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The Republicans have been working on ways to steal election since 2000 and with the advent of computerized voting,
Most of us who believe it's possible have seen examples of thefts you wouldn't have thought possible. How about your credit card data being stolen at the ATM and used to steal from you after the fact?
Financial Theft & Fraud
Phishing Scams – Fraudsters send emails or messages impersonating banks, government agencies, or companies to trick victims into revealing login credentials or financial information.
Vishing (Voice Phishing) – Scammers use phone calls or voice messages pretending to be from a legitimate organization to extract sensitive data.
Smishing (SMS Phishing) – Similar to phishing but executed via text messages with malicious links.
Fake Tech Support Scams – Pop-ups or cold calls warn users of a fake computer issue and ask for remote access or payments for bogus repairs.
Phishing Scams – Fraudsters send emails or messages impersonating banks, government agencies, or companies to trick victims into revealing login credentials or financial information.
Vishing (Voice Phishing) – Scammers use phone calls or voice messages pretending to be from a legitimate organization to extract sensitive data.
Smishing (SMS Phishing) – Similar to phishing but executed via text messages with malicious links.
Fake Tech Support Scams – Pop-ups or cold calls warn users of a fake computer issue and ask for remote access or payments for bogus repairs.
Man-in-the-Middle Attacks – Cybercriminals intercept online banking transactions, emails, or communications to steal data or funds.
ATM Skimming – Fraudsters install small electronic devices on ATMs or gas pumps to steal credit/debit card information.
Carding & Credential Stuffing – Hackers use stolen card details or login credentials to make unauthorized purchases.
Cryptocurrency Scams – Fake investment schemes, Ponzi schemes, and fraudulent crypto exchanges steal money from investors.
Fake Check & Overpayment Scams – Victims receive fake checks and are asked to send money back before the check clears, leaving them responsible for the loss.
ATM Skimming – Fraudsters install small electronic devices on ATMs or gas pumps to steal credit/debit card information.
Carding & Credential Stuffing – Hackers use stolen card details or login credentials to make unauthorized purchases.
Cryptocurrency Scams – Fake investment schemes, Ponzi schemes, and fraudulent crypto exchanges steal money from investors.
Fake Check & Overpayment Scams – Victims receive fake checks and are asked to send money back before the check clears, leaving them responsible for the loss.
Identity Theft & Data Breaches
Keylogging Software – Malicious software that records keystrokes to steal passwords and personal information.
Data Breaches – Hackers infiltrate businesses, hospitals, and government databases to steal personal information.
Deepfake Fraud – AI-generated audio and video are used to impersonate executives or loved ones, convincing people to transfer money.
Synthetic Identity Fraud – Criminals create new identities by combining stolen and fake information to open accounts or apply for credit.
Ransomware Attacks – Malware encrypts files and demands payment to restore access.
Keylogging Software – Malicious software that records keystrokes to steal passwords and personal information.
Data Breaches – Hackers infiltrate businesses, hospitals, and government databases to steal personal information.
Deepfake Fraud – AI-generated audio and video are used to impersonate executives or loved ones, convincing people to transfer money.
Synthetic Identity Fraud – Criminals create new identities by combining stolen and fake information to open accounts or apply for credit.
Ransomware Attacks – Malware encrypts files and demands payment to restore access.
E-Commerce & Online Scams
Fake Online Stores – Fraudulent websites mimic real retailers, taking payments but never delivering goods.
Auction & Marketplace Scams – Fake buyers and sellers manipulate platforms like eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace to defraud users.
Return Fraud – Criminals buy legitimate items, swap them for fakes or broken items, and return them for a refund.
Subscription Traps – Fake free trials require a credit card, then charge hidden fees or make it difficult to cancel.
Fake Online Stores – Fraudulent websites mimic real retailers, taking payments but never delivering goods.
Auction & Marketplace Scams – Fake buyers and sellers manipulate platforms like eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace to defraud users.
Return Fraud – Criminals buy legitimate items, swap them for fakes or broken items, and return them for a refund.
Subscription Traps – Fake free trials require a credit card, then charge hidden fees or make it difficult to cancel.
Employment & Investment Fraud
Work-From-Home Scams – Fake job offers require upfront payments for training or materials that never arrive.
Ponzi & Pyramid Schemes – Fraudsters promise high investment returns by paying old investors with money from new ones.
Business Email Compromise (BEC) – Hackers impersonate company executives via email to trick employees into transferring funds.
Fake Debt Collection Scams – Criminals pose as debt collectors and pressure victims into paying nonexistent debts.
Work-From-Home Scams – Fake job offers require upfront payments for training or materials that never arrive.
Ponzi & Pyramid Schemes – Fraudsters promise high investment returns by paying old investors with money from new ones.
Business Email Compromise (BEC) – Hackers impersonate company executives via email to trick employees into transferring funds.
Fake Debt Collection Scams – Criminals pose as debt collectors and pressure victims into paying nonexistent debts.
Social Engineering & Digital Manipulation
Romance Scams – Fraudsters build fake online relationships to emotionally manipulate victims into sending money.
Lottery & Prize Scams – Victims receive messages claiming they’ve won a prize but must pay taxes or fees upfront.
Fake Charity Scams – Criminals exploit disasters and tragedies by creating fraudulent charities to steal donations.
Social Media Hacking & Impersonation – Scammers take over or mimic social media accounts to defraud contacts.
Wi-Fi Honeypots – Fraudsters set up fake public Wi-Fi networks to steal users’ personal information.
Romance Scams – Fraudsters build fake online relationships to emotionally manipulate victims into sending money.
Lottery & Prize Scams – Victims receive messages claiming they’ve won a prize but must pay taxes or fees upfront.
Fake Charity Scams – Criminals exploit disasters and tragedies by creating fraudulent charities to steal donations.
Social Media Hacking & Impersonation – Scammers take over or mimic social media accounts to defraud contacts.
Wi-Fi Honeypots – Fraudsters set up fake public Wi-Fi networks to steal users’ personal information.
High-Tech & Emerging Threats
SIM Swapping – Criminals convince mobile carriers to transfer a victim’s phone number to their device to hijack accounts.
IoT (Internet of Things) Exploits – Hackers gain access to smart devices (cameras, thermostats, doorbells) to spy or steal data.
AI-Powered Scams – AI-generated phone calls and emails imitate real voices or writing styles to trick victims into sending money.
Supply Chain Attacks – Hackers infiltrate software updates or vendor systems to insert malware into widely used programs.
Digital Extortion – Threats to release compromising information or fake photos unless a ransom is paid.
SIM Swapping – Criminals convince mobile carriers to transfer a victim’s phone number to their device to hijack accounts.
IoT (Internet of Things) Exploits – Hackers gain access to smart devices (cameras, thermostats, doorbells) to spy or steal data.
AI-Powered Scams – AI-generated phone calls and emails imitate real voices or writing styles to trick victims into sending money.
Supply Chain Attacks – Hackers infiltrate software updates or vendor systems to insert malware into widely used programs.
Digital Extortion – Threats to release compromising information or fake photos unless a ransom is paid.
These schemes show how criminals exploit technology to commit theft, fraud, and identity theft on a massive scale. Staying vigilant and using cybersecurity best practices can help protect against these threats.
The advent of computerized devices has introduced new avenues for election interference, where malicious actors exploit technology to influence electoral outcomes. While outright "stolen elections" are rare, several schemes have been identified that aim to disrupt or sway democratic processes:
Cyber Attacks on Campaigns and Political Parties
Hacking and Leaking Sensitive Information: Cybercriminals infiltrate the networks of political parties or campaigns to steal confidential data, which is then released to damage reputations or alter public perception. A notable instance is the 2016 U.S. presidential election, where Russian-affiliated groups hacked the Democratic National Committee's emails and disseminated them publicly.
en.wikipedia.org
Hacking and Leaking Sensitive Information: Cybercriminals infiltrate the networks of political parties or campaigns to steal confidential data, which is then released to damage reputations or alter public perception. A notable instance is the 2016 U.S. presidential election, where Russian-affiliated groups hacked the Democratic National Committee's emails and disseminated them publicly.
en.wikipedia.org
Targeting Campaign Communications: In the 2024 U.S. elections, Iranian hackers associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) compromised internal communications of the Trump campaign and attempted to share the stolen data with opponents, aiming to influence the election's outcome.
apnews.com
apnews.com
Disinformation and Propaganda Campaigns
Social Media Manipulation: Adversaries create and spread false information on social media platforms to mislead voters, incite division, or suppress voter turnout. These campaigns often employ automated bots and fake profiles to amplify misleading narratives.
f5.com
Social Media Manipulation: Adversaries create and spread false information on social media platforms to mislead voters, incite division, or suppress voter turnout. These campaigns often employ automated bots and fake profiles to amplify misleading narratives.
f5.com
Deepfakes and AI-Generated Content: The use of artificial intelligence to produce realistic but fabricated images, videos, or audio recordings can deceive voters about a candidate's actions or statements, thereby influencing public opinion.
f5.com
Direct Interference with Voting Infrastructure
Hacking Voting Machines: While there is limited evidence of successful tampering with vote counts, the potential vulnerability of electronic voting systems to hacking raises concerns about the integrity of election results. Documentaries like "Kill Chain: The Cyber War on America's Elections" highlight these vulnerabilities.
en.wikipedia.org
Hacking Voting Machines: While there is limited evidence of successful tampering with vote counts, the potential vulnerability of electronic voting systems to hacking raises concerns about the integrity of election results. Documentaries like "Kill Chain: The Cyber War on America's Elections" highlight these vulnerabilities.
en.wikipedia.org
Disruption of Election Websites: Cyber attacks on official election websites can sow confusion, delay results, or undermine confidence in the electoral process. For example, Iranian hackers have probed U.S. election websites for vulnerabilities, potentially aiming to disrupt the electoral process.
cnn.com
cnn.com
Foreign Influence Operations
Funding and Support for Specific Candidates: Foreign entities may provide covert financial support or resources to preferred candidates to sway election outcomes in their favor. Such interference undermines the sovereignty of the electoral process.
Funding and Support for Specific Candidates: Foreign entities may provide covert financial support or resources to preferred candidates to sway election outcomes in their favor. Such interference undermines the sovereignty of the electoral process.
Exploiting Societal Divisions: By amplifying existing social and political divisions through targeted disinformation, foreign actors aim to destabilize democratic societies and erode trust in electoral systems.
trustwave.com
trustwave.com
These schemes underscore the evolving nature of election interference in the digital age, highlighting the need for robust cybersecurity measures, public awareness, and international cooperation to safeguard democratic institutions.
https://www.businessinsider.com/worsening-russian-hybrid-warfare-in-us-european-elections-2024-11?
https://nypost.com/2024/09/27/us-news/justice-department-indicts-three-iranians-for-hack-and-leak-operation-on-trump-campaign/?
https://apnews.com/article/iran-fbi-hacking-trump-election-interference-2020-3631e1832a8edb549d53126585503f32
6 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
why risk ID theft getting a haircut? 