Victoria’s cybersecurity wake-up call: The Facebook ad deception

Excerpt: While Facebook offers valuable advertising opportunities, a new scam threatens businesses. Here's how to stay vigilant.

Ever been tempted by a Facebook ad that promises to amplify your business outcomes with AI? Such ads might seem like the answer to your prayers, especially when the challenges of running a small- and medium-sized business are many. But be wary—there's a new cyber threat in town that specifically targets business owners like you.

Here’s the Scam

Cybercrooks are crafty, we know this. They’re now creating Facebook ads that showcase promises of AI-powered growth and are designed to appeal to ambitious business owners.

But these ads are wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Instead of a productivity tool, you’re actually downloading malware—malicious software—that can risk unauthorized access to your Facebook data, including your precious advertising budget.

Who would fall for this? You’d be surprised. When swamped with daily operations and challenges, even the sharpest among us can sometimes be lured. These nogoodniks are experts at making deceptive offers seem genuine and disguising their nefarious software.

Your Safety Net

1. Stay Local, Think Global: While these scams may have international origins (some clues point to Vietnamese keywords in the malware), they impact our local businesses right here in Victoria, BC. Always be cautious, no matter how “local” the threat seems.
2. Double-check Before You Click: We can’t stress this enough! If an online offer feels too good to be true, especially from an unfamiliar source, take a moment to verify the advertiser by Googling it.
3. Use MFA: Implement two-factor authentication on your Facebook and other essential accounts. This friendly reminder could save you from a world of trouble.

With over fifty years of combined experience in Victoria, BC, we genuinely care about the well-being and success of our small- and medium-sized business community. Remember, in cybersecurity, it’s always better to be proactive than reactive. Let’s keep our local businesses safe and thriving.

If you need advice, support or a friendly chat about your IT security, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!