As the world prepares for the start of the Paris Olympics later this week, athletes and spectators alike are filled with excitement and anticipation. However, amidst the thrill of competition and camaraderie, researchers have observed various Paris Olympic scams that aim to cash in on unsuspecting visitors and internet users that seek to obtain event-related tickets and merchandise.
The researchers have described various tactics involved in these scams, as well as ways to identify them and protect yourself.
Paris Olympic Scams 48GB Mobile Data Scam
With the expected influx of an estimated 15.3 million visitors to Paris, scammers are capitalizing on the huge numbers of tourists in a foreign environment by preying on their excitement and enthusiasm to steal personal and banking data through various fraudulent deals and services that are ‘too good to be true.
Researchers from Kaspersky observed various kinds of scams, with one of them involving fake mobile plans that promise 48GB of free internet to visiting tourists. Victims who fall for this scam may find themselves unable to obtain a single free megabyte after registering and filling out these forms.
These forms typically collect phone numbers, personal and bank details to steal money from bank accounts. Tourists may realize potential theft very late, as they remain too preoccupied with watching Olympics events to scrutinize bank transactions.
Since a 40GB mobile data plan in France costs around €11 ($12 U.S.), such giveaways remain highly implausible. Successfully scammed victims may compromise their personal information along with the stolen money.
Ticketing and Merchandise Scams
Scammers have also targeted Olympic ticket and merchandise sales. Fake ticketing websites offer a range of events, from archery to badminton, and even request personal data and consent to collect information.
Several phishing websites were observed claiming to sell Olympics merchandise under great deals while actually attempting to steal money and personal information. To avoid falling victim to these scams, researchers recommend sticking to the official Olympics website for ticket purchases and be wary of suspicious sites such as strangers[.]ope, which offers cheap merch such as keychains, commemorative coins, magnets, and scarves at significantly discounted prices.
These sites often appear legitimate, with integrated pop-ups that request visitor consent to collect personal data and use web tracking cookies. These sites often link to their own “privacy policies,” which lead the unsuspecting victim to unwittingly share sensitive data with scammers.
Protecting Yourself from Olympic Scams
To stay safe during the Olympics and avoid ticketing, merchandise and giveaway scams, the researchers recommend the following tips:
- Use a virtual card with a spending limit for online purchases
- Turn on two-factor authentication wherever possible
- Be cautious of ‘too good to be true’ offers and gifts from strangers
- Stick to official sources for ticket purchases and merchandise
- Use of a reputable antivirus software protection.
Security researchers expected a rise in scams as the Olympic events got nearer, with one Russian AI-powered disinformation campaign attempting to tarnish the image of the Olympic events starting almost a year before before the games began.