Every day, there’s another news story about someone being scammed out of their life savings by a con artist they met online. While the internet can be a great place to meet new people and do business, it’s also a breeding ground for scammers looking to take advantage of unsuspecting victims. From phishing scams to lottery scams, there are several ways scammers can take advantage of you.
There are many different types of online scams ready to test your digital security, and today, Guardio is sharing some of the most common scams to look out for:
- Romance scams: This scam occurs when someone creates a fake online persona to trick their victims into falling in love with them. Once the victim falls for their story and sends money, the con artist disappears, leaving the victim heartbroken and financially ruined.
- Investment scams: Many people are eager to make some quick cash by investing in various opportunities they find online such as cryptocurrency acquisitions. However, many of these investments turn out to be scams, and the victims can lose thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, popular YouTuber ‘Scambaiter’ can’t help hack all the investment scammers out there as he did for one lucky viewer, according to this Guardio article.
- Phishing scams: This scam involves sending fraudulent emails that appear to come from legitimate companies or organizations. These emails often ask for personal information like credit card numbers or login credentials, which scammers then use to steal your identity or access your accounts.
- Auction scams: This scam happens when someone wins an online auction but never receives the merchandise they paid for. In some cases, the seller may send a fake shipping tracking number to make it seem like the item has been shipped.
- Lottery scams: In this type of scam, victims receive an email or social media message informing them that they’ve won a large sum of money. However, they must first pay a “processing fee” or “tax” to collect their winnings. Of course, there is no lottery, and the victim loses their money.
- Tech support scams: This scam usually involves receiving a phone call or an online message informing you that your computer is infected with viruses. To clean your computer, the scammers attempt to convince you to provide them with access to your machine and/or pay for unnecessary software or services.
How to protect yourself
Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself from becoming a victim of an online scam. Here are a few tips:
- Be suspicious of unsolicited emails or messages: If you receive an email or social media message from someone you don’t know, be careful about clicking on any links or attachments. These could contain malware or lead you to a phishing website.
- Don’t give out personal information: Be careful about giving out personal information like your Social Security number, bank account details, or credit card number. Scammers can use this information to steal your identity or access your accounts.
- Do your research: If you’re thinking about investing in something or doing business with someone you met online, take the time to do some research first. Check out their website and see if there are any red flags. You can also search for customer reviews to see what other people’s experiences have been.
- Use a secure payment method: When making payments online, always use a secure payment method like PayPal or a credit card. This way, you can get your money back if you are scammed.
- Don’t rush into anything: Be wary of any online offers that seem too good to be true. If someone is pressuring you to make a decision quickly, it’s likely a scam. Take your time and research before handing over any money or personal information.
- Talk to someone: If you ever suspect that you’ve been scammed, talk to a friend or family member about your concerns. They may be able to offer some insight and help you come up with a plan for moving forward.
You can also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission or the Internet Crime Complaint Center. By doing so, you can help prevent others from becoming victims and stop these scammers from operating.
Of course, even if you take all of these precautions, there’s no guarantee that you won’t become a victim of an online scam. However, by being aware of the dangers and taking steps to protect yourself, you can minimize your risk.