Online
scams are the modern day con artist's dream come true. Phishing is when digital
cybercriminals use the internet to lure people into divulging of information
that is personal and sensitive through emails that make up very convincing
stories.
These
emails are tailored to resemble a known provider's like eBay or PayPal. The aim
is to convince or frighten victims into sharing their ID and password. Report
online scams immediately. The need to
confirm your identity to prevent accounts from being closed may lead you to
take the bait and fall prey to such online scams.
Email
messages require clicking a link or opening an attachment. The former leads to
fake websites where you enter the ID and password. This information is
intercepted by scammers access accounts and take you in for hundreds of
dollars. The aim of using an attachment is to set up malware and detect your
computer codes and passwords. Read on to know what are the questions you need
to ask when you report online scams.
#1 Is Someone Trying to Get Money Out of You Using Stories?
Most people
online would have received an email asking for a fee for immeasurable wealth,
whatever be the story. The Nigerian email scam or the 419 scam is one such
online scam. The theme is simple...some rich family is dead and the banker
wants to share the riches they left
behind with you. For this purpose, you need small fee to bribe officials or
release funds– the real truth is that any money you give the scammer will lead
to no returns whatsoever. These scammers
use emotions to manipulate victims. They promise a large cut of family or
business fortune. The advance fee scam looks to get money out of you. Report online scams at once.
#2 Is Someone Promising You A Prize For a Contest You Did Not Enter?
Most people
dream of getting a lottery or winning a prize to quit jobs and start
enjoying life. This is what the online
lottery scammer tries to plot. The online scammer aims to win big by impressing
you with a chance to share your personal details and score a lottery jackpot.
The truth is that there is no lottery and parting with your personal details
could mean a monetary loss or even identity theft. So, report online scams and
safeguard your interests.
#3 Is Someone Offering You A Bargain Item Online?
This is a
sale where you are selling a product and buying into a scammer's story. The
modus operandi is quite simple. The scammer finds the ad and sends an email
offering payment much more than the asking price. The reason for this is
simple– international fees are used to ship the product overseas. The scammer
then asks you to pay the difference through a wire transfer. Here's how it
actually works. The money order you receive is a fake and the scammer gets your
real money through a wire transfer that cannot be traced. Money order received
looks real so it is deposited in the account and the bank then informs you it
was a fake and asks to pay the amount back at once. This is what is known as a
lose-lose situation. Report online scams at once and protect your interests.
#4 Is Someone Offering Employment Too Easily For a Small “Fee”
You may
have posted your resume online to ensure personal data is accessible by
potential employers on legit employment sites. The offer of employment
comes too easily. You have to become a
financial rep of an overseas company that cannot transact money in your country
and needs your help. The truth is that the minute you supply details, there is
identity theft, money is stolen from the account, or you may even get fake
cheques. This is a classic online employment scam. Don't trust the scammers.
Report online scammers at once.
#5 Is Someone Using A Disaster as an Excuse to Take Your Cash?
Katrina,
the Tsunami or the Nepal quake all have something in common besides being a
calamity– they are the subject matter of scores of scams. People often use
disasters to lure people into giving cash. Choose to report online scams rather
than falling prey to them and facing a double disaster!
