Forest Global Training Partners

Cyber Risks · Cisco Talos

Threat Source newsletter (Sept. 22, 2022) — Attackers are already using student loan relief for scams

Summary: Attackers are already using U.S. President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan as the basis for scams and phishing emails, with the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission both issuing warnings in recent weeks about fake offers, scams and website links tied to the plan, under which some borrowers will have up to $20,000 forgiven. Many of the scams arrive by phone call, text message and email promising guaranteed access to the program or early applications for a fee, and may seek personal information such as names, addresses and the college the target attended.

What's compelling: A July study from the Tech Transparency Project found nearly 12 percent of Google ads served related to student loans violated Google's policies or had scam characteristics, and the real application is reportedly coming in early October - a deadline attackers can ride with convincing lures.

Read the original at Cisco Talos ↗

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