How to avoid Internet scams

At this point, we can assume everybody shares the same feeling: we hate to be cheated! Offline and online the story is the same. When we trust companies or individuals and we pay them to get a service, product, special price, promotion, or business, the last thing we want is to be deceived. 

Unfortunately, criminals abuse this gold value (trust) to steal our money. And to expect they will stop is just never going to happen! Statistics clearly show how every year, the criminal attempts, under its different disguises (data breaches, DDoS attacks, phishing attacks, spyware, ransomware, etc.), scale considerably.

In this context, the best we can do is to be aware of the potential scams and learn how they work in order to protect ourselves and our businesses as much as possible.

What is a scam?

A scam is any fraudulent scheme, business, or trick attempting to steal your money, data, or something valuable you own. Criminals constantly repeat these attempts because their objective is to cheat as many people as they can. Therefore, it’s possible to detect patterns in the way they execute the scams. And this is key for regular users! Based on those patterns, we can protect ourselves from criminals.

Types of scams

Since the Internet existed, it became a land of opportunity for honest people and unfortunately, for criminals too. By now you should know about different types of scams and also that crime never stops. The entire year, holidays, regular days, scammers find an excuse to attack. Let’s check out common types of frauds we must be aware of, to learn how not to get scammed.

Online shopping

Shopping is a very popular activity for millions around the world. It’s even a regular hobby for many. Regular users and businesses buy the whole year round! Think about birthday celebrations, graduations, all kinds of anniversaries, special dates like St. Valentine’s, Women’s Day, Christmas, etc., and of course, thebasics that need to be replaced sooner or later, like office supplies, clothes, shoes, electronic devices, home appliances, etc. To shop online has become a common and easy alternative.

Unfortunately, criminals know it and take advantage by creating fraudulent websites where they offer all kinds of attractive products (flight tickets, clothes, electronics, tours, accommodation, art, etc.), promotions, and prices that are hard to resist. They add bright and even animated tags or countdowns to hurry you to purchase instantly, without hesitation. They scare you into “missing the opportunity”. You can get easily excited, so you buy. You wait days, weeks, even months, but you never receive what you bought.

How to avoid getting scammed

It’s better to buy on trustworthy, and known online shops. Always look for security signs before you click or type any information (SSL certificate, the padlock in the browser bar, HTTPS). Carefully read every detail related to terms and conditions for delivery of the product, insurance, warranties, return or refund policies. Update your antivirus for your devices to warn you about risks. And check reviews from other users to know a bit more about the site’s reputation, especially if it looks new or is not very popular.

Phishing

Phishing is unfortunately very widespread. It’s the fraudulent practice of sending e-mails spoofing trustworthy companies’ or organizations’ images to push people to reveal sensitive and private information. Phishing has developed a lot of different techniques; now criminals can contact you not only through e-mails, but also SMS messages or messaging apps. It evolves and adapts to new resources available to keep cheating people. They use all kinds of lures, prizes, tricky promotions, vouchers, coupons, etc. Criminals impersonate hotels, airlines, banks, retailers, government offices, taxation, or health entities to push you to click devious links or images that direct you to dangerous websites. Once there, the objective is to make you type your bank account, card details, passwords, personal data. With that information identity theft, stealing savings, fraudulent purchases, and many more crimes can be executed. This scam can be so harmful!

How to avoid getting scammed

Always keep safe practices for checking your e-mails. Carefully read emails to detect inconsistencies in the addresses, spelling mistakes, suspicious links, etc. Don’t directly download the attached files. Discard anonymous messages or e-mails from unknown people or shops you are not a client of. The content can infect your device and steal your information, or push you to visit a malicious online spot with the same purpose. If messages urge you to take action or they seem too good to be true, better delete them. And regularly check your devices to detect malware.

Charity donations

There are many different causes to support, from saving whales or an ecosystem in danger to sponsoring new scientific developments, someone’s surgery, and the delivery of food or clothes to remote areas. Worldwide, a lot of people are in need. The problem is that many criminals use that disguise to scam you and to abuse your generosity. They use a lot of fake stories and fake cases to push you to donate driven by emotions.

How to avoid getting scammed

Donate if you want, but first search the charity’s site directly by typing its address on your browser. Avoid clicking links attached to a phone message or an e-mail! If you find the site check for security signs before entering your data (HTTPS, padlock, etc.). Direct money transfers to individuals instead of charity institutions could be a scam. If the charity cause is legit, you should find also an office or a person responsible for the charity that you can call to verify the information, the bank account, etc. Don’t just donate blindly because you can be scammed to contribute to a criminal cause.

Dating

Talking about emotions, scammers don’t have limits to exploit them. Happiness, solidarity, sadness, loneliness, lack of love,  are all used to manipulate you. Dating sites or apps and social networks have become the ideal vehicle for them to reach you online. Why? Firstly, they can get personal details about you in order to plan and personalize their evil approach. Secondly, no matter where in the world you live, they can establish constant communication to gain your trust. After a few conversations, a couple of pictures exchanged, they fall absolutely in love with you. One day they would love to buy you a present if they had the money. The next, they can’t wait to meet you in person, but they can’t afford a plane ticket. And suddenly, they face eviction or a health problem, whatever to push you to transfer money to them in the name of love.

How to avoid getting scammed

Be careful with how you respond to strangers who contact you. Protect your privacy, don’t provide sensitive information or too many details about yourself. Never agree to transfer money, share your credit card or account details to anybody. Social networks are not a safe place for such exchange. Avoid this especially with people you haven’t ever met in person, or if you don’t have certainty about where they are from and who they are. There’s absolutely no sense in being scammed and heartbroken in one shot.

Social media

Unfortunately, many types of scams operate through social media. They have become the best place for advertising fraudulent activities (like pyramid schemes), for widely spreading malicious links, or images by sharing them with contacts, and for directly approaching potential victims.

For many users to talk with strangers is what they look for. And this search for friendship or interesting people can lead to many dead ends.

How to avoid getting scammed

Avoid sharing delicate personal information either on your daily posts or during chats with strangers. Check add-ons before installing them. They can be a means for extracting sensitive information from your search history. If you click on adds, triple check the destination you land on before typing or buying anything.

Auctions

Online auctions are a profitable business and hobby for many people who find excitement in the bidding. It’s true that sometimes you can get a great deal, but the problem is that there are many fake auctions. Either the products don’t exist, or people don’t really sell them, and therefore, they won’t ever be delivered to the buyer.

How to avoid getting scammed

Especially if the products are expensive, don’t bid before checking the website, and the seller. If the seller is abroad or a private individual, what kind of warranty do you have for trusting them? Choose secure payment methods. If the purchase involves transferring money directly to an individual (seller), that can be risky. And if you must collect the product, don’t go alone or at least tell someone the address you are collecting it from.

Conclusion

The scam menu, sadly, is wide and knowing how to protect yourself from those threats is an absolute must in order to keep our privacy and finances safe. Over trusting is not a choice anymore! Have technology by your side to help detect and prevent criminal activity. Limit access to your business or personal devices. Consider safe online and offline practices on a daily basis. Your personal and financial information must be kept private at any cost! Many crimes could be avoided by simply not clicking on a link or not opening an e-mail. 

The previous article, written by the same author, is that one. Check it out:

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