celeb bait noun [U]
/səˈleb ˌbeɪt/
an attempt to steal private information or money from someone by using fake photographs of a celebrity and messages claiming to be from them
Celeb bait is a cyber scam where cyber criminals use images of celebrities to lure victims into clicking malicious links or ads that lead to fraudulent websites. The scammers exploit the trust and popularity of celebrities to make their schemes seem more legitimate.
[https://em360tech.com/, 2 April 2025]
whaling attack noun [C]
/ˈweɪ.lɪŋ əˌtæk/
an attempt to trick a very senior person in a company into giving private information, usually by sending an email pretending to be someone they know
Whaling attacks specifically pursue an organization’s C-suite executives, senior management, and other high-profile decision-makers who have privileged access to sensitive data and financial resources … Unlike traditional phishing attacks that cast a wide net, whaling attacks are highly personalized and selective in their targeting.
[proofpoint.com, 5 March 2025]
wrench attack noun [C]
/ˈrentʃ əˌtæk/
an attempt to steal private information from someone by threatening or physically harming them
In November, Rubenfeld finally succeeded in persuading insurance giant Lloyd’s of London to include wrench attacks in the policy that AnchorWatch offers to its customers. For an annual cost starting at 0.55% of the Bitcoin they want to protect, customers can now be insured against violent Bitcoin robberies.
[fortune.com, 3 February 2025]
Fascinating
There’s even an XKCD for the wrench attack!