PSA: Don't click/follow links in chat

[Dzian]

Some are, sure. But, there's a funny thing going on, I think, and it has to do with the new young generation(s) that have basically grown up on the internet. Just a couple generations back, we all grew up knowing the stories of sketchy sites and viruses lurking in every suspicious link or email and never give away personal info, etc. But, kids got it easy these days. Makes 'em easy prey for the old tricks when they think they can trust their safety to the internet.

The weird thing here is. Given how the younger generations have basically grown up on the Internet. They should be able to spot a fake url with ease

[Hasrat]

The weird thing here is. Given how the younger generations have basically grown up on the Internet. They should be able to spot a fake url with ease

Like I said. They're growing up in an age where the internet is largely safe for them. Or, at least, not as "dangerous" as it once was. When you don't grow up with that danger, you can't really learn to spot it. Preying on their trusting nature as they take everything at face value. Scams may seem obvious to most, but there's always someone willing to give the benefit of the doubt.

[Dzian]

Like I said. They're growing up in an age where the internet is largely safe for them. Or, at least, not as "dangerous" as it once was. When you don't grow up with that danger, you can't really learn to spot it. Preying on their trusting nature as they take everything at face value. Scams may seem obvious to most, but there's always someone willing to give the benefit of the doubt.

it's mostly common sense though.. a fake website address is pretty easy to spot. www.ffxiv-forum.com-sqare.biz/whatever DO NOT CLICK (cant remember how to plain text urls)

Most young people should easily recognise as fake because they're tought about domains and things at school so they should instantly recognise that address as pointing to a ffxiv-forum sub domain on a com-square.biz domain which should immediately throw out alarm bells as any official page would be on the square-enix domain...

if people are unsure then they should make use of 2FA on there accounts. either via the security token or the otp app. then even if they do fall for such a scam they should be safe. as typically an otp will only work for ~10 minutes.

There's a 3 step rule to whether something is genuine or not. which many companies are now conforming to.

1: does it come from a recognisable source..
2: does it refer to you specifically by name
3: does it contain any specifically identifiable information.

using these fakes are easy to spot.. if you get an email from megabank for example the 3 steps above will always tell you if its genuine..

1: do yourecognie the company?
do you even have an account with megabank? if yes go to 2. if no delete email.

2: does it mention you specifically by name.?
Dear James Smith... for example? if yes go to 3. if no (i.e dear customer) delete email.

3: Does it conatian any specificly identifiable and verifiable information?
suspicious activity detected on your megabank gold account XXXX4321? if yes and that information is accurate (i.e your account ends in 4321) you can treat it as genuine email. if no then delete the email.

it's basic common sense.

most companies these days make sure to conform to these 3 rules in any correspondance they send.

[Jojoya]

it's basic common sense.

As the saying goes, common sense isn't common.

What really protects us is experience, not some innate instinctive ability to know what is a scam and what isn't.

When many parents don't understand how to be safe on the internet, it shouldn't be surprising that children fall victim. There are no internet safety classes incorporated into our education system to help them learn.

I made a thread last year about giving warnings to players. I was quickly told there is a link buried in the info about scams on twitch on lodestone.

You would think all the vast array of reports that's been given about this phishing scam would warrant that link renamed so people actually go into it and not avoid it.

When I start up my launcher, third item under the news feed in bolded text is "Be wary of suspicious links on Twitch" so it's very visible in a spot everyone can see any time they decide to play the game. No need to make a conscious effort to visit the Lodestone.

But it should be updated to "Be wary of suspicious links in-game and on Twitch".