Amanda Jackson
Hacked, Scammed and Watched: Why Nobody Can Afford to Ignore Cyber Crime
Cybercrime is often imagined as something distant and highly technical: a hacker in a dark room, lines of computer code and an attack on a multinational company. Yet three recent news stories show that the threat is far closer to home. It can begin with an app notification, a holiday photograph or a friendly message from a stranger.
The methods may differ, but the objective is usually the same. Criminals look for information, opportunity and, above all, our trust.
When familiar apps become a gateway for criminals
Online fashion retailer ASOS recently confirmed it was investigating unauthorised activity involving third-party platforms after customers received a notification apparently sent by hackers. The message, which appeared through the company’s own app, claimed that the business had been compromised and threatened to leak information. ASOS said some basic personal information may have been accessed, although it did not believe payment-card details or passwords were affected. (1)
The incident is concerning not simply because of what information might have been accessed. It is also a powerful reminder that something appearing on a familiar device or inside a trusted app is not automatically genuine.
Most of us have learned to be wary of badly written emails from unfamiliar addresses but we may be far less suspicious when a notification comes directly from an app we use regularly. Criminals understand that distinction because if a message looks familiar, urgent and plausible, we are more likely to act before stopping to question it
What your holiday photos could give away
Sometimes, however, criminals do not need to hack an account to obtain useful information as we may already have shared it publicly.
The Traitors contestant Paul Gorton believes his Cheshire home was targeted after he posted holiday photographs on social media. Around 20 minutes after one poolside post, his home was burgled and thieves stole sentimental belongings, including an irreplaceable family ring. (2)
Posting a photograph from the airport, a hotel or beside the pool can feel harmless, but in reality, it may announce that our house is empty. Combined with details from previous posts, online directories and location data, criminals can start to build a surprisingly accurate picture of where we live, what we own and when we are away.
This does not mean we should abandon social media. It means we need to become more conscious of the story our digital footprints tell. Waiting until we return home before sharing holiday photographs, reviewing privacy settings and removing unnecessary personal details can all reduce the clues available to someone with bad intentions.
When trust becomes a scammer’s greatest weapon
Perhaps the most distressing of the three stories involved an 80-year-old woman who sent £140,000 to romance scammers. The criminals reportedly used artificial intelligence to alter their appearance in photographs and video calls. Her daughter became concerned after noticing changes in her behaviour, including secrecy, unusual conversations and financial activity. (3)
This case highlights that cybercrime is often less about technology and more about human behaviour, trust and manipulation.
Scammers create emotional connections, manufacture crises and introduce urgency. Once trust has been established, requests that might have appeared suspicious at the beginning can gradually feel reasonable. Artificial intelligence, cloned voices and convincing deepfakes are making those relationships even harder to question.
For families, spotting what is happening can be incredibly difficult. Changes in mood, unexplained bank transfers, frequent calls, new online relationships or sudden secrecy may all be warning signs. The advice given in the BBC report (3) on how to help a scammed loved one is to remain calm, ask open questions and avoid confrontation. Banks may also be able to introduce safeguards when they are made aware of suspected fraud.
These stories share one important lesson: cyber security is no longer simply an IT issue; it is a life skill.
Passwords, two-step verification and software updates remain essential, but genuine protection also requires awareness. We need to understand how criminals manipulate trust, exploit emotion and piece together information from several seemingly insignificant sources.
Our Cyber Security Experience and accompanying Masterclass is designed to make those risks feel real, relevant and manageable. It will help you recognise the warning signs, challenge suspicious communications and take practical steps to protect your identity, finances, family and home.
Cybercrime is constantly evolving but greater awareness can make us a much harder target. Sometimes, pausing for just a few seconds is all it takes to prevent a moment of trust becoming a very costly mistake.
Sources:
(1) ‘ASOS hacked’: App users receive notifications sent by hackers – BBC News
(2) Traitors star burgled after sharing photos while on holiday – BBC News
(3) ‘Mum sent them £140,000’: How to spot the signs a loved one is being scammed – BBC News
