February 5, 2026

📰 The Consumer Cyber Sentinel: Your Digital Defense Report 🛡️

Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026 Smart security for your digital life

🚨Top Cybersecurity News (For Everyone)

1. Top Cybersecurity News (For Everyone)

🛫 Beware of Flight Cancellation Scams: How to Spot and Avoid Them

Flight cancellation scams often begin with a fake message, email, or phone call claiming your flight has been cancelled or delayed. The scammer then pretends to help you “rebook” your ticket—but at a cost. Victims are often asked to pay a fraudulent rebooking fee or provide personal details, which are later misused. These scams can look very convincing, with accurate flight details and professional-looking websites. That’s why it’s important to know their tricks. AU Small Finance Bank

❤️ Romance & Valentine’s Scams Are on the Rise

With Valentine’s Day approaching, law enforcement and consumer protection officials are warning about a surge in romance scams online. Scammers build fake relationships on dating apps, social media, or email — sometimes using realistic AI-generated profiles — and then pressure victims to send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Officials in multiple states report that scams begin gently with flattering messages and escalate over weeks or months before victims are asked for cash. KJRH

💳 “Ghost Tapping” Could Target Your Credit Card or Wallet

Experts are warning about a new scam called ghost tapping, where criminals exploit “tap-to-pay” credit cards and digital wallets (like Apple Pay or Google Wallet). These scams trick the payment system so that a purchase you didn’t authorize gets approved when your card or phone is simply near the reader. This highlights the need to review your statements carefully and secure your devices when not in use. KSAT

📊 Scam Reports and Losses Are Growing in Some States

In Connecticut, local consumer groups say scam reports nearly doubled in 2025 compared with the prior year, with reported losses topping $2.6 million. Many of these involved online purchase fraud, phishing emails asking victims to “secure their accounts,” and fake job offers on social media. The state’s Better Business Bureau urges fraud reporting and vigilance. CT Insider

📺 Everyday Internet Devices Can Be Hijacked

Cybersecurity analysts warn that low-security smart devices — like Android TV boxes and streaming gadgets — can be compromised very quickly, sometimes in “seconds.” Once hacked, these devices can become part of a network that criminals use to send phishing messages or launch attacks on others. Changing default passwords and applying updates helps protect your home network. The Sun

🤖 Deepfakes Are Becoming a Bigger Problem

A recent study finds that AI-generated videos and voice impersonations (called deepfakes) are now used at scale in fraud schemes. Criminals can impersonate officials, family members, or business leaders in convincing ways — making scams harder to spot and more costly for victims.

🎌 Scams & Threats Now Circulating

Here are scams currently circulating that everyday readers should watch for:

The "Package Held" Text: You receive a text stating a delivery is on hold due to an "incomplete address." It asks for a small 50-cent fee to re-deliver. How it works: This is a "smishing" (SMS phishing) tactic used to steal your credit card number for much larger, unauthorized purchases later.
The Social Media "Friend in Trouble": A friend messages you on Facebook or Instagram saying they are locked out of their account and need you to receive a "verification code" for them. How it works: If you give them the code, you are actually giving the hacker the key to hijack your account.
The AI "Grandchild" Call: A caller sounds exactly like a family member claiming they’ve been in an accident or arrested and need money immediately. How it works: Scammers use short clips of voices from social media to "clone" the voice using AI. Always hang up and call the family member back on their known number.

😀 What You Should Do Today

Here are simple steps you can take right now to protect yourself:

Check Your "Sent" Folder: Briefly look at your email's sent folder. If you see messages you didn't send, someone may have access to your account.

Update Your Web Browser: Click the "About" section in Chrome, Safari, or Edge to ensure you are running the latest version. These updates often fix "holes" that hackers use to peek at your data.

Declutter Your Apps: Delete any apps on your phone that you haven't used in the last six months. Each app is a potential doorway for data collection or security slips.

Set a "Code Word": Talk to your family tonight and pick a secret word. If anyone ever calls claiming to be in an emergency, they must say the code word to prove they aren't an AI-generated voice.

⚓Quick Tip

If you receive a text about a package you didn't expect, ignore the link and track it directly through the official carrier's website or app instead.

🧑‍🏫Did You Know

Passkeys are digital credentials that let you sign into apps and websites using your device’s fingerprint, face scan, or screen lock instead of a typed password. They are significantly more secure because they are unique to every site and impossible to guess, which effectively blocks common hacking methods like phishing. Most importantly, since the private part of the "key" never leaves your device, your accounts remain safe even if the company you're logging into suffers a major data breach.