Scam of the Week: Watch Out for US Capitol and Parler Scams

Last week, a rally held in the United States Capitol escalated when protestors stormed the Capitol building. This event was later linked to posts on the social media platform Parler. The controversial events at the Capitol and related use of Parler has led both Apple and Google to remove the app from their respective app stores.Cybercriminals use high-profile news stories like this to catch your attention and manipulate your emotions. In the coming weeks, we expect to see cybercriminals referencing this event and the Parler app in their phishing attacks and social media disinformation campaigns.Here are some tips to stay safe:

• Watch out for Parler-related emails—especially those that offer an alternative way to download or install the app.
• Be suspicious of emails, texts, and social media posts that contain shocking developments to the story. This could be false information designed to intentionally mislead you—a tactic known as disinformation.
• No matter how shocking the news, always think before you click. Cyber attacks are designed to catch you off guard and trigger you to click impulsively.

Stop, Look, and Think. Don't be fooled.