Latest news with #internetcrime
CTV News
22-05-2025
- CTV News
Edmonton man charged with sexual offences against child in Vietnam
The ALERT logo is seen in a meeting room in Calgary. (CTV News) An Edmonton man has been charged in connection with the sexual assault of a toddler in Vietnam. Christopher Webber, 55, was identified during an investigation carried out by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team's Internet Child Exploitation unit (ICE) in collaboration with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and Vietnamese authorities. Webber is accused of counselling the sexual offence of a child over a livestream, recorded sometime between 2021 and 2022. ICE said Webber can be seen in the video recording, allegedly directing the sexual abuse of the child, who is believed to have been between two and three years old at the time. 'This case is a harrowing reminder of the real-world suffering children endure for some people's sexual gratification. But let this also be a warning to offenders that law enforcement will go to great lengths to identify them and hold them accountable,' said ICE Acting Sgt. Matthew Pepper. The child and the assailant were both found in Vietnam. Webber has been charged with sexual interference, making arrangements to commit sexual offence against a child, as well as making, accessing and possessing child pornography. He was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on June 11.
CNET
22-05-2025
- CNET
Before You Click That Link, Take These Steps to Ensure It Isn't a Scam
The chances of you falling victim to a scam go up if you click on a harmful URL. The problem? Scam URLs are getting harder to spot. Phishing and spoofing scams led to more than $70 million in losses for victims last year, according to the FBI's annual internet crime report. In addition to monetary losses, clicking on a phishing link can lead to other headaches, including malware being downloaded onto your device or giving up personal identifiable information. How to identify scam links Scam links are often found in phishing emails, text messages or other communications sent by cybercriminals. They're designed to fool you into downloading malware or bringing you to a fake website to steal your personal identifying information. Some examples of phishing scams include unpaid toll, gold bar and employment scams. Criminals typically send these links out en masse -- often aided by artificial intelligence. Enough people fall victim to phishing scams every year that con artists find it worth their while to follow the same playbook. Here's how to avoid taking the bait. Check the URL "Smartphones do their best to block scam links, so attackers use tricks to make their links clickable," said Joshua McKenty, CEO of a cybersecurity company that helps businesses protect mobile phones and call centers from AI-driven phishing scams. For example, you'll want to watch for an "@" sign in the URL, or you might have two different URLs "glued together" by a question mark, he added. Especially if the first URL is a or an link. Dave Meister, a cybersecurity spokesman for global cybersecurity company Check Point, says that you may be able to hover over the URL to reveal the actual destination. People should also look out for "typo-squatting," when the URL looks authentic, but it has "PayPa1" instead of "PayPal." That should tip you off that it's a bad link. Familiarize yourself with URLs you frequently visit It would behoove everyone to pay attention to the URLs they visit often. "Major brands, especially banks and retailers, don't often change up their domain names," McKenty said. "If the link says it's likely safe. If it says, stay away." Be suspicious of short links Short links are often in texts and on social media. "Sadly, there's no safe way to check a shortened URL," McKenty said. He recommended not clicking on them. " or "shorturl" links often have standard " encryption, which make them appear trustworthy. In these cases, it's best to read the message itself and pay attention to any threatening language or pressure to act immediately to identify the scam. How are scam links sent to victims? Text scams Ironically, these don't always rely on website links. In fact, phone numbers are a frequent vehicle used in scammers' phishing attempts, according to McKenty. "People get tricked into clicking a phone number that's not actually their bank or the IRS, and then surrendering identity information on the phone," he said. If you think you got a message from a scammer, as tempting as it is to mess with them, do your best to resist. If you interact with the scammer, they may want to circle back knowing that you're reachable. Email scams Emails can also have scam links. McKenty said that while clicking on phone numbers and links in texts is happening more frequently, "the biggest dollar losses are still the classic email scams." He suggests copying any link you see into a notes app so that you can properly inspect it before clicking. QR code scams Sometimes, scams can even be embedded into a QR code. "QR codes have become the new stealth weapon, used everywhere from restaurant menus to parking meters," said Meister. "Scammers are known to slap fake codes on top of real ones in public, or embed them in phishing emails, linking to cloned websites or malware downloads," he said. Before you scan, make sure the QR code makes sense. If it's on the side of a gas pump, on a random park bench or in an unrecognized email, it's better to avoid it. Social media direct messages Chances are, you've run into these scam links. Sometimes social media accounts get compromised by cybercriminals posing as people you know. If your "uncle" sends you a direct message while sounding like a pushy timeshare salesman, telling you to check out this investment opportunity by clicking on a link, call your uncle first. What if I already clicked a link? If you clicked on a scam link, a number of things could happen. If you have software protecting your device, the firewall probably blocked it. If you don't have software protecting you from computer viruses and malware, then you might have a problem. Try these tips if you think you might've clicked on a phishing link:
CTV News
20-05-2025
- CTV News
Teacher who worked in Edmonton, Sherwood Park arrested for child sexual exploitation offences
An Edmonton teacher is facing charges related to possession of child sexual assault materials. Eric Matheson-Jones was arrested by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) on May 14. The 47-year-old has been charged with accessing, possession, and transmitting child pornography. ALERT began an investigation last month after it was notified by the RCMP's National Child Exploitation Crime Centre that someone was uploading child sexual assault materials using the site Dropbox. At the time of his arrest, Matheson-Jones was working as an instructor at Norquest College. He has also frequently been a substitute teacher at Edmonton Public Schools and Elk Island Public Schools and worked as a tutor in the Sherwood Park area with Lights On Learning. Police say Matheson-Jones' charges are related to alleged online offences and it is unknown if any students were impacted. A forensic analysis of Matheson-Jones' computers and electronic devices is still underway. Matheson-Jones has been released from custody with a number of court-imposed conditions and will appear in court on June 4.
RNZ News
15-05-2025
- RNZ News
Timaru clothing store doesn't exist despite advertising sale
internet crime 19 minutes ago 'Timaru Boutique' advertised a closing down sale on Facebook recently - saying that after 10 beautiful years it's closing its doors. But Timaru Boutique doesn't really exist. It has a Facebook page, and a legitimate looking website with dresses, shoes and tops all discounted for it's closing down sale. But there's no such store in Timaru, let alone one that's been open for a decade. When a woman from Ashburton turned up to Tim Black's boutique, Black & Co, desperate to try on an item she'd seen online, she smelled a rat.
