Cybercriminals target Olympic Games & concerts in 2024

Cybercriminals have targeted major events such as the Olympic Games 2024, Taylor Swift concerts, UEFA EUROs 2024, and Valentine's Day with sophisticated phishing campaigns aimed at exploiting consumer excitement and trust.

Data from Egress shows that the EUROs-related phishing attack recorded 7,000 unique phishing campaigns, which resulted in over 24,000 individual attacks within a span of two weeks in June. These attacks often involved hackers impersonating transport and accommodation offerings to mislead unsuspecting individuals.

There was also a significant increase in romance-based phishing scams, with a 43% rise leading up to Valentine's Day between 1 January and 5 February. These scams frequently involved impersonations of well-established dating apps such as Tinder and Hinge, in an attempt to lure victims into downloading malware or providing sensitive information, including banking details, usernames, and passwords.

Such phishing attacks not only jeopardise personal information but also pose several consequences for victims, including theft of money, loss or compromise of personal data, damage to reputation, and identity theft.

Jack Chapman, Senior Vice President of Threat Intelligence at Egress, a KnowBe4 company, highlighted the need for increased vigilance as attacks continue to evolve. "As we look ahead to a busy 2025, with multiple concerts from Coldplay to Billie Eilish, the 2025 Winter Olympics, and FIFA World Cup, it is crucial for consumers and businesses to stay informed about telltale signs of phishing attempts," he said. He further explained the importance of understanding how attackers attempt to lure victims through deceptive emails and links.

Chapman also provided advice on protective measures, emphasising the need for awareness and a cautious approach to clicking on unfamiliar links or providing personal information. "Consumers and businesses should be cautious and sceptical of unsolicited messages, double-check the authenticity of offers they receive, and use security solutions to detect and block phishing attempts," he stated.