Over 90% of all cell phones are smartphones, which isn’t very surprising. With these miniature gizmos, we can talk to loved ones from distant lands instantly, shop from our couch, conduct transactions without going to the bank, and much more. Our smartphones and computers are pretty convenient, but one must beware of scammers who can and do take advantage of our reliance on tech to enrich themselves.

Scammers are a part of life. They rely on deceptive acts to trick you into parting with sensitive information or money. They are masters of disguise, presenting themselves as genuine and helpful, all the while plotting to exploit our ignorance and gullibility for their own financial gain. And since the internet affords anonymity to everyone, it pays to know how to spot a scammer.

Today we will look at how these scammers operate and how you and your organization can combat scams before they happen. We’ll also suggest the best option to do so.

Beware of Scammers: Why is it easy to scam people?

The app economy has made life easier for many. But it has also proven to be a bonanza for cybercriminals and hackers who want to steal passwords, compromise computers, get access to valuable information, or are just in it for the money.

Most of these criminals are all about scamming money online or getting access to a sensitive piece of information. And they rely on social engineering to do so.

Why? Because human error remains the biggest threat vector. It takes a click to steal credentials with a phishing email unless the recipient can learn how to spot warning signs beforehand. And since most people own a smartphone, criminals are relying on mobile malware attacks to target more people.

The internet has made it easy for anyone to be anonymous. And don’t cybercriminals know it.

Here are some of the tactics cybercriminals use to gain your confidence:

Is there a way you can learn these things so that they become second nature? As it happens, yes.

You can learn how to spot a scam with the help of cybersecurity awareness training programs. However, there are many competing products that aim to educate learners about cybersecurity. It can be tough to choose the best option for you and your organization.

Which type of security awareness training is relevant to your needs? We answer this question below.

Traditional security awareness programs rely on video lectures and texts to learn the various ways scammers can target you. Unsurprisingly 64% of employees don't pay attention to cybersecurity awareness training in their organization.

This presents a challenge for security leaders who are looking to build a strong security culture in their organizations. One that empathizes with their employees while helping empower them with tools and procedures that make their education easier.

Kim Burton, head of trust and compliance at Tessian says:

In recent years, cybersecurity vendors and organizational leadership have realized that the old methods of imparting security training are not producing the desired results. As threats like ransomware and malware grow more complex with the help of generative AI tools, existing learning modes have to be overhauled.

What if these trainings were more fun, engaging, and immersive? Most importantly, they teach you how to deal with scams before they happen via trial and error. One must beware of scammers, but one doesn’t need to rely on fearful edicts to get employees into security awareness training programs.

Cytadel is one such game-based security awareness training platform that aims to take the sting out of learning cybersecurity do’s and don’ts. It puts learners in charge of their own journey inside a cybersecurity game. Research has shown that gamified experiences are more likely to be completed and replayed than boring lectures.

Intrigued? Try out Cytadel today.