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securitymagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
A Reboot research report analyzed SMS scams and found that scammers most frequently impersonate USPS (15.43%), the IRS (11.71%), and Amazon (7.71%), with account alert scams being the most common type (28.7% of incidents). Scammers exploit urgency and trust using common names like "Lisa" and "Annie" as aliases, misleading subdomains (particularly irs.gov in 24.2% of cases), and panic-inducing phrases such as "Your account has been locked" to pressure victims into quick action.
kpopstarz.com
· 2025-12-08
Former K-pop group Wonder Girls member Hyerim was recently scammed while attempting to purchase children's books online, falling victim to a scheme that involved communication through KakaoTalk, external payment links, and requests for small fees under false pretenses. The 32-year-old singer shared her experience on social media to warn others about online fraud, particularly targeting parents, as South Korean authorities report a rise in KakaoTalk-based phishing scams.
techlicious.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybersecurity expert Troy Hunt fell victim to a sophisticated phishing attack while traveling and jet-lagged, entering his credentials and two-factor authentication code into a fake Mailchimp login page, resulting in attackers exporting his mailing list of approximately 16,000 email addresses along with associated IP addresses and metadata. The incident illustrates how phishing exploits psychological vulnerabilities like timing and urgency rather than technical sophistication, and demonstrates that even authenticator app-based two-factor authentication is vulnerable to real-time phishing attacks where codes can be intercepted and used immediately by attackers.
pcworld.com
· 2025-12-08
Security expert Troy Hunt fell victim to a phishing scam targeting his Mailchimp account while traveling, resulting in the compromise of 16,000 email addresses from his newsletter mailing list. The incident illustrates that phishing attacks can succeed against security professionals through social engineering tactics (false urgency, fake senders) and that defensive measures like avoiding suspicious links, using passkeys, and enabling hardware-based two-factor authentication are critical safeguards. Additionally, users should proactively request data deletion from services rather than assuming unsubscribing removes their information from company databases.
azag.gov
· 2025-12-08
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes warned consumers about "smishing" scams—fraudulent text messages designed to trick recipients into downloading malware, sharing sensitive information, or clicking links to counterfeit websites that steal personal and financial data. Common smishing tactics include fake unpaid toll notices, job offers, bank alerts, package delivery notices, and tax refund claims. The FTC reported that consumers lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024 (a 25% increase), with Arizona's Consumer Information and Complaints Unit receiving nearly 22,000 complaints and recovering a record $5.2 million for consumers.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
From 2020 to 2023, job scam losses more than tripled, with over $220 million lost in the first half of 2024, according to FTC data. Common schemes include remote work scams offering unrealistic pay, fake check scams (median loss $1,900), task-based scams requiring upfront payments, and identity theft recruitment scams that harvest personal information. Job seekers should verify employer legitimacy through official channels, avoid paying for work opportunities, and be cautious of offers involving cryptocurrency or requests for sensitive personal information.
nbcconnecticut.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating law enforcement and contacting people by phone or email claiming they missed jury duty, demanding payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or peer-to-peer apps to avoid fines or jail time. The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection warns that government imposter scams cost consumers $789 million in 2024, and advises that legitimate courts only communicate with jurors through mail, never by phone or email.
wwltv.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers nationwide are sending text messages claiming recipients owe unpaid tolls through services like E-Z Pass, SunPass, FastTrak, and GeauxPass, directing victims to fraudulent websites that mimic official government sites to steal personal and financial information. This "smishing" scam affects thousands of people including those in states without toll roads, with red flags including suspicious sender phone numbers, misspelled URLs, and threats of late fees or legal action. The Louisiana Department of Transportation advises never clicking links in unsolicited toll texts and instead calling official customer service lines directly to verify account status.
clarencevalleynews.com.au
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Australians lost $2 billion to scams (down 25.9% from 2023), though more people fell victim to increasingly sophisticated impersonation scams, with social media being the leading contact method for financial loss at $69.5 million across 7,724 reports. Common impersonation scams include bank impersonation, government agency impersonation, family/friend impersonation using deepfakes, job scams requiring upfront payments or bank access, and celebrity endorsement scams. The key prevention strategies are to stop and verify before giving money or information, check requests independently using known contact details, and protect yourself by contacting your bank immediately
delawarepublic.org
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud targeting seniors is rising significantly, with the Federal Trade Commission estimating billions of dollars stolen in 2023, including phishing texts and impostor scams. AARP Fraud Ambassador Paul Greenwood, who prosecuted hundreds of elder abuse cases over 22 years in San Diego, met with Delaware law enforcement and FBI specialists to discuss strategies for curbing elder fraud and protecting vulnerable older adults.
abc7ny.com
· 2025-12-08
More than 72 million Americans use cryptocurrency, but they face significant vulnerability to scams that stole nearly $10 billion in 2024. Common scams include phishing, romance scams luring victims into crypto investments, and "rug pulls" where celebrities or developers promote tokens then abandon them, leaving investors with worthless assets. Experts recommend sticking to established cryptocurrencies with proven track records, researching developer credentials, and questioning why payments are requested in cryptocurrency, as these transactions are difficult or impossible to reverse.
spokesman.com
· 2025-12-08
Social Security scams remain the most common government impersonation fraud in the U.S., with Americans losing over $577 million to these schemes in the previous year. Common tactics include impersonators claiming Social Security numbers have been suspended, demanding overpayment repayment via gift cards or cryptocurrency, phishing for personal information through fake emails and messages, and distributing malicious download links. The SSA never suspends accounts, threatens callers, demands immediate payment, requires non-traditional payment methods, or sends unsolicited downloads—victims should verify communications through official .gov addresses and report suspected scams to the Social Security Office of the Inspector General.
lptv.org
· 2025-12-08
Bemidji area law enforcement held a public presentation warning residents about a surge in scams following a "grandparent" scam incident in the region, including IRS impersonation scams, online romance scams, and phishing emails/texts. Officers advised the public to verify callers before answering, use Google to check suspicious phone numbers, never send money to unknown persons, and watch for red flags such as suspicious URLs, grammar errors, and pressure tactics. Additional awareness sessions were scheduled to educate the community on recognizing and avoiding these fraud schemes.
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A Bhiwandi travel agency's accountant fell victim to a WhatsApp phishing scam where fraudsters impersonated the company owner and pressured him to transfer ₹90 lakh ($10,800 USD) for an urgent business project. Maharashtra Cyber responded swiftly by coordinating with banks to freeze the transaction before it reached the criminals, and the refund process to the agency is underway. In the past 48 hours, Maharashtra Cyber resolved five similar cyber fraud complaints totaling ₹1.47 crore, demonstrating the effectiveness of rapid reporting and coordinated action.
slate.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman's mother has been victimized by multiple romance scams since October, losing tens of thousands of dollars to scammers impersonating celebrities and entertainment figures through gift cards, bank transfers, and cryptocurrency payments. The daughter has attempted multiple interventions including gentle conversations and contacting organizations like AARP and the FTC, but her mother denies the scams, remains secretive, and continues sending money, including funds for a canceled "visit" with an alleged fiancé. The advice column recommends framing a conversation around financial planning rather than the romance itself, focusing on how these expenditures impact her mother's long-term financial security.
news-herald.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior scam incidents in Mentor are reaching all-time highs despite ongoing public warnings, according to local police detectives. The editorial emphasizes the need for seniors to remain alert and informed to protect themselves from becoming victims of these fraud schemes.
tech.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines four primary Microsoft-targeting scams: tech support scams (fraudsters posing as Microsoft IT staff to gain device access and install malware), text messaging scams (impersonating banks, IRS, delivery services to steal personal data), phishing scams (deceptive emails with malicious links targeting Microsoft Teams and other platforms), and Microsoft Teams scams (including malicious GIFs and voice phishing). The article provides protective measures for each scam type, emphasizing that users should never call unsolicited numbers, click suspicious links, respond to fraudulent texts, or open attachments from unknown senders.
agrinews-pubs.com
· 2025-12-08
Data breaches and financial scams targeting seniors have reached all-time highs, with scammers exploiting seniors' perceived wealth, politeness, and limited technology skills. The article recommends protective measures including regularly monitoring credit reports through annualcreditreport.com, placing credit locks at major bureaus, taking technology safety classes, and screening unknown callers to reduce vulnerability to fraud.
moderndiplomacy.eu
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated AI-powered scams are emerging as a major threat, combining deepfake technology, voice cloning, and personalized phishing to create highly convincing fraud. Cybercriminals use AI to automate social engineering attacks at scale, impersonating trusted figures through manipulated videos and voice messages, while AI-generated phishing leverages personal data to craft customized deceptive communications. Organizations and individuals must implement advanced security measures and heightened vigilance, as traditional detection methods are increasingly inadequate against these evolving threats.
tucson.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax season presents increased fraud risk, with scammers using phishing emails, impersonation calls, and fake refund promises to steal personal information and money. Experts warn that recent IRS workforce cuts may embolden criminals by creating uncertainty and potentially slowing the agency's response to fraud reports, and they advise taxpayers to watch for red flags like urgency tactics, threats, suspicious links, and promises of inflated refunds, while only using accredited tax professionals and reporting scams directly to the IRS.
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-08
A widespread "smishing" campaign targeting iPhone and Android users has resulted in over 2,000 complaints to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center in the past year, with scammers sending fake text messages impersonating state toll services to trick victims into revealing debit and credit card information. The fraudulent messages claim unpaid toll amounts and urge immediate payment, potentially exposing victims to financial loss and identity theft, though cybersecurity experts believe the actual scale of attacks is significantly larger than reported. The FBI recommends verifying toll debts through official channels, avoiding clicking unknown links, and reporting suspicious texts to ic3.gov to combat the scam.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
**Title:** The more money you have, the more you have for scammers to steal
Wealthy individuals are targeted by sophisticated fraudsters through multiple schemes including whaling (personalized phishing), impersonation of trusted advisors, investment scams, tax-related fraud, fake seller websites, and charity scams, with single transactions potentially resulting in losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Scammers use open-source intelligence and social engineering to build trust, create convincing impersonations (including deepfake videos and AI-generated communications), and exploit high-net-worth individuals' busy schedules and trust in established relationships. The article advises victims to verify identities directly
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors face disproportionate risk from digital scams and fraud, with older adults five times more likely to lose money in scams than younger people, particularly from AI deepfakes and phishing schemes. Experts recommend that seniors verify website authenticity, avoid clicking links from unknown sources, build relationships with trusted tech-savvy contacts for guidance, and apply common sense and critical thinking to online activities to navigate digital threats safely.
agrinews-pubs.com
· 2025-12-08
Data breaches and financial scams targeting seniors have reached all-time highs, with scammers exploiting seniors' perceived wealth, politeness, and limited technology skills. The article recommends protective measures including regularly monitoring credit reports through annualcreditreport.com, placing credit locks with the three major bureaus, taking technology safety classes, and refusing to engage with unknown callers.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial scams in Maharashtra have surged dramatically, with share investment fraud losses multiplying from Rs 62.2 crore in 2023 to Rs 1,047.3 crore in 2024, affecting victims across age groups through stock market schemes, cryptocurrency scams, employment fraud, and gift parcel scams. Experts identify inadequate research, over-reliance on social media, and the desire for quick gains as primary vulnerabilities, with senior citizens comprising 60% of victims who lose life savings. Key prevention measures include verifying investments through registered brokers, avoiding unverified social media offers, and conducting proper market research before committing funds.
english.aaj.tv
· 2025-12-08
A businessman from Noida, India lost INR6.52 crore in an online romance scam after being befriended by a woman named Anita Chauhan on a dating app in December 2024, who lured him into investing in fraudulent trading platforms promising high returns. After initially receiving small profits that encouraged further investment, the scam was exposed when the platforms demanded additional security and exchange fees totaling INR61 lakh before allowing withdrawals. The victim filed a cybercrime complaint with police and expressed concerns about the security of his personal data and family safety.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 79-year-old retired teacher lost approximately $400,000 to a Facebook romance/investment scam after befriending a man named "Robert" who promised 100x returns on investments in exchange for gift card payments to retailers like Apple, Target, and eBay. The scam drained her 401(k) and created significant credit card debt, and she continued sending money to the scammer even after her son discovered the fraud. The article advises protecting elderly relatives by verifying recipient information before sending money, strengthening privacy settings, avoiding suspicious links, reporting scams to the FTC, and using the National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-372-8311
cknxnewstoday.ca
· 2025-12-08
The Ontario Provincial Police are warning residents about "smishing" scams, where fraudsters send deceptive text messages impersonating banks, government agencies, or retailers to trick victims into clicking malicious links or calling fraudulent numbers, potentially leading to identity theft, financial fraud, or malware installation. The OPP recommends protecting yourself by avoiding unknown links, using multi-factor authentication, reporting suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM), and verifying messages directly with organizations. Victims should contact their local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or report online via the Fraud Reporting System.
huffpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Starting April 14, the Social Security Administration will eliminate phone-based identity verification for most retirement and family benefit applicants, requiring them to apply online or in person at field offices instead—a change that advocates warn will disproportionately burden elderly, rural, and less tech-savvy beneficiaries who lack internet access, smartphones, or proper identification. The policy, implemented as part of an anti-fraud initiative, exempts disability insurance, Medicare, and SSI applicants from the requirement but will affect approximately three-quarters of Social Security beneficiaries and grieving families applying for survivor benefits, who previously could complete applications entirely by phone.
huffpost.com
· 2025-12-08
The Social Security Administration is eliminating phone-based identity verification for retirement, survivor, and family benefit applications starting April 14, requiring most beneficiaries to apply online or in person instead—a change intended to combat fraud but which advocates warn will disproportionately burden elderly, disabled, rural, and technology-limited populations who lack smartphones, internet access, or valid identification. The policy excludes disability insurance, Medicare, and Supplemental Security Income applicants, who may continue filing by phone, but will affect approximately three-quarters of Social Security beneficiaries who are retirees and grieving families seeking survivor benefits.
staysafeonline.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational article explains how AI-powered scams using voice cloning and deepfake technology work, where criminals replicate the voices and likenesses of trusted contacts to request urgent financial help or sensitive information. The article advises families, coworkers, and organizations to establish pre-agreed safe words or phrases—shared only among trusted parties—as a verification method to confirm identity during unexpected calls or messages and prevent falling victim to these AI-enhanced fraud schemes. Key recommendations include making safe words unique and difficult to guess, keeping them private through secure channels, and using different safe words for different groups or contexts.
freshfields.com
· 2025-12-08
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies four common Microsoft-targeted scams: tech support scams where fraudsters pose as Microsoft IT staff to gain device access and install malware; text messaging scams impersonating banks, the IRS, or delivery services to steal personal information; phishing scams using fake emails and links to trigger malware downloads; and Microsoft Teams scams involving malicious GIFs and voice phishing. Protection strategies include never calling unsolicited numbers or clicking popup links, verifying texts by calling organizations directly, avoiding suspicious email links, and being cautious of malicious attachments on Teams.
abc15.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines three major tax scams to watch for during tax season: text message schemes falsely promising $1,400 stimulus checks from the IRS that direct victims to fake websites to steal personal information; misleading social media advice encouraging tax fraud through incorrect filing; and scammers misrepresenting the IRS's Offer in Compromise program by charging fees to apply when the program is actually free. The article advises consumers to verify tax information through official IRS sources or tax professionals, ignore unsolicited IRS communications, and remember that the IRS never requests payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or credit card numbers over the phone.
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
British banks (Barclays, HSBC, Santander, Lloyds), tech companies (Amazon, Meta, Google), and telecoms (BT, Three) have pledged to increase real-time data-sharing on fraud indicators to detect scammers faster, moving beyond a 2023 pilot program to exchange tens of thousands of data points daily. Fraud accounts for 41% of offenses in England and Wales, costing an estimated $8.8 billion annually, with investment scams causing median losses of $1,104 and romance scams causing median losses of $1,996 per victim.
businessday.ng
· 2025-12-08
Three Nigerian nationals based in the United States pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy involving $4.5 million in proceeds from romance scams and business email compromise schemes that defrauded approximately 125 victims between 2020 and 2023. Olumide Olorunfunmi, Samson Amos, and Emmanuel Unuigbe directed victims to deposit funds into accounts they controlled, then transferred the money to Nigeria while retaining a percentage as profit, with romance scams typically targeting elderly victims. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing dates yet to be scheduled.
saharareporters.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Nigerian nationals—Olumide Olorunfunmi, Samson Amos, and Emmanuel Unuigbe—pleaded guilty to a multimillion-dollar money laundering conspiracy involving romance scams and business email compromise fraud that victimized over 125 individuals from 2020 to 2023. The conspirators deceived elderly victims and businesses into transferring funds, then laundered the money through multiple domestic and international accounts while converting stolen dollars to Nigerian currency at black market rates. The three defendants face a combined potential 60-year prison sentence, with money laundering charges carrying a maximum 20 years per defendant.
siliconrepublic.com
· 2025-12-08
WhatsApp scams in Ireland surged nearly 65% in the second half of 2024, with Ireland ranking second in Europe for such fraud after the UK, and victims losing an average of €1,200 per incident—significantly higher than the €260 average from Facebook scams. Revolut's financial crime analysis attributes the rise to users' false sense of security when contacted by someone with their phone number on encrypted messaging apps, despite end-to-end encryption providing little protection against fraud. The report notes that Meta platforms account for nearly 60% of all scams, with fraudsters increasingly targeting WhatsApp over other social media channels.
rbcroyalbank.com
· 2025-12-08
During Canadian tax season, criminals exploit vulnerable taxpayers through multiple scams including CRA impersonation phone calls demanding immediate payment via untraceable methods, phishing emails and texts with malicious links requesting personal information, fake CRA websites created using AI technology, and fraudulent tax companies that file false returns to steal refunds and data. Protection strategies include validating CRA communications through official channels, monitoring your CRA account, avoiding sharing personal information unsolicited, recognizing threatening language as a red flag, using only registered tax professionals, and refusing to click suspicious links or provide payment through cryptocurrency or gift cards.
pcmag.com
· 2025-12-08
Modern scammers increasingly employ generative AI tools, data breaches, and app data collection to target victims through romance scams and online job frauds. If victimized, individuals should immediately change passwords and enable multi-factor authentication, use a password manager for unique credentials, monitor account activity, contact their financial institution's fraud department, and report the incident to law enforcement and agencies like the Internet Crime Complaint Center and Identity Theft Resource Center.
drinksindustryireland.ie
· 2025-12-08
Bank of Ireland warns that fraudsters continuously employ multiple scam tactics beyond April Fool's Day, with the most common schemes including investment fraud, smishing texts, vishing calls, purchase scams, romance scams, family impersonation, rental/holiday fraud, money mule recruitment, malware, and phishing emails. The bank emphasizes that victims should watch for red flags such as promises of unrealistic returns, pressure to act quickly, celebrity endorsements of investments, and demands for secrecy, while never sharing PINs, activation codes, or other sensitive credentials. Bank of Ireland offers 24/7 fraud support at 1800 946 764 to help customers identify
wdsu.com
· 2025-12-08
Beth Highland, a 52-year-old woman, lost $26,000 in a romance scam after meeting a man named "Richard" on a dating app who posed as a construction worker needing help with payments for a project in Qatar. The scammer gained her trust through incremental requests for money, eventually convincing her to send $26,000 in bitcoin for a supposed account unfreezing fee, before she consulted a financial advisor who identified the scheme as classic romance fraud. Her case has prompted legislative attention, with the Romance Scam Prevention Act being introduced to require dating apps to notify users about accounts flagged for fraud, and law enforcement has yet to apprehend the scammer or
americanbanker.com
· 2025-12-08
Over $12.5 billion in fraud losses were reported, with scams evolving beyond traditional methods to exploit vulnerabilities across telecommunications, social media, and banking through sophisticated tactics like "authorized push payment" fraud. The author argues that fragmented government agencies lack the coordination and resources to effectively combat these crimes, which are often orchestrated by international organized crime groups funding terrorism, human trafficking, and other illicit activities. The proposal calls for establishing a national interagency task force to unify federal efforts, coordinate with the private sector, implement public awareness campaigns, and equip law enforcement with resources to investigate and prosecute scammers targeting vulnerable populations.
ospreyobserver.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece by an elder law attorney identifies three major scam types targeting seniors: confidence scams (where perpetrators build trust to gain financial access), tech support scams (unsolicited offers to fix computer problems in exchange for payment or personal information), and government impersonation scams (fraudsters posing as IRS, law enforcement, or Social Security officials). The article emphasizes that seniors, particularly isolated "elder orphans" without family support, are especially vulnerable and provides protective advice including verifying agency contacts independently and reporting suspected fraud to the National Elder Fraud Hotline or FTC.
pcmag.com
· 2025-12-08
According to a 2024 Statista study, 90% of US adults aged 65 and older use the internet, making them frequent targets for online scams, particularly in states with older populations like Florida and Texas. The National Council on Aging recommends six protective strategies including listening without judgment, encouraging delayed responses to urgent-sounding messages, and involving anti-fraud organizations and peer networks to help vulnerable seniors recognize and avoid romance scams, crypto schemes, and other fraud.
tech.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article presents six tips to help seniors avoid scams, emphasizing the importance of listening without judgment, encouraging delays in responding to urgent requests, and leveraging anti-fraud resources like the FBI, AARP, and local senior centers. The piece notes that 90% of US adults aged 65 and older use the internet, making them targets for scammers who exploit their varying levels of technological comfort and social isolation.
mashable.com
· 2025-12-08
Brad K., a sleep-deprived new father, fell victim to an IRS impersonation scam in May 2024 when a caller claimed he owed over $800 in back taxes and threatened jail time if he didn't pay immediately. The scammer was persuasive because he possessed personal information like Brad's address and wife's name, and Brad was stressed and vulnerable; Brad approved a payment that gave the scammer access to his bank account before learning that the IRS never initiates contact by phone and only communicates by certified mail. Though Brad quickly closed his account and froze his credit to minimize damage, the incident illustrates how evolving scams can target even vigilant, financially
greenecountynewsonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird warned residents in 2024 about the state's top 10 complaint categories, with the Consumer Protection Division receiving over 3,900 complaints across 30+ scam types. Notable 2024 trends included significant increases in social media hacking/account locking and imposter scams, particularly schemes directing victims to cryptocurrency ATMs to send money to fraudsters. The top complaints involved auto fraud (623), internet/social media issues (593), imposter scams (376), home improvement fraud (332), and personal goods/services complaints, with the Attorney General's office urging Iowans to verify sellers, avoid prepayment and cryptocurrency
legion.org
· 2025-12-08
The VA has released a fraud prevention toolkit highlighting common scams targeting veterans, including postcards falsely promising extra VA benefits or Social Security credits, phishing texts impersonating the IRS or Netflix, and requests for payment via untraceable methods like gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The toolkit advises veterans to never share banking information, verify identities of requesters, avoid suspicious links, use trusted payment methods, and be cautious of social media contact from alleged military connections.
zdnet.com
· 2025-12-08
A cybersecurity journalist deliberately clicked on four common online scams in isolated virtual environments to demonstrate how they operate. The scams included fake security upgrades (distributing malware disguised as Wells Fargo security updates), fake Captcha challenges designed to execute malicious PowerShell commands, and other phishing tactics that exploit users' trust in legitimate security protocols. The article serves as an educational warning, emphasizing that users should never click suspicious links or download unexpected files, and should immediately close any page requesting software downloads.