Why does nobody talk about public WiFi traps in coffee shops?

I was at a Starbucks in downtown Austin last week, checking my bank app on their free WiFi. Two hours later, I noticed $350 missing from my account. Turns out someone set up a fake hotspot with the same name, and I connected to it by mistake. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of skimming trick?

3 comments

3 Comments

gavine411mo ago

You're blaming the WiFi for what is basically user error here. Public networks have been known security risks for over a decade now, so jumping on one to check your bank account is asking for trouble. A free coffee WiFi isn't a VPN, and no company is going to babysit you from fake hotspots.

ruby_sanchez451mo ago

That fake Starbucks hotspot got my sister last year, so frustrating.

patricia9051mo ago

Oh man, ngl the scammers are getting so creative with those fake hotspots, it's not even about being careless anymore. Tbh the real issue is they set these up right outside real Starbucks so you think it's legit.