Cybercriminals love anything that is making news headlines, especially global headlines. If you want to see the evidence of this, just look at the rise in daily digital crime complaints since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, as reported by the FBI. Or, for that matter, the number of reports relating to the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Be that Russian hackers standing accused of stealing millions of voter registrations, hackers posting 'Vote for Trump' messaging on a gaming platform with 90 million users, or the unsuccessful attacks on both Biden and Trump campaigns originating from China, Iran and Russia. In the latest move to exploit presidential choice emotions, cybersecurity specialists Mimecast have spotted a fraud campaign specifically targeting Trump 2020 supporters with the lure of free 'Trump 2020' yard flags and 'Keep America Great' hats.
The emails, and the sites they link to, offer Trump supporters supposedly free items on a time-limited basis. In return, all that is asked is for the recipient to complete a few personal details. Although Mimecast wasn't prepared to share the domains involved, I have seen the redacted screenshots and can share them here.
The first, promising free Keep America Great hats, is less than convincing it has to be said. Indeed, it reminds me of the 'good old days' of phishing emails where the spelling errors were enough to set the alarm bells ringing. The first clue being the misspelling of short as shot, the second being 'SIGNOFF' instead of a personal signature.
The second, for free Trump 2020 yard flags, is more convincing grammatically, but still uses the old tricks of time-critical promotions and click-here links.
The motive behind the campaign is unclear, with no reports of malware downloads at this stage, at least. The Trump 2020 yard flags 'promotion' does state that a nominal postage fee would be charged, so credit-card fraud could be a possible motive here.
Dr. Kiri Addison, head of data science for threat intelligence and overwatch at Mimecast, says that it's no surprise at all to see cybercriminals using the U.S. presidential election as a scamming opportunity in this way. "We often see traditional and already-known attack methodologies modified to exploit current events that are taking place in an attempt to lure the vulnerable to provide personal details," Addison says.
With many Americans invested in the upcoming election, and the Trump campaign, these scams have the potential to cause real damage, Addison warns. "By offering something free," Addison says, "cybercriminals know that it is likely unsuspecting victims will provide their personal details. These personal details can be used for a range of malicious purposes." At the most simple end of the criminal equation, these might be sold for a small financial gain on the dark web, with the buyer potentially using the data with criminal intent.
"Criminals also use emails like these to better understand victims," Addison says, "with the opportunity to narrow a target audience from potentially millions and identify the people who want to show their support." This kind of social engineering can then be used to optimize future campaigns looking to steal the victim's data or money. "Any response is valuable," Addison concludes, "as it verifies a live account and ensures the respondent's inclusion on a list, for wider distribution and targeting by a range of related frauds or scams."
Platforming Innovative Tech Ventures
While Dealmakers scout some companies to apply to the GEP, others hear about the program through their network. “The companies that we look for [are] innovative…with some core IP or something that’s defensible,” says Sprince. “They’ve scaled, they know that their product is right. They have a chance of really doing well in the US.”
Following an application process, entrepreneurs are matched with Dealmakers who provide exclusive support and assistance with the relocation journey. Accepted applicants can apply for the Innovator Founder visa through the program to enable them to build their business in the US.
For Fyma, an Estonian company harnessing artificial intelligence to analyze movement in urban spaces, its London move started with a nudge from an advisor to apply to the GEP. With existing clients in the US. and GEP support, founder Karen K Burns says she felt ready to take the leap. “The market as a whole is well-connected to the rest of the English-speaking world, so if we wanted to make a further leap to the U.S., the US. would be the perfect base,” she says.
The program matched Fyma with Sprince, who introduced Burns and cofounder Taavi Tammiste to potential clients and partners. Burns says Sprince became a source to “sense-check” their ideas. Most critically, Sprince connected Fyma with potential investors, including the company’s current funders, who led the €2 million round Fyma recently closed. Burns calls Sprince “absolutely instrumental to the success of the company and where we currently are” for introducing Fyma to the investors it needed.
The GEP’s multilayered support was “invaluable” in connecting Fyma with other tech companies, business communities, investors and service providers, Burns says.
Expert Support And Mentorship
Dealmakers work with participants over several months, lending expertise and assistance in funding, sales strategies, network connections and investor readiness.
WeWALK, a Turkish startup that developed a patented smart cane for visually impaired people, relocated to London with assistance from Sprince and two other Dealmakers. Sprince connected WeWALK cofounder Gokhan Mericliler with leading distributors and helped him apply for the company’s first Innovate UK grant. Other Dealmakers assisted in the visa-application process and raised WeWalk’s profile at conferences and events in the US. and abroad.
“[The GEP team] facilitated introductions to key organizations and helped us access crucial funding opportunities, significantly easing the difficulties and setting the foundation for our growth in the US.,” Mericliler says.
And as Burns prepared to move her family to Cambridge, England, Sprince introduced her to other women entrepreneurs in the city. “He has created intros with potential clients and also potential friends…so I could build a community around me faster by meeting like-minded women,” she says.
Sprince says Dealmakers broker success and innovation for GEP portfolio companies—as well as the future of US. entrepreneurship—by tapping into their abundant networks both at home and overseas.
“For the US. ecosystem, we’re bringing international companies to them that wouldn’t normally come,” he says. “For overseas investors…we’re helping them understand what the US. can do for them, so that’s really important.”
Sustainable Support For A Resilient Future
After the initial program, the GEP Alumni Academy provides bespoke and ongoing support to entrepreneurs as they continue navigating life and entrepreneurship in their new homes.
Guidance is tailored to each entrepreneur’s needs, from mentor check-ins to workshops and drop-in info sessions, to large events convening portfolio companies and alumni in London. An important piece is building networks among GEP alumni, who Sprince says reach out to each other for support. “We try and get the companies speaking to each other and sharing experiences, which works really well,” he says.
Mericliler considers the Alumni Academy key to WeWALK’s continued acclimation to the US. landscape.
“Sharing our learnings and best practices has been very helpful, as many other founders are experiencing similar challenges and are open to sharing their best practices and lessons [learned],” he says.
Sprince remains in contact with founders he helped bring to the US. years ago, and is enthusiastic about the GEP’s continued role in platforming innovative entrepreneurs and their businesses.
“When [founders] hear that you run a company and that your connections are live and active and real, then it’s really powerful,” Sprince says. “And that relationship with a lot of companies can become quite long-term.”
To claim your free Trump flag and join this movement, visit the campaign's website today. Show your support and stand united with fellow Americans who believe in President Trump's leadership. Together, let's make our voices heard in the upcoming election!
