The Facebook Marketplace Scam

I am frequently buying and selling computers and tech on Facebook marketplace (usually selling refurbished computers). It's very apparent that this corner of the internet has become a bit of a scammers paradise ! (just like everywhere else I suppose).

Often, soon after posting an advert I will often get several enquiries. The dodgy ones are where the prospective buyer quickly agrees to purchase without seeing the item, not asking for any information or haggling on price. These enquiries usually lead up to the scam.

This scam is often called the 'Fedex' or 'UPS' scam. The scammer will start off by saying that they will buy the item, but they are extremely busy in work or away with work. They explain that they will send a Fedex delivery person to pick up the item and hand over an envelope with the cash.

I was curious to see what happens next but I did not take it that far as apparently they can get a bit nasty so I didn't push my luck.

The next part of the scam is that they ask for your personal details (which I suppose in this day and age is already too much info to be giving out to strangers...) They asked for my Name, Address, total cost and email address.

If you provide those details they then apparently then ask you for a payment that insures the cash in the envelope - I think it's usually £50. If you pay that you end up with nothing and the chat discontinues. It's a complete scam and it's made worse by the fact that they have your details.

It's not a sophisticated scam, but it could catch someone out if they were really desperate to sell and/or new to the platform. It does have a few of the common red flags though; a stranger requesting personal information and payment. Apparently Fedex do not even provide a parcel collection service either. I received the same scam messages from 3 different people on facebook within 3 hours of posting my advert, so it is a scam that is still happening (July 10, 2023).

A Fantastic free App for Windows

One of my favourite features that (all?) mac computers have is that you can quickly and easily preview a file by pressing the space bar. It's really handy in many situations. Imagine you have a folder full of Word documents and you want to quickly look over one without actually opening it in Word - in this case you would just select the file you want to look at and press space and get a preview more or less instantly. Same thing for media files like photographs and music.

To download Quicklook just use the link below that takes you to the Microsoft Store. And click 'get app' or download and follow the instructions.

https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/quicklook/9NV4BS3L1H4S

Why you shouldn't use the same password across multiple sites !

In this digital age, passwords act as the gatekeepers to our online lives. Whether it's accessing email accounts, online banking, or social media profiles, a strong password is crucial to maintaining our security and privacy. Unfortunately, many individuals, especially older adults, tend to use the same password across multiple websites, unknowingly exposing themselves to significant risks. In this blog post, we'll explore why using the same password for different websites is a bad idea and discuss alternative strategies to enhance your online safety.

The Domino Effect

Imagine a scenario where you use the same password for your email, social media, and banking accounts. If a single website you use is compromised, cybercriminals gain access to your password. With this information, they can easily attempt to access other accounts you own, using the same login credentials. By using unique passwords, you can limit the damage caused by a single security breach and prevent unauthorized access to your most sensitive accounts.

Weak Links

Websites and online services differ in their security measures and standards. By using the same password across various platforms, you're only as secure as the weakest link. If one of the websites you use has lax security practices or experiences a breach, all your accounts become vulnerable. By creating unique, strong passwords for each website, you significantly reduce the chances of an attacker gaining unauthorized access to multiple accounts.

Credential Stuffing Attacks

Cybercriminals employ a technique called "credential stuffing," where they use automated tools to input stolen usernames and passwords from one compromised website into multiple others. Since many people reuse passwords, attackers can easily gain access to numerous accounts using this method. By utilizing unique passwords, you significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to credential stuffing attacks, protecting your personal information and digital identity.

Personal Information Exposure

Using the same password across multiple websites increases the likelihood of your personal information being exposed. If one website you use suffers a data breach, your login credentials, including your password, could be exposed. This

information could then be used to impersonate you or carry out fraudulent activities. By using different passwords for each site, you minimize the potential impact of a breach and ensure that your other accounts remain secure.

Simplify Password Management

Although using unique passwords may seem overwhelming, there are tools and strategies available to simplify the process. Consider using a password manager, such as Bitwarden, LastPass or Dashlane, which securely stores your passwords and generates strong, unique passwords for each website. With a password manager, you only need to remember a single master password to access your vault of passwords, providing convenience and enhanced security.