The digital landscape is evolving alarmingly fast, bringing hard-to-find information directly to our fingertips. Smart devices and the development of AI tools have sped up business processes and continue to revolutionize our workplaces. However, these developments have also made it easier than ever for cybercriminals to attain our most critical information with just a few clicks of a mouse.Credit card fraud, phishing scams, personal data breaches, identity theft and more devious actions have been pushed on alongside technological advancements. And the abuses continue to grow.The Internet Crime Complaint Center, which reports on cybercrimes for the FBI, notes that it received more than one million complaints last year of potential attacks. U.S. citizens reported a total $20.8 billion in losses to scams. South Carolinians alone reported more than $264 million. This year saw a 26 percent spike in cybercrime nationwide compared to the previous year.
And it’s an ongoing problem. The Post and Courier’s Anna Mitchell reports that a phishing scam targeted vendors for the state’s K-12 voucher program and led to the “fraudulent redirection” of an estimated $100,000 through the state’s third-party payment platform. This resulted in a complete shutdown of reimbursements for families for a week.Earlier this year, the coastal town of Surfside Beach was scammed out of half a million dollars, which was designated for utility work in its 2026-27 fiscal budget. And in Laurens County, officials paid $1.5 million in fake invoices last year after an employee believed the wrong email.
It’s easy to view major cyber attacks as only a concern for government and industrial entities. But anyone can be affected by a targeted cyber attack. A study from the Pew Research Center showed that 73 percent of Americans had experienced some type of online scam within the past year.Cybercrime can occur anywhere, and criminals can easily hide from authorities. From extorting funds and stealing data to disrupting and disabling vital emergency systems, these crimes can irreparably harm a victim’s future depending on how long the information is circulated on the dark web.Much of our personal information is shared through online platforms, which isn’t that surprising considering the astounding number of Americans who say they are chronically online. But the worst part of the problem is that so many of us have it within our power to prevent ever being victimized, but we choose to do nothing. In fact, 95 percent of cyber security breaches stem from human error.
Limiting our online presence would be effective, but not realistic in a world that relies so heavily on internet use. But there are still preventive measures we can take to reduce our exposure to these bad actors and protect ourselves in the event of an attack.First, people should make sure they update the software on all their electronic devices. This will help limit outdated techniques and programs issued by hackers and scammers. Everyone also should install a strong, reputable anti-virus program.
Stop setting up default and frequently used passwords. It may be easier to remember, but that will also increase our exposure if cybercriminals are able to compromise one of them.
Be careful connecting with a public Wi-Fi server. If you’re not 100 percent sure the space is secure, do not connect. And if you have to for an emergency, never conduct any critical online transactions over that public network.Never respond to an unexpected text or click on a questionable link. These open you and your online data up to risk of a security breach. These messages are often marked as an emergency or involve a monetary reward to try and lure users into pressing the link.
If you believe you’ve experienced a targeted cyber attack or are the victim of a scam, reach out immediately to the Internet Crime Complaint Center and file a report at www.ic3.gov. Authorities recommend documenting key details, such as the name of the scammer or company, methods and dates of contact, payment methods and where funds were sent. The sooner agents are made aware of your situation, the greater the chance that they’ll be able to protect you from further damage.
A big reason for updates to the vital software used in our workplaces and our personal lives is to keep up with these schemes. But we can’t expect any firewall to fully shield us from every cyber attack. Setting up safeguards and exercising caution are good ways to make sure that you never have to file a report.Click here for more opinion content from The Post and Courier.
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