Alert: Cybersecurity Risks to Look Out For Before Attending ICC World Cup 2023

While Indian cricket fans are looking forward to the ICC World Cup 2023, another group is just as excited about the event, albeit for nefarious reasons – cybercriminals.

Major international sporting events like the ICC World Cup attract billions of viewers and fans, creating a perfect storm for cybercriminals. The combination of a global audience and increased online activity surrounding the event provides a great opportunity for malicious actors to launch a variety of cyber attacks.

THREATS

• Fake tickets: Cybercriminals can create fake tickets and sell them to unsuspecting fans. These tickets may be incorrect or counterfeit, and fans purchasing them may be denied entry to the stadium.
• Phishing attempts: Phishing messages and websites may mimic official ICC World Cup communications and prompt recipients to click on malicious links or provide personal information such as credit card information.
• Fraudulent payment platforms: Be careful when paying for tickets, goods or event-related services online. Cybercriminals can set up fake payment platforms to steal your financial information.
• Travel Scams: Scammers may pose as travel agencies offering discounted packages to attend the ICC World Cup. These fraudulent travel offers may result in non-existent accommodation or transport.
• Match Streaming: For fans watching matches online, it is important to use legitimate streaming services to avoid deceptive ads and malware.

EXPERT Talk

Ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, cyber security company McAfee also released an alert report highlighting the risks and scams associated with major sporting events, stressing the importance of vigilance and offering tips to protect yourself from these cyber threats during such tournaments.

Amit Relan, co-founder and CEO of mFilterIt, told ReturnByte, “Some of the most common cyber threats that have increased are the use of fake accounts and misleading ads that trick users into clicking and even making purchases at certain events. Misleading ads often manipulate users into being ‘too good’ to be true offers” and direct them to their phishing or scam site. Ultimately, users enter their personal information to access the benefits and fall victim to a phishing scam.”

Saiprasad Shankar, Chief Technology Officer, Deciml, said another common threat would be UPI spoofing, where fraudsters can create fraudulent UPI IDs that closely resemble legitimate IDs, such as “bookmyyshow@upi”, which may appear convincing but are actually fraudulent . He further pointed out that all these tricks are aimed at stealing personal and financial information.

PRECAUTIONS

Fans are advised to remain vigilant against such cyber threats. Experts give some tips:

• Be suspicious of emails or websites you don’t expect
• Do not click on links in an email unless you are sure they are legitimate
• Since Phishing messages and sites are often poorly written and may contain grammatical errors, you need to keep an eye on it.
• Users must keep in mind that a real payment platform or an authentic brand is not pushy in its communication.
• Genuine platforms will never redirect you to a third party website to make payments.