports. Once connected, they can monitor activity and access sensitive data.

2. **Mobile Apps**: Scammers create apps resembling popular ones. When downloaded, these can steal credentials or install malware on devices.

Attorney General Moody advises Floridians to verify Wi-Fi network legitimacy with providers before connecting, ensure websites use secure URLs (https://), download apps from official stores after checking reviews, consider using VPNs for data encryption, disable file sharing and automatic connections on devices, and avoid financial transactions over public Wi-Fi.

Victims of Evil Twin scams are encouraged to report incidents to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Computer Crime Center or file complaints with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.

For more consumer alerts from the Florida Attorney General's Office regarding emerging scams and deceptive practices, visit MyFloridaLegal.com/ConsumerAlert.

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