After the news of Pope Francis's death, many turned to the internet looking for more information, tributes, or simply trying to understand what had happened. And right then—just as it has happened before—cybercriminals saw their opportunity. It’s nothing new: every time a major event occurs (like the death of Queen Elizabeth II, during the pandemic, or amid natural disasters), digital scammers come out to play. They know that during these moments people are emotional, curious, and have their guard down. So they launch scams, spread fake news, and even infect devices with malware. They exploit our emotions to do their dirty work.
What Are the New Scams After the Pope's Death?
It all begins on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook, where posts appear featuring shocking images (often generated by artificial intelligence) claiming to reveal "new details" about Pope Francis’s alleged death. The goal is clear: catch your attention and prompt you to click or search for more information on your own. In some cases, the links are embedded directly in the posts, and clicking on them redirects you to fraudulent websites.
One of the most common traps involves showing you a website that looks like a legitimate news outlet—but it’s just a façade. In a recently detected case, upon visiting one of these pages, users were redirected to what looked like Google, but wasn’t. There, a fake gift card promotion was offered—a classic trick used to steal your personal information or trick you into making unauthorized payments.
But that’s not all. Some pages silently run background processes as soon as you visit them. Without asking for anything, they begin collecting data such as your device name, operating system, country, language, and more. With this information, attackers can customize future scams, carry out highly convincing phishing campaigns, or simply sell your data on the Dark Web. And yes, that could include your passwords, banking information, or technical details about your computer or smartphone.
Read more: Scam Designs: How Hackers Use UX/UI to Trick You
When Google Searches Can Also Be a Trap
Another trick scammers are using is subtler—but just as dangerous: they’re managing to position their malicious pages among the top Google search results. Yes, you read that right. They pay to appear at the top when someone searches for terms like “Pope Francis death” or “latest Vatican news.” And since the links look normal, most people click without suspecting a thing.
This tactic is known as SEO poisoning, and it basically works by hijacking your path when you're trying to find legitimate information. From there, scammers might try to install malware, steal your passwords, or even hijack active sessions on other websites. The goal is to extract as much value as possible from each visit—whether that means selling your data or using your information for future scams.
The problem is that these malicious sites often don’t raise any red flags. Some are newly registered domains; others have been dormant for months without showing any suspicious activity. They don’t have a “dirty” track record, so they can easily bypass many security tools. The attackers know exactly how to play the game: they use clean, well-disguised websites to earn your trust—just enough to get you to click where you shouldn’t.
Why Now, Exactly?
Because this aligns perfectly with what cybersecurity experts have been warning about for years: cybercriminals act opportunistically. Every time something grabs the world’s attention—a crisis, the death of a public figure, a disaster—a new wave of scams appears. We saw it during the pandemic, with millions of fake emails circulating daily, and we’re seeing it again now with the death of the Pope.
Attackers know that when we’re curious or emotionally affected, we let our guard down. That’s why the best way to protect yourself is to stay informed, avoid trusting the first thing you see, and—if possible—rely on security solutions that help filter what’s real from what isn’t.
How to Avoid Falling for Scams After the Pope’s Death
If you’re browsing social media or looking for recent news about Pope Francis, it’s important to keep a few precautions in mind. Cybercriminals don’t rest, and events like this are exactly what they look for to launch attacks that seem harmless—but aren’t. Here are some practical tips to help keep you safe:
- Keep your browser and operating system up to date: It might sound obvious, but many people neglect this. Updates fix vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit to break into your device.
- Use tools that protect you while browsing: Some browsers and extensions can alert you if a website is dangerous or if a link looks suspicious. It’s always a good idea to keep them active.
- Watch out for alarmist or sensational headlines: If something sounds too shocking or unbelievable, check if any reputable news outlet is also reporting it. If not, chances are it’s fake.
- Don’t click on suspicious links: Whether in messages, emails, or social media posts—if a link comes from someone you don’t know or looks unusual, don’t open it. If you really want to read the news, search for it yourself on a trustworthy site.
- Verify anything that gives you a bad feeling: You can use sites like VirusTotal to check if a link or file is safe. It only takes a minute and can save you a lot of trouble.
- Have a good antivirus or security solution installed: Ideally, it should include protection against phishing, malware, and other threats. Think of it like a seatbelt: you may not always need it, but when you do, it can save you.
By following these steps, you can greatly reduce the risk of falling into digital traps. The most important thing is to stay alert, avoid believing everything you see online, and above all, don’t act on impulse when something seems “urgent” or scandalous.
