How Evil Twin Wi-Fi Scams Work
Scams are everywhere these days, and hackers are becoming increasingly creative, now targeting high-traffic areas at local businesses.
An Evil Twin Wi-Fi scam is a type of cyberattack in which a fraudster sets up a Wi-Fi network that looks and feels like the real thing. It has a familiar name, a strong signal, and no red flags at first glance. Once you connect, your data is exposed. The attacker can see what you type and which sites you visit and potentially capture sensitive information like financial logins, email passwords, or credit card numbers.
It’s called an “evil twin” because it impersonates a legitimate public Wi-Fi network, mimicking its name and sometimes even its login page.
- The Swindle: A scammer brings a portable router or uses a smartphone or laptop to create a fake Wi-Fi hotspot. They give it a name like “Café Guest” or “FreeAirportWiFi”—something almost identical to the real network.
- The Decoy: You see a list of Wi-Fi networks, and this one looks right. It could even be stronger than the real one. You connect.
- The Catch: If there’s a login page, it could be a fake one made to steal your credentials. Even if there’s no login page, your connection is now flowing through the scammer’s device.
- The Trap: They can monitor your browsing activity, capture passwords, or even redirect you to fake websites that look just like your credit union, bank, email, or shopping sites.
