Starting a new series on Internet Security from today.
HOW CRIMINALS USE ON DEMAND APPS
The new era of mobile apps have brought about a shift in people's thinking where many people are willing to let a stranger spend the night in their homes (Airbnb), get a ride with a stranger (Uber), or meet a potential date after just a few texts (Tinder). Most of the time, people get rides, homes, and romantic encounters with no problem, but once in a while, there are problems.
These willingness to trust strangers has created new opportunities for crime.
Last summer, a woman who rented a home via Airbnb forced her way into a locked closet and made off with more than $35,000 in valuables.
In 2014, there were multiple instances of kidnappers impersonating Uber drivers, including one where a Florida man drove a female student to a random destination and demanded sexual favors.
Beautiful girls are a good way to lure someone to a crime. Recently, robbers stole a college student’s cellphone, cash and car after he arranged to meet up with a woman from Tinder on a street corner in the middle of the night. When he showed up he found a different woman, accompanied by two other men with a gun. Tinder has repeated the police warning, noting that it does not perform background checks on users of the site.
Emails from cyber criminals pretending to be Airbnb hosts have resulted in fraud.
HOW TO BE SAFE?
- When first meeting a stranger from the Internet in person, meet in public.
- Uber advises that you make sure your ride’s license plate matches the one in the app.
- Airbnb has advised users to be diligent when vetting emails that appear to come from the company.