Reported by: ELLEN CHANG

As sports betting ramps up and fans are eager for any ticket or merchandise deals, the number of phishing attempts rise as hackers target large sporting events like the Super Bowl to make a big score.

Consumers and companies should be prepared for a wide range of scams to occur around the Super Bowl since this is one of the big annual events cybercriminals target, Chris Pierson, CEO of BlackCloak, an Orlando, Fla.-based digital executive protection company that consults for Fortune 500s, told TheStreet.

The top phishing scams to expect for the Super Bowl are:

• Fake online sellers of NFL merchandise and memorabilia will be one of the biggest scams to watch out for. “Consumers should be wary of too good to be true prices and discounts on these items,” he said. “If you pay for these items, don’t expect to receive anything. You will be ripped off.”
• Fake offers for Super Bowl tickets, hotel rooms and special after-the-game events. “These offers are very likely to circulate on social media and may be offered by fake brokers or fake fans who claim they can no longer attend and need to sell fast,” Pierson said.
• Lookout for NFT scams as these are increasingly common and the Super Bowl is an ideal time. “They will promise one-of-a-kind Super Bowl moments, players, memorabilia, etc…,” he said. “Scammers will also claim fake partnerships with players, teams or related agencies to give the NFT offer more prestige.”
• Bulk SMS phishing scams that target specific area code phone numbers (Arizona, Philadelphia, Kansas City) with fake cancellation, overcharge or fraud alert messages should also be expected.

Read full report: https://www.thestreet.com/.amp/sports/hackers-phishing-and-scams-prepped-for-the-super-bowl