INTERPOL in online campaign to warn the public against cyber and financial crimes

INTERPOL has launched a campaign to raise awareness on the growing threat of cyber and financial crimes against vulnerable individuals and organizations. The Think Twice campaign, which includes a series of short videos, focuses on five rising online threats: ransomware attacks, malware attacks, phishing, generative AI scams, and romance baiting.

These sophisticated scams have seen a significant increase in recent years, with ransomware attacks up by 70 per cent, and malware attacks rising by over 30 per cent in the past year alone, with some 20 per cent of employees unknowingly running malware.

With phishing attacks evolving and becoming harder to detect, criminals are also exploiting technology. For example, they are using generative AI to create ultra-realistic human avatars, deceiving thousands worldwide through voice, image, and text manipulation.

Romance baiting scams are on the rise too, with cybercriminals using fake online profiles to build relationships and gain trust, before asking for money.

Think Twice calls for vigilance in the digital world, emphasizing the importance of pausing for thought, promoting wise decisions, and empowering cybersecurity awareness.

INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said: “As the digital landscape continues to evolve, we see online fraud and scams growing in sophistication and scale, posing a threat to individuals and organizations alike. Cybersecurity is a joint responsibility and through proactive steps, we can help build a more secure, and safer, digital world for everyone.”

The two-week awareness campaign (running from December 3 – 19, 2024) will be conducted primarily through social media channels.

Think Twice, don’t get scammed

The campaign urges individuals to use in-person verification and to consider their interactions with digital content, especially when encountering suspicious links or information.

The objective is to empower users to make informed and careful choices online, reducing the risks associated with threats like phishing, malware, and online scams.

The #ThinkTwice campaign shines a light on the growing threat of transnational organized cybercrime, focusing on five rising online threats:

• Ransomware attacks

• Malware attacks

• Scams and generative AI

• Phishing in the digital age

• Romance baiting

The campaign’s objective is to empower you to make informed and careful choices online, reducing the risks associated with the most common online threats.

To reduce risks, keep these tips in mind:

• make considered and rational choices, especially when dealing with unsolicited, unfamiliar, or suspicious links, emails, or messages.

• pause to evaluate the authenticity and credibility of digital content before taking action.

• verify identities through multiple channels and be cautious of requests, even from ‘familiar’ faces.

• implement a cybersecurity culture in the workplace and provide guidance on issues and incidents for employees.

• be cautious when forming online relationships, especially when money is involved.

• stay informed on the increasingly advanced tactics used in cyber-enabled financial crimes, making detection significantly more challenging.

Think Twice highlights the top threats identified by INTERPOL, based on data from member countries, private-sector partners under the Gateway framework, national cybersecurity agencies and online information-sharing groups.

The campaign is supported with funds from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, through Projects AFJOC and ASPJOC which aim to reinforce cybersecurity in Africa as well as in Asia and the South Pacific; and from the Government of Japan through Project Rescue, strengthening law enforcement capabilities across South and Southeast Asia against cyber-enabled fraud.