FRESNO, California – Cody Sarhan, Communications Specialist

STEM careers are the cornerstones of innovation and progress, shaping our present and sculpting our future. Join Xobee Networks in celebrating innovation and opportunity in these fields, this Thursday, November 16th from 11 AM to 2 PM PT at Clovis Community College, building AC1 in the Open Computer Lab.

As a leader in the technology sector, we’re excited to participate in the Clovis Community College STEM Career Fair. This event symbolizes more than just a meeting of minds; it’s a beacon of opportunity for both the current and upcoming generations.

We’re the #1 MSP in the Central Valley and growing! With over 5,000 clients across California, a robust team of over 100 employees nationwide, and a history of financing over 10 innovative companies, our presence at the STEM Career Fair is not just about recruitment; it’s about inspiring a new wave of tech enthusiasts.

Learn More: Careers in Technology at Xobee Networks

We believe in the power of technology to change the world. Our fields of expertise, including cybersecurity, data science, cloud computing, network engineering, IT consulting, and web/app development, are not just careers – they are pathways to making a tangible impact in the tech landscape.

We invite passionate and driven students to visit our booth at the STEM Career Fair. Engage with our team, learn about our groundbreaking projects, and discover how a career with us is not just a job – it’s a journey into the heart of innovation.

Why Choose a Career in Technology with Xobee Networks?

Choosing a career with us means embracing change and leading it. The technology sector is an ever-evolving industry in that we are not just participants but trailblazers. We offer a dynamic, exciting, and growth-oriented career path, where every day brings new challenges and opportunities.

Join Us in Shaping the Future

The Clovis Community College STEM Career Fair is more than an event; it’s a starting point for aspiring STEM professionals. We are eager to meet the bright minds ready to embark on a fulfilling career path in technology. Together, let’s explore the endless possibilities and shape a future where technology and innovation lead the way.

As we gear up for this exciting event, we extend an open invitation to all students with a passion for STEM. Visit us at the Xobee Networks booth, where your journey towards a groundbreaking career in technology awaits. Let’s innovate, inspire, and lead together into a future bright with possibilities.

Cody Sarhan | Communications Specialist, Xobee Networks

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FRESNO, California – Cody Sarhan, Communications Specialist

ChatGPT has gained global recognition as a prominent tool, providing AI-powered natural language text services to a vast audience. However, its widespread adoption has also attracted the attention of cybercriminals who are exploiting the chatbot’s popularity to deceive unwary individuals.

Before tools like ChatGPT, the easiest way to identify if an email was a scam or not was to examine how it was written. Red flags such as poor English and grammar, and a vague interpretation of your company, position, or job duties would be dead giveaways that somebody was not who they seemed.

“With these new AI technologies that help people write, it’s almost impossible to discern some of these fishing attacks from a legitimate email at this point.” — Alex Hamerstone, TrustedSec

How Scammers Pretend to Be Your Company CEO

Capable of producing highly convincing natural language text, ChatGPT, and other generative text AI models, have created a paradigm shift in the phishing scam industry. While these innovations have ushered in a new era of possibilities, they have also opened the floodgates to a wave of sophisticated scams, where fraudsters exploit these technologies to craft deceptive emails and messages.

Learn more: How Xobee can protect your email inbox

Pulling from interviews, social media, press releases, and more, scammers can generate convincing scripts that mimic the tone, writing style, and company knowledge of your CEO. This has led to a surge in phishing attacks, where malicious actors send emails or messages that appear to be from trusted entities, with the intent of stealing sensitive information or deploying malware.

The Threat to Small Businesses

The best and most secure decision you can make when avoiding any form of cyberattack — whether it’s scammers, viruses, ransomware, or more — is to invest in a cybersecurity budget. Small businesses, often lacking the robust cybersecurity infrastructure of larger corporations, are particularly vulnerable to these AI-generated scams. The personalized and convincing nature of these fraudulent communications makes them difficult to detect, increasing the likelihood of employees falling victim to these schemes. This not only puts the company’s sensitive data at risk but can also result in financial losses and damage to the business’s reputation.

To combat the threat of AI-generated scams, small businesses must fortify their digital defenses, and this is where email protection services come into play. Hosted Exchange, for instance, provides a secure and reliable email hosting solution, complete with built-in security features designed to filter out malicious content and protect users from phishing attempts.

Learn more: How Xobee can protect your email from spam, viruses, and more

Contact Xobee Today & Protect Your Business

As scammers continue to harness the power of generative text AI models to execute sophisticated scams, the importance of robust email protection services and VoIP phone services cannot be overstated. Xobee can help protect your businesses from these rising threats. We can help you safeguard your assets, and ensure the security and integrity of your business communications.

Contact one of our highly skilled technicians now to learn how you can protect yourself from scammers and spam calls.

Xobee Networks now has engineers servicing clients within Fresno, Clovis, Madera, San Jose, Sacramento, San Francisco & the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Anaheim, Palm Springs, and more.

Cody Sarhan | Communications Specialist, Xobee Networks

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FRESNO, California – Cody Sarhan, Communications Specialist

A disturbing new trend is on the rise, where scammers are using AI to simulate a desperate child begging their parent for help. The result has left victims giving away personal and/or financial information to the scammer, believing it to be their child. Scammers can clone the voices of individuals through AI technology, by using just a few clips of audio taken from their child’s social media accounts.

Speaking with The Post, a mother in New York City recounts an event where she received a phone call from her distraught daughter screaming and crying for assistance because she had just been arrested. “Mommy, I just got arrested. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.” Eventually, the call would be transferred to a “police officer” where the scammer proceeded to ask the mother for $15,000.

Learn more: How Xobee can help protect you with our secure VoIP Phone Service

Another story out of Arizona would see a scammer use artificial intelligence to clone a “dead ringer” version of a mother’s child, while she was on a ski trip. The scammer would proceed to make it seem like her daughter was kidnapped, hearing the pleas of the child in the background as the scammer demanded $50,000 in ransom.

“I pick up the phone, and I hear my daughter’s voice, and it says, ‘Mom!’ and she’s sobbing. I said, ‘What happened?’ And she said, ‘Mom, I messed up,’ and she’s sobbing and crying. It was completely her voice, it was her inflection. It was the way she would have cried.” — Jennifer DeStefano

🎥 Video Curiosity of ABC News, Nightline

As AI becomes more sophisticated these diabolical scams are just the tip of the iceberg. Scammers are capable of analyzing and replicating the voice patterns of individuals, often using just a few snippets of their voice obtained from social media or other public platforms. These scammers prey on the emotional vulnerability of their victims, creating a sense of urgency and panic, making it even harder for individuals to question the authenticity of the call. The emotional turmoil caused by these incidents is immeasurable, and the financial losses can be substantial, with some victims losing thousands of dollars.

How to Combat This Threat & Spot the Fakes

These scams are becoming more prevalent each and every day, so individuals and businesses alike must stay vigilant and educate themselves about these threats. Verifying the identity of the caller, especially when they are asking for money or personal information, is crucial. One should take the time to contact the person in question directly through a known and trusted method before taking any action. Some people have “safe words” set up to help identify people immediately if there’s any doubt, or they’ll ask a question that only that person would know the answer to. It’s even wise in some cases, to let the call go to voicemail and return the call to better help verify.

How Xobee Can Help Protect You

Cybersecurity measures have never been more crucial than they are today. Protecting oneself from these advanced scams requires a multifaceted approach, combining education, vigilance, and the right technological tools. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology, for instance, can play a significant role in this battle against scammers. For small businesses specifically, VoIP offers a cost-effective and flexible communication solution, but it also provides an additional layer of security. With features such as call encryption, authentication, and the ability to trace and block fraudulent calls, VoIP technology can significantly mitigate the risk of falling victim to these AI-powered voice scams.

Contact one of our highly skilled technicians now to learn how you can protect yourself from scammers and spam calls.

Xobee Networks now has engineers servicing clients within Fresno, Clovis, Madera, San Jose, Sacramento, San Francisco & the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Anaheim, Palm Springs, and more.

Cody Sarhan | Communications Specialist, Xobee Networks

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FRESNO, California – Cody Sarhan, Communications Specialist

In 2022, there were over 500 million phishing attacks reported; doubling the number of attacks reported in 2021, with California ranking as the 4^th most affected state. The meteoric rise in phishing attacks over the past few years is no surprise, as it’s the easiest type of scam for cybercriminals to fool people with.

“What we’ve been seeing is an increase in the use of voicemail and text as part of two-pronged phishing and BEC [business email compromise] campaigns… The attackers leave a voicemail or send a text about the email they sent, either lending credibility to the sender or increasing the urgency of the request.” — Jess Burn, Senior Analyst at Forrester Research

With the rise of phishing scams, PDF and invoice phishing scams have emerged as a significant concern for small businesses, specifically. These deceptive attacks, which use seemingly harmless PDF files or fake invoices as bait, can have devastating consequences for unsuspecting organizations. It’s for this reason that small businesses should seek out a secure inbox protection service for email communication.

Learn more: How Xobee can protect your email inbox

What Is A PDF/Invoice Phishing Scam?

PDF or Invoice phishing scams involve cybercriminals sending fraudulent PDF documents or fake invoices via email or other messaging platforms. These files are often disguised as invoices, receipts, job applications, or important business documents. The goal is to trick recipients into opening the file and unwittingly compromising their sensitive information or systems.

Example of a Fake Invoice

How Do PDF Phishing Scams Work?

• Deceptive Emails. Attackers craft convincing emails that appear to come from legitimate sources, such as banks, government agencies, or trusted vendors.
• Malicious Attachments. These emails contain attachments in the form of PDF files. When opened, these files may contain links or forms that prompt users to enter confidential information.
• Data Theft. Once victims input their data, it is sent to the attackers, who can then exploit it for financial gain or commit identity theft.

Learn more: How Xobee can protect your email from spam, viruses, and more

Impact on Small Businesses

Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to PDF phishing scams due to limited resources for robust cybersecurity measures. Here are some ways these scams can affect small businesses:

How You Can Combat Phishing Attacks

To defend against phishing scams, small businesses can implement several key strategies. Firstly, they should focus on employee training and awareness, educating their staff about the risks of phishing scams and how to spot suspicious emails. Secondly, deploying a robust email security solution such as Hosted Exchange can help identify and filter phishing/spam emails before they reach employees’ inboxes.

Additionally, small businesses should consider using secure file-sharing platforms, regularly update software to minimize vulnerabilities, and implement two-factor authentication for added security.

Investing in cybersecurity solutions such as antivirus software, intrusion detection systems, and endpoint security is also essential. Finally, developing an incident response plan that outlines steps to take in case of a PDF phishing attack, including communication procedures and mitigation strategies, is crucial for overall defense against these threats.

Learn more: How Xobee can help protect your business from scammers

How Xobee Networks Can Safeguard Your Inbox

Xobee Networks offers you a secure, state-of-the-art solution through Hosted Exchange. With our advanced security solutions, you can sleep comfortably knowing that your email is delivered cleanly and without any malicious viruses or code — saving your business significantly in the long term.

Contact one of our highly skilled technicians now to get connected with our Hosted Exchange service.

Xobee Networks now has engineers servicing clients within Fresno, Clovis, Madera, San Jose, Sacramento, San Francisco & the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Anaheim, Palm Springs, and more.

Cody Sarhan | Communications Specialist, Xobee Networks

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FRESNO, California – Cody Sarhan, Communications Specialist

While the Internet, and particularly email, is a digital playground for cybercriminals, phone calls and text messages have remained the go-to weapon scammers have used for years — a weapon that’s only getting stronger as technology advances. The advent of robocalls and text-based scamming is part of the new frontier for bad actors to explore. Small businesses, often with limited resources for cybersecurity, are particularly vulnerable to these insidious attacks.

“An average employee of a small business with less than 100 employees will experience 350% more social engineering attacks than an employee of a larger enterprise.” — Anne Campbell, PR Manager for Barracuda

Phone-based scams come in all flavors of deception and can be deployed through text messages, and phone calls. Scammers often manipulate phone numbers and pretend to be reputable businesses to appear trustworthy, underscoring the heightened importance for business owners to seek out a dependable and secure Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone service provider.

To put things into perspective, the year 2022 witnessed a staggering $330 million in reported losses due to text scams, according to data from the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network. What’s even more alarming is that the median reported loss was $1,000, more than double the losses reported in 2021 and nearly five times what victims reported in 2019. This sharp increase in financial losses highlights the growing success of text-based scams.

Learn more: How Xobee can help protect you from phone call and text scammers

How Scammers Acquire Your Phone Number

Data brokers play a significant role in the proliferation of phone call and text-based phishing scams. These companies collect and sell personal information, including phone numbers, to the highest bidder. Legitimate businesses often use data brokers for marketing purposes, but cybercriminals exploit these databases to target unsuspecting victims.

Examples of Fake Text Messages

How These Phishing Scams Work

Phone call and text-based phishing scams involve scammers posing as legitimate organizations, such as banks, government agencies, or well-known companies. The hope is that scammers catch you when you’re too busy to really pay attention to the message, and you’ll just click on it without thinking.

They use various tactics to manipulate victims into sharing sensitive information, like passwords, Social Security numbers, or financial details. This can happen through:

• Impersonation. Scammers pretend to be trusted entities, creating a false sense of urgency or fear to pressure victims into sharing information.
• Spoofing. They manipulate caller IDs to make it seem like they are calling from a trusted source, adding an extra layer of deception.
• Fake Links. Text messages may contain malicious links that, when clicked, can install malware on the victim’s device or direct them to a counterfeit website.

How These Scams Negatively Impact Small Businesses

Small businesses face a disproportionate risk when it comes to phone call and text-based phishing scams. This vulnerability stems from their limited resources, which often lack dedicated IT and cybersecurity teams. Without these critical defenses, they become prime targets for cybercriminals seeking to exploit their weaknesses.

The consequences of falling victim to such scams are multifaceted. Financial losses, whether through direct theft or the costs of recovery, can be particularly devastating to small businesses. These losses can disrupt operations and strain already tight budgets.

Perhaps equally damaging is the harm to their reputation. A security breach not only jeopardizes sensitive data but also erodes the trust and confidence customers place in the business. Rebuilding that trust is a painstaking process, often resulting in the loss of loyal clientele and hindering future growth prospects. Given these challenges, it’s imperative for small businesses to adopt proactive measures to safeguard themselves against these scammers.

How Xobee Networks Can Help Protect You From These Scammers

At Xobee Networks, we know our stuff. Scammers constantly adapt their tactics, so remaining vigilant and cautious is essential to our core operations. By combining our state-of-the-art security features with our advanced VoIP Phone Service we can help aid in protecting you and your business from phone-based and text scams. Contact one of our highly skilled technicians today to learn more about our VoIP Phone Service.

Xobee Networks now has engineers servicing clients within Fresno, Clovis, Madera, San Jose, Sacramento, San Francisco & the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Anaheim, Palm Springs, and more.

Cody Sarhan | Communications Specialist, Xobee Networks

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FRESNO, California – Cody Sarhan, Communications Specialist

Mobile apps have become indispensable tools for businesses of all sizes. Small businesses, in particular, can reap significant benefits from developing their own mobile apps. From enhancing customer engagement to streamlining operations, mobile app development opens up a world of possibilities.

Sometimes it’s the small addition of a mobile app into your business portfolio that can mean all the difference in engagement and advertisement to both your targeted audience and people who otherwise would have never stumbled upon your business. Having a mobile app means your business becomes omnipresent. When it comes to business-to-customer, the mobile app market is becoming a necessity.

Learn more: How Xobee can create a custom-tailored mobile app for your business

Mobile apps have the power, no matter what industry you’re in, to place your business in the palm of the hand of those you wish to engage with. It both future-proofs your business and opens the door to a digital ecosystem that your competitors may remain locked out of.

From e-commerce to on-demand services, communication, appointment scheduling, and more the advantages of mobile app adoption for small businesses are endless. They allow businesses to provide a unique custom-tailored approach for users wishing to engage with their services from anywhere, at any time.

The Five Ways Mobile Apps Can Enhance Your Business

• Direct Customer Engagement. Mobile apps provide a direct channel for businesses to engage with their customers. Push notifications, in-app messaging, and personalized content can keep customers informed and engaged.
• Increased Brand Loyalty. A well-designed mobile app can build brand loyalty by offering convenience and rewards. Loyalty programs, discounts, and special offers can keep customers coming back for more.
• Streamlined Operations. Mobile apps can streamline internal processes, improving efficiency and reducing operational costs. Inventory management, appointment scheduling, and order processing are just a few examples.
• Data Insights. Apps collect valuable customer data that can inform business strategies. Analyzing user behavior helps small businesses make informed decisions and refine their offerings.
• Competitive Advantage. Having a mobile app sets small businesses apart from competitors. It demonstrates a commitment to innovation and customer-centricity.

How Xobee Can Help Design & Develop Your Custom Mobile App

Xobee Networks specializes in custom app design and development. We can empower businesses of any size by creating a custom-tailored solution that enhances efficiency and customer satisfaction. We’ve designed apps for various clients across multiple industries that have proven to be valuable assets that drive growth and success for their businesses.

For more information about how Xobee Networks can help design and develop a custom mobile app for your business, contact one of our highly skilled technicians today.

Xobee Networks now has engineers servicing clients within Fresno, Clovis, Madera, San Jose, Sacramento, San Francisco & the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Anaheim, Palm Springs, and more.

Cody Sarhan | Communications Specialist, Xobee Networks