The internet has undoubtedly benefitted us in numerous ways but also introduced some serious risks that we should be aware of.
Online scams have become rather common. People usually warn kids about being careful about online scammers, but scammers tend to target all age groups with different types of scams.
The money lost to online scams is rapidly increasing with scammers becoming more and more inventive. They are coming up with more effective ways to trick people into giving their credit card details, and money in general.
Learning about scammers’ current tactics has become essential to surviving on the internet so that you don’t end up becoming their next victim. Therefore, in this article, we will be sharing how you can identify if someone is scamming you and how to prevent this from happening.
Moreover, you should also speak to your ISP, such as Hargray communications to learn how secure their network is. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you will be well-equipped to handle yourself against online scammers.
Identifying Common Online Scams
You must be able to identify if someone is scamming you online. Once you can spot the tactics of how online scams are done, you can easily recognize when you’re being scammed.
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Here are some of the most common online scams:
False Claims
Online scammers try to sound like authoritative organizations to make it seem as if something terrible will happen if you don’t make a certain payment.
For instance, you may receive a false message from your water company that you have not paid your bills and they will shut the water if you don’t click on this link to make the payment. Or perhaps you received an email that your Amazon account has been hacked, and you need to log in right now.
So what would a terrified person do? They will simply make the false payment or login into their Amazon account. Your online scammer will be waiting and will immediately seize your credit card and log-in details.
Therefore, always clarify with the concerned organization if there is some issue with your bill payment or so.
Tries to Win Your Trust
An online scammer will try to win your trust in one way or another. They may pretend to be someone you know, government personnel, your employers, or someone that you would trust with sensitive information.
When you do receive a message or email from a specific source such as your bank, family member, or PayPal, it’s important that you first verify their identity before replying.
The best way is to find the contact number of the organization the scammer claims they are from, and call the number to enquire if they really need your details. This will help protect you from online scams or catfish scams.
Asks for Your Personal Information
It’s not uncommon to receive a request from an unknown number claiming that they’re so and so and need your personal information to help clear your bank transaction or so.
You should never in any way share your personal information such as your credit card details, social security number, or passwords no matter who they claim they are.
Promises Too Good to be True
If someone promises you something that sounds overly impossible, and you don’t even know them, you’re most likely being scammed.
For example, you’re selling something on Facebook and someone offers to buy it at twice its original price. In return, they offer to give you something you have always wanted. You might be really tempted to accept the offer, but you shouldn’t.
Your dream might just turn into a nightmare. Once you give your personal information to them, they will transfer you a fake payment, which you can never refund, and you would’ve already sent your item to them.
Relationship Scams
The way technology is evolving, more and more people have begun forming online relationships with people they have never seen or met in person.
There is no doubt that some of these relationships end up being successful, but you will be putting yourself at risk. Romance scammers first create a fake social media account and start phishing for their next victim.
Then when they develop a romantic relationship, they start asking for money promising that they will pay it back, but it never happens. In fact, they always pretend to be working at a top-tier organization and are well to do.
If it all sounds too shady, you should immediately block them from your social media platform.
How to Protect Yourself against Online Scams?
Some online scams are really smart and brilliant, but it’s easy to learn how you can protect yourself. Here are some steps you can follow:
- Never click on links in text or emails
- Never login to any of your accounts from text or email
- Never call an unknown number from an email
- Always enable two-factor authentication for all your online accounts
Final Thoughts
It’s essential to learn how you can protect yourself online. Although it’s something obvious that you should never share your personal information on the Internet, people still end up getting scammed, because scammers have started to sound genuine.
The internet in itself is amazing, but everything has its negative impact, you just need to know how to tackle them the right way. We hope now you not only have an understanding of what online scams sound like but also know how you can guard yourself against them.
