The internet can be a blessing for most of us, but there are some cybercriminals who threaten to ruin its usefulness for shopping and information gathering by trying to scam unsuspecting online victims. There are a number of common scams to watch out for. Here are seven of the main ones.
Phishing
Phishing is when a cybercriminal contacts you to try to get you to hand over your personal information or money. It might also try to get you to download a virus that infects your computer with malware or opens up a back door so they can steal sensitive data such as your usernames, passwords, account numbers and so on.
Phishing happens most often via email, but it can also happen over the phone, via text, and on social media. In particular, beware of online quizzes on social media. They will often try to get your passwords by asking you common questions so they can then guess your passwords in order to access your accounts and so on. Many people base their passwords on birthdays, children and pet names, and so on, so beware.
Phishing emails usually look legitimate, but pay attention to any landing page you might be sent to. They will usually try to make the site appear the same as the original, such as PayPal, but comparing the two side by side will usually demonstrate which is the scam.
Keystroke Software
One form of malware captures all your keystrokes, so it can pretty much log every site you go to, your username, and password. This could be a real disaster in terms of identity theft and money being stolen.
Greeting Card Scams
There are lots of free greeting card sites online, but they can be very dangerous. The images can carry malware that will attack the recipient’s computer and it will often open up a Trojan horse for them to get more information. If you do have to send an eCard, use a reputable site and watch out for spoof sites, such as clones of Hallmark.com.
Great Loan, Credit Card and Re-Fi Offers
These also play upon greed and/or desperation, especially when people are struggling financially. But no reputable bank is going to send you these offers via email. And if you have a bad credit score, there is also no way you would be offered the best deals, which are reserved for the best customers.
Lottery and Contest Scams
These have also been around for some time and still fool people. The email tells you that you are a winner and need to pay a small fee to get your cash or prize.
Ransomware
This is a very dangerous scam that is hard to overcome. The ransomware locks your computer until you pay them in bitcoin. The longer you wait to pay, the more money they ask for. So far, even top computer security pros have not been able to restore data or track down the criminals. Note that if you have a backup hard drive connected to your computer, the ransomware can lock that up as well. Back up all your data in a reliable cloud storage system and avoid clicking on anything that does not look legitimate.
The internet has revolutionized the way we communicate, shop, and interact with the world, but it has also given rise to various types of online scams. Being aware of these scams is crucial for protecting personal information and finances. Here are some of the most common types of online scams:
1. Phishing Scams
Description: Fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by disguising as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.
How it Works: Typically involves emails or messages that mimic legitimate companies or organizations, urging you to click on a link and enter personal information.
2. Identity Theft
Description: Scammers steal personal information to impersonate victims, often for financial gain.
How it Works: Can occur through various means, including phishing, hacking, or even through physical theft of documents or data.
3. Online Shopping Scams
Description: Scams where victims are tricked into buying products or services that are non-existent, counterfeit, or significantly different from advertised.
How it Works: Often found on fake websites, online marketplaces, or via fraudulent ads on social media.
4. Romance Scams
Description: Deceptive practices by individuals who establish relationships online with the intention of exploiting their romantic or emotional partners.
How it Works: Scammers create fake profiles on dating sites or social media platforms, build emotional connections, and eventually ask for money for various fabricated reasons.
5. Lottery or Prize Scams
Description: Victims are informed they've won a large sum of money or prizes in a lottery or sweepstakes that they never entered.
How it Works: Scammers request payment of fees or personal details to "release" the winnings.
6. Investment Scams
Description: Scammers promise high returns to lure victims into non-existent or fraudulent investment opportunities.
How it Works: Often involves "too good to be true" investment offers, typically through unsolicited emails or social media ads.
7. Tech Support Scams
Description: Fraudulent claims of computer issues, where scammers offer unnecessary or harmful tech support services.
How it Works: Scammers may contact victims pretending to be from a reputable tech company, claiming they've detected a problem with your computer.
8. Job Offer Scams
Description: False employment opportunities used to extract personal or financial information.
How it Works: Often involves offers for high-paying jobs with minimal requirements, asking for personal details or payment to "secure" the position.
9. Charity Scams
Description: Scammers impersonate genuine charities to exploit people's generosity.
How it Works: Typically occurs during natural disasters or crises, where scammers create fake charity websites or send emails soliciting donations.
10. "Nigerian Prince" Scams
Description: One of the older and more known internet scams, where you receive an email from a "foreign official" offering a large sum of money in return for assistance in transferring funds out of their country.
How it Works: The scammer requests personal bank details or a fee to facilitate the money transfer, which never occurs.
Protection Tips
Be Skeptical: If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Verify Sources: Check the legitimacy of emails, websites, and contact information.
Secure Information: Never share personal or financial information over unsecured channels.
Use Reliable Payment Methods: Avoid wire transfers to people or companies you do not know.
Keep Software Updated: Regular updates can help protect against malware and hacking attempts.
Awareness and caution are key in avoiding these scams. Always take the time to verify the legitimacy of any request for personal information or money online.
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