EXPERTS have urged netizens to be on the lookout following the discovery of online scams related to the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
A number of fraudsters on social media are capitalising on the public’s goodwill to fleece them of their hard-earned cash.
At least three phoney Twitter accounts seen by The Sun are posing as Buckingham Palace to offer people tickets to next week’s funeral.
Clicking on a fraudulent link shared by the accounts takes you to a webpage that asks for your online banking logins.
Another scam spread via email and social media claims the Queen has left behind a huge sum of money to be distributed to her subjects.
Users are asked to enter their social media logins or banking credentials to receive a portion of the cash.
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Speaking to The Sun, cyber expert Javvad Malik said that scams surrounding the death of a major public figure are nothing new.
“Criminals are swift to capitalise on public events, whether it be a natural disaster, a sporting event, or the death of a prominent person,” Malik, lead security awareness advocate at KnowBe4, said.
“With the passing of the Queen, people should be vigilant of scammers trying to exploit the situation.
“The scams can range from asking people for donations towards fraudulent causes, to enticing people to give up personal information, or download malware.”
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Another popular scam involves the creation of cryptocurrencies based on the monarch’s passing.
So-called “meme coins” are promoted by social media accounts with big followings to encourage people to buy and drive up the price.
Early buyers then abruptly sell their coins to make a quick buck, sending the price into a nose dive that leaves later investors out of pocket.
According to James Walker, CEO of scam-busting outfit Rightly, at least 40 meme coins about the Queen spawned following her death.
They featured names such as “London Bridge is Down”, “Queen Elizabeth Inu” and “Save The Queen”.
“Meme coins are cryptocurrencies created with likenesses or names related to viral or newsworthy events,” James told The Sun.
“When it comes to crypto, never buy anything that relates to a celebrity or the death of a celebrity.
“Do your research before you invest and ensure the firm behind a cryptocurrency is well known and legitimate.”
Scams sent over WhatsApp, by text message or by email are expected to intensify in the days surrounding the Queen’s funeral.
Be wary of any message sent to you from an unknown number that attempts to hurry you into sending cash or handing over your personal information, such as a password.
Malik told The Sun: “It’s important for people to remain wary, as with any other scams to unexpected messages, whether they be emails, DMs on social media, SMS, or even phone calls.
“Take time to process the message or call without immediately responding in an emotional manner.”
If you’re worried that you might have fallen for a financial scam, the first thing you should do is contact your bank.
You should then report it to ActionFraud. Their website is actionfraud.police.uk, and their phone number is 0300 123 2040.
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