Latest news with #criminals
CTV News
11 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Halifax police warn seniors of increased scams using AI
A courier who allegedly picked up money from the victim of a recent scam in Halifax is pictured. Halifax Regional Police are responding to increased scams targeting seniors and warning about the methods criminals use to build trust with victims. Five seniors have reported being scammed in the last week, said a Friday news release. Police said scammers are impersonating loved ones when they contact their targets and claiming they have been arrested. A second person, claiming to be a legal representative tells the victim they need to pay to have their loved one released from custody. Criminals are using artificial intelligence to clone a loved one's voice in recent incidents, said the release. Police said court officials in Canada do not collect bail money from residences and anyone receiving a call like this should hang up the phone without providing personal information. courier and vehicle A courier who allegedly picked up money from the victim of a recent scam in Halifax is pictured beside their vehicle. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Forbes
12 hours ago
- General
- Forbes
Learn How To Tell If You've Been Hacked, And What To Do
The more devices and accounts you have, the more likely you are to be hacked, so it's a good idea to ... More stay alert to the warning signs. Most of us now have a number of different devices, accessing a wide spectrum of online accounts and services. Any of these can be hacked, with criminals attempting to use your identity to carry out scams and fraud. So how can you tell you've been hacked? There are a number of signs common to different accounts and devices, including unexpected logins, changes to settings that you didn't make, unauthorized financial transactions and more. We look at the warning signs that your account or device may have been compromised, and the steps you should take to put things right if it has. Hacking is the term for gaining access to a device, account or network by a third party. It isn't necessarily malicious — ethical hackers, for example, do this to check out an organization's potential vulnerability. Dorking, meanwhile, is usually carried out for nefarious means, but can also be a useful technique to improve search results. Generally, though, hackers are criminals attempting to steal data — perhaps your personal information, or even your financial details. They gain access through a number of different methods, from vulnerabilities in the device or service itself, or through techniques such as phishing, where victims are tricked into giving away crucial information. If successful, hackers may use your account to lure in more victims, spread malware or even empty your bank account. Any device that can be connected to the internet is at risk of being hacked — phones, tablets, PCs and Apple computers. It's even possible to hack smart home devices or smart cars. Hackers have a number of motivations. Generally, it's to steal personal data, which can then be sold on the dark web to other criminals, especially if it includes passwords, credit card details or other financial information that can be exploited to carry out scams. Some devices are more at risk than others — Apple, for example, has a reputation for protecting user security well. But whatever the device, it's possible to take measures to minimize the risk. There are a number of signs that your computer has been hacked. Often, the first sign is slow performance, or your computer freezing or crashing. Programs that you didn't install may appear, as may a deluge of pop-up ads; your password may be changed, and you could be locked out of accounts. If you have a website, you may see browser warnings, Google Search Console alerts, slow loading times, and unexpected redirects, along with the sending of spam emails. If your PC or Mac is hacked, your first step should be to unplug your machine and disconnect it from the internet. You should then change passwords and run a full virus scan. Signs that your phone has been hacked include a fast-draining battery or overheating, indicating that it's working in the background for somebody else. Bills may be higher than usual, and new apps may unexpectedly appear, along with unexpected notifications, unrequested 2FA codes or pop-ups. You may find that settings such as camera or microphone permissions have been changed — or even find yourself locked out of your Apple ID or Google account. If you do fall victim, you should start by changing all passwords and running a security scan; if all else fails, you should restore your phone to its factory settings. Hundreds of thousands of routers are hacked every year, with criminals generally exploiting a weak password or taking advantage of unpatched software vulnerabilities. Your browser may keep redirecting you, you may spot increased data usage, slow internet or unusual network activity, or discover that unfamiliar devices have been connected to your wifi. Your login credentials or router settings may have been changed without your knowledge. If you suspect that your router has been hacked, you should disconnect it and give it a factory reset, and change your password. You should then use an anti-virus package to check all your devices for malware. Hacking accounts can give criminals access to valuable data, which they can exploit for financial gain, and allow them to spread malware or scams. Frequent targets include Amazon, Apple ID, email, Google and Microsoft, with signs including passwords that don't work, or unexpected alerts about login attempts, password resets, or two-factor authentication. To minimize the risk and keep your accounts safe, it's a good idea to use a strong password and two-factor authentication. Signs that your Amazon account has been hacked include changes to your address, email, payment information. You may also receive notifications of password reset requests. Other common signs of a compromised Amazon account include purchase activity that you don't recognize, or reviews you didn't write being posted in your name. If you think your Amazon account has been hacked, you should change your password, enable two-factor authentication and run an anti-virus scan. You should also chack for any unauthorized financial activity. The main signs that your Apple ID has been hacked are access by a device you don't recognize or a password change that you didn't make. You may also spot unauthorized purchases on the App Store or iTunes. And if your Apple ID is hacked, it will give the criminals access to all your Apple devices, from a MacBook to an iPad or iPhone. If this happens to you, you should change your password, check your account information is correct, and, if you can't then access your account, go to then for help. Signs that your email account has been hacked include being unable to log in, unexpected or missing emails, unexpected changes to your password or account settings or alerts from your email provider itself. If it happens to you, change your password and run a virus scan. You should be able to recover your account by contacting your email provider and asking for a password reset. Signs that your Google account has been hacked include a password that no longer works, changes to your personal account or an alert from Google that there's been a sign-in to your account from a new device. You should sign into your account if you can, change your password and turn on two-step authentication. Scan for and delete any malware, and visit Google's account recovery page to regain control. There are a number of signs that your Microsoft account may have been hacked, including a notification from the company itself about potentially suspicious activity, for example a log-in from a new location. Emails you didn't write may be sent from your account, or your profile information changed. If your account is hacked, you should change your password, enable multi-factor authentication and update security settings. If you can't access your account, you should be able to recover it here. Signs that your Netflix account has been hacked include an email from Netflix itself, perhaps alerting you that a device has signed in from an unfamiliar location, changes to your payment method or perhaps being locked out altogether. You should immediately change your password and then sign out of all devices, remove any unauthorized payment methods through the Manage payment methods section, and contact Netflix support to report the suspicious activity. Social media accounts are a popular target for hackers, thanks to the vast amount of personal information they hold and the ability to use a compromised account to carry out scams and fraud. All platforms — from X and LinkedIn to WhatsApp and Snapchat — are vulnerable, though Facebook, Instagram, and Xr are the most frequently hacked. Staying safe is a matter of taking basic security measures like having a strong password and two-factor authentication, avoiding giving too much information away on social media and never reusing passwords from one site to another. Signs that your Facebook account has been hacked include messages from Facebook itself, changes to your profile information or strange messages being sent to your contacts. If it happens, you should change all your passwords immediately and tighten up your privacy settings. You should also warn friends and family to avoid engaging with any messages from your account. If you can't access your account yourself, you'll need to go to this Facebook help page, where you'll be led through the process to recover your account. Instagram is one of the most-hacked social media platforms, and it's usually easy to spot if it happens to you. You may discover that you can't log into your account, or posts, reels or stories that you didn't make may appear. If you can still log in, you should change your password and turn on two-factor authentication. If you can't log in, there are a number of steps you can take, depending on your type of account. If you've had a message from Instagram telling you that your email address has been changed, you may be able to fix this by clicking the 'Secure my account' link in the message. You can also ask for a login link or security code to be sent to the email address or phone associated with your account. You may discover that your LinkedIn account has been hacked via a message from the company, or because of suspicious activity on your profile, difficulty logging in or complaints from contacts about strange or spammy messages coming from your account. You should report the problem to LinkedIn here, change your password and review your active sessions to see where you're signed into LinkedIn right now. You should review all the email addresses and phone numbers associated with your LinkedIn account to make sure you can receive password reset messages from LinkedIn. Look out for, and delete, any rogue messages or posts on your account, and let all your contacts know what's happened. Signs that your Reddit account has been compromised include apps on your profile that you don't recognize or unusual IP history on your account activity page. You may start seeing votes, posts or comments that you didn't make, or receive an alert from Reddit itself. If you think your account has been hacked, you should contact the company — although users report that getting your account back can take up to a month. You should also change passwords and alert any other users that you interact with that your account has been hacked. Signs that your Snapchat account has been hacked include spam being sent from your account, new contacts appearing or unauthorized changes to the mobile number or email address associated with your account. You may also get an alert from the company telling you that someone has logged in to your account from an unfamiliar location, IP address or device. If you realize that your Snapchat account has been hacked, you should change your password and enable two-factor authentication. Verify your email and mobile number, and check for any unauthorized linked devices. Signs that your WhatsApp has been hacked include strange activity on your account, such as messages from unknown contacts, unread messages marked as read or receiving unsolicited verification codes. You may spot an unfamiliar device logged into your account or changes to your profile information. Recovering a WhatsApp account is usually pretty straightforward — you just need to sign into WhatsApp with your phone number and you'll be sent a six-digit code via SMS or a phone call to allow you to re-register. Signs that your X account may have been hacked include a password that won't work, unauthorized tweets or direct messages from your account, unexpected actions like follows or blocks and notifications from X itself. You'll need to change your password, make sure that the email address linked to your account is secure, check for viruses and revoke access for any third-party applications that you don't recognize. If you're still having problems, you can contact X's support team here for help. Bottom Line The more devices and accounts you have, the more likely you are to be hacked. It's a good idea to stay alert to the warning signs. But if it does happen to you, it's usually fixable if you know the right steps to take.
Washington Post
18 hours ago
- General
- Washington Post
Trump might become the most pro-illegal immigration president ever
You might not have noticed it, but last week the number of undocumented immigrants in the United States surged by 350,000. Don't worry, an army of gangbangers and other criminals didn't charge the border. Rather, President Donald Trump simply decided to turn 350,000 legal immigrants into illegal ones. Trump has been fearmongering about an 'invasion' of unauthorized immigrants for years. Since retaking the White House, he has attempted to manifest those fever dreams into reality through a 'de-documentation' campaign. This is not an immigration agenda that targets criminals; it's one that criminalizes immigrants who have followed the law, by stripping them of their existing visas and work permits.
Emirates 24/7
18 hours ago
- General
- Emirates 24/7
Dubai Police Arrest Organised Begging Ring of 41 Suspects Residing in Hotel
Dubai Police has reminded the public to contribute to charitable causes only through licensed associations and official channels to ensure donations reach those truly in need. The force also urged community members to report any begging activity by calling the toll-free number 901, using the 'Police Eye' feature on the Dubai Police smart app, or reporting online begging via the E-Crime platform ( ) . This reminder follows the arrest of 41 individuals of Arab nationality who were residing in a hotel. The arrests were part of a targeted security operation codenamed Al-Misbah (Arabic for 'prayer bead'), carried out by the Department of Suspects and Criminal Phenomena at the General Department of Criminal Investigation. Dubai Police confirmed that all gang members were living in the same hotel, which they used as a base for their organised begging activities. More than AED 60,000 was found in their possession . This operation falls within the force's 'Combat Begging' campaign, launched under the slogan 'A Conscious Society, Free of Begging', in cooperation with strategic partners. The anti-begging drive seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of begging and promote the UAE's civilised image by preventing and combating all forms of this practice . Case Details The operation began following a report received through the 901 call centre about individuals seen begging while selling prayer beads and accessories . Upon receiving the tip-off, the Monitoring and Analysis Section began surveillance of the location and observed three Arab individuals selling these items and asking for money from the public. They were arrested on the spot. During questioning, the suspects confessed to being part of a larger organised begging ring. They had entered the UAE on visit visas and were residing in a hotel . In coordination with hotel management, 28 suspects of the same nationality were arrested. The following day, 10 more were apprehended as they attempted to leave the hotel. All admitted to operating as an organised group for begging and were referred to the relevant authorities for legal action . Intensified Patrols and Preventive Plans Dubai Police affirmed that the 'Combat Begging' campaign, launched annually in coordination with strategic partners, continues to effectively reduce the number of beggars yearly, thanks to the strict measures enforced against offenders . The force noted that a comprehensive annual security plan is implemented to combat begging, including increased patrols in areas where such activity is likely to occur . Dubai Police also monitor the evolving methods used by beggars to develop proactive strategies to counter them. The force warned that beggars often exploit religious occasions and holidays to provoke sympathy through professional and deceitful means—an act considered a criminal offence under UAE law . Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Electronic tags do NOT prevent criminals from re-offending, warns Met chief... as Labour lets thousands skip jail
Tagging criminals instead of sending them to prison will not stop re-offending, the head of the country's biggest police force has warned. Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, issued a stark warning yesterday about the Government's plans to let tens of thousands of offenders avoid jail. He said that fewer criminals serving prison time would 'generate a lot of work for police' and a 'proportion' of them would go on to commit another crime. Sir Mark also accused ministers of having done 'no analysis whatsoever' on the impact of letting criminals dodge jail sentences or be released early. Under Labour's overhaul of sentencing laws announced last week, some criminals – including violent and sexual offenders – will be released early for good behaviour. And courts will no longer impose jail terms of less than 12 months, apart from in 'exceptional circumstances', with more criminals serving sentences in the community instead. Alongside the changes, the Probation Service was given a funding boost to buy nearly 30,000 more electronic tags – enabling it to quadruple the number of criminals being monitored with the devices. But the Met Commissioner told BBC Radio 4's Today programme tagging criminals cannot be relied upon: 'Every time you put an offender into the community, a proportion of them will commit crime, a proportion of them will need chasing down by the police.' He went on: 'If probation are going to spend more money on trying to reform offenders, divert them, reduce their recidivism, that's fantastic. 'But a proportion of those who would've been in prison will be committing further offences because probation can't do a perfect job, it's impossible. 'That extra offending is work that police have to do to protect communities. That involves more arrests, more cases. So this will generate a lot of work for police.' Sir Mark's comments came after he and five other senior police officers – chief constables Serena Kennedy, Stephen Watson, Craig Guildford and John Robins, as well as chairman of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC)Gavin Stephens – wrote a letter in The Times calling on the Government to provide 'serious investment' at this month's spending review. As well as increasing demand and new online threats from organised crime, they said the emergency release of prisoners to alleviate overcrowding and recommendations in the sentencing review would put more pressure on policing. The officers warned that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's flagship pledges on knife crime, violence against women and recruiting thousands more police officers would be unachievable without spending more. Their warning comes ahead of the Chancellor's spending review on June 11, which chiefs said was 'the most important moment in decades' for the backing of police by the Government. Police chiefs have also called for a radical overhaul of the structure of UK policing with fewer, larger forces amid financial shortages and difficulties dealing with updating technology. The current structure of 43 geographical forces was established in the 1960s and there have long been concerns that the model is not fit for purpose. As the NPCC published the police data strategy for 2025 to 2030 today, force bosses called for a redesign of the structure of policing in England and Wales. Mr Stephens said 'the system is not resilient' and argued for 'bigger, capable forces led by a stronger national centre'.
