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Pig butchering, and similar interactive online scams, lower their victims' defenses by building trust over extended periods of conversation - sometimes weeks or months. They have become increasingly public losses (at least $75B by one…
Pig-butchering scams have emerged as a complex form of fraud that combines elements of romance, investment fraud, and advanced social engineering tactics to systematically exploit victims. In this paper, we present the first qualitative…
Phone scams remain a difficult problem to tackle due to the combination of protocol limitations, legal enforcement challenges and advances in technology enabling attackers to hide their identities and reduce costs. Scammers use social…
In the recent past, so-called pig-butchering scams are on the rise. This term is based on a translation of the Chinese term "Sha Zhu Pan", where scammers refer to victims as "pig" which are to be "fattened up before slaughter" so that…
Over the years, online scams have grown dramatically, with nearly 50% of global consumers encountering scam attempts each week. These scams cause not only significant financial losses to individuals and businesses, but also lasting…
The rise of online dating apps has transformed how individuals connect and seek companionship, with an increase in usage among older adults. While these platforms offer opportunities for emotional support and social connection, they also…
Online romance scams are a prevalent form of mass-marketing fraud in the West, and yet few studies have addressed the technical or data-driven responses to this problem. In this type of scam, fraudsters craft fake profiles and manually…
In an era dominated by digital interactions, phishing campaigns have evolved to exploit not just technological vulnerabilities but also human traits. This study takes an unprecedented deep dive into large-scale phishing campaigns aimed at…
Fraud continues to proliferate online, from phishing and ransomware to impersonation scams. Yet automated prevention approaches adapt slowly and may not reliably protect users from falling prey to new scams. To better combat online scams,…
Online financial scams represent a long-standing and serious threat for which people seek help. We present a study to understand people's in situ motivations for engaging with scams and the help needs they express before, during, and after…
Romance-baiting scams have become a major source of financial and emotional harm worldwide. These operations are run by organized crime syndicates that traffic thousands of people into forced labor, requiring them to build emotional…
While human factors in fraud have been studied by the HCI and security communities, most research has been directed to understanding either the victims' perspectives or prevention strategies, and not on fraudsters, their motivations and…
Romance fraud involves cybercriminals engineering a romantic relationship on online dating platforms. It is a cruel form of cybercrime whereby victims are left heartbroken, often facing financial ruin. We characterise the literary landscape…
Online abuse, a persistent aspect of social platform interactions, impacts user well-being and exposes flaws in platform designs that include insufficient detection efforts and inadequate victim protection measures. Ensuring safety in…
Manipulation defines many of our experiences as a consumer, including subtle nudges and overt advertising campaigns that seek to gain our attention and money. With the advent of digital services that can continuously optimize online…
Social media platforms have become the hubs for various user interactions covering a wide range of needs, including technical support and services related to brands, products, or user accounts. Unfortunately, there has been a recent surge…
In this work, we are focusing on a new and yet uncovered way for malicious apps to gain profit. They claim to be dating apps. However, their sole purpose is to lure users into purchasing premium/VIP services to start conversations with…
AI-enhanced scams now employ deepfake technology to produce convincing audio and visual impersonations of trusted family members, often grandchildren, in real time. These attacks fabricate urgent scenarios, such as legal or medical…
Large Language Models (LLMs) have gained prominence in various applications, including security. This paper explores the utility of LLMs in scam detection, a critical aspect of cybersecurity. Unlike traditional applications, we propose a…
Romance scams (RS) inflict financial and emotional damage by defrauding victims under the guise of meaningful relationships. This research study examines RS trends in the U.S. through a quantitative analysis of web searches, news articles,…