Fraudulent groups often impersonate official conference-designated hotels or booking agents, using fake email domains and fake websites to mislead participants into making payments through unofficial channels. These scams are highly professional and convincing, prompting multiple international conferences and related organizations to issue formal warnings.

I. Known Scam Companies
Reports indicate that some scam companies proactively contact conference participants, claiming to assist with accommodation or travel booking services. Below are confirmed scam companies (including their email addresses or domains), though other cases may exist:

• • Global Travel Team (planning[at]gtravelhosting[dot]com)
  • Global Travel Experts (reservations[at]gtravelexpert[dot]com, bookings[at]g-travelexperts[dot]com)
  • Converia Travel (info[at]converiatravel[dot]com)Please remain vigilant. These scams are often sent via email, particularly targeting speakers or presenters.

II. Common Scam Tactics

1. 1. Imitating Official Hotel Domains
      Scammers register domains that closely resemble legitimate hotel or booking sites, e.g., forging “booking[dot]com” as “booklng[dot]com,” exploiting minor spelling differences.
   2. Phishing Emails in the Name of the Conference
      They impersonate “official conference booking services” and use fake domains to pressure participants into paying accommodation fees.
   3. Mixing Real and Fake Content to Gain Trust
      Fake websites may redirect you to the real official site, creating the illusion of legitimacy.
   4. Redirecting to Fake Payment Pages
      Emails include payment links leading to poorly regulated third-party platforms, where funds go directly to scammers.

III. Key Self-Protection Measures

1. Verify Directly with the Conference Organizer
   • Do not reply or click links in any email claiming to be an “official booking service”.
   • Always confirm through official contact details published on the conference website.
   • Check the conference website for announcements about known fraudulent booking agents.
2. Verify the Payee Before Payment
   • Before entering card details, check the merchant name carefully.
   • If you are paying for Hotel A but the payee shows an unrelated company or individual, it is likely a scam. Stop immediately.

IV. If a suspicious situation has occurred

1. Contact your bank immediately: If payment has already been made, call the card-issuing bank to request a stop payment.
2. Report to the police as soon as possible: If you have suffered financial loss or information leakage, file a report and provide evidence (such as emails, payment records, and communication details).

1. Handling Confidential Information
   • Protect Confidential Data: When dealing with confidential information, use strong passwords and encryption tools, especially when data needs to be taken off-campus.
   • Delete Immediately: After processing confidential data, delete any copies immediately to minimize the risk of data leakage.
   • Avoid Public Networks: Never process or transmit confidential data over public Wi-Fi networks or shared computers.
2. Handling Mass Emails
   • Check Before Sending:
     • Carefully verify recipients, content, and attachments before sending emails, especially to third parties, as emails cannot be retracted once sent.
     • Use “Blind Carbon Copy (Bcc)” to protect recipients’ privacy and prevent unnecessary email replies caused by “Reply All”.
   • Clear Subject Line: Use a clear and specific subject line to help recipients distinguish legitimate emails from spam or phishing attempts.
3. Other Tips
   • Account Security: Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for accounts used to handle confidential data, and use strong, unique passwords.
   • Device Protection: Use biometric authentication (e.g., fingerprint or facial recognition) to secure your devices.
   • System Updates: Regularly update your operating system, browser, and software to patch security vulnerabilities. Enable real-time antivirus protection and perform regular scans.

In today’s digital world, our online accounts hold a vast amount of personal and professional information. Protecting this information is crucial, and one of the most effective methods is to use passwords with reasonable length and complexity. This approach can increase the difficulty for hackers to crack your passwords. In general standard, passwords are recommended to have at least 8 characters long, preferably 15 characters, and consider including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

Tips for Setting Passwords:

1. Set Strong Passwords:
   • Passwords should have a specific length and complexity, or use long, easy-to-remember passphrases that are difficult for others to guess.
2. Avoid Using Personal Information:
   • Do not use information that is easy for others to guess, such as your name, birthdate, pet’s name, or common words.
3. Avoid Reusing Passwords:
   • Do not reuse the same password across multiple accounts. If one account is compromised, all other accounts using the same username and password are at risk.
4. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):
   • Whenever possible, enable 2FA service to add an extra layer of security.
5. Regularly Check Account and Password Safety:
   • It is recommended to regularly check the safety of your accounts and passwords, and change them promptly if you suspect they have been compromised.

By following these tips and developing the habit of using passwords with reasonable length and complexity, you can protect the security of your accounts and information.

In today’s digital era, protecting your online privacy is more important than ever. Whether you are a student or staff, understanding potential privacy risks and taking proactive steps can help to protect your personal information. Here are some practical tips:

1. Limit Information Sharing: 
   • Only provide necessary information online or on social media. Avoid sharing sensitive information like ID number or phone number.
2. Be Cautious while using Public Wi-Fi:
   • Avoid using public Wi-Fi to process personal or sensitive data. If necessary, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt the Internet connection.
3. Review Privacy Settings:
   • Regularly check and update the privacy settings of your social media accounts and other online services to control who can access your information.
4. Use a Secondary Email Address for Sign-Ups:
   • Use a secondary email address for any online services, subscriptions, and newsletters, in order to avoid spam or promotional emails cluttering the primary mailbox.
5. Beware of Phishing Scams:
   • Verify sender’s email address and avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.

By following the above tips, you can significantly enhance your online privacy and protect your personal information from potential threats.

No matter where we are, cybersecurity is an important issue that cannot be ignored.

Here are some cybersecurity tips:

1. Update the software on your mobile devices, including antivirus software, as these updates often contain security fixes.
2. Use strong passwords and avoid using passwords that are easy to guess.
3. Enable multi-factor authentication services to protect your accounts.
4. Backup your data completely before travel.
5. Enable anti-theft and remote data destruction features on your mobile devices.
6. Disable automatic Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections on your mobile devices.
7. Be cautious when using public Wi-Fi or public computer, avoid entering passwords or confidential information on these systems.
8. If you need to access UM internal information through public Wi-Fi, please use a VPN.
9. Be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to where and how you use your devices.
10. Protect your mobile devices, never leave them in public places, and enable encryption features, including USB or external storage devices.

Please be reminded that online safety is just as important as physical safety when you are out. Let’s make cybersecurity a habit in your daily lives, stay safe, protect yourself and have a joyful trip!