How to Identify and Report Cyber Fraud

Knowing how to identify and when to report cyber fraud is an important part of being an active member of the online community. Although many agencies are into protecting people and finding ways to stop cyber fraud, it remains to be a problem to this day. This is the reason why it is important for you to learn to protect yourself when you go online and at the same time participate in the campaigns against cyber fraud.

Being able to identify cyber fraud before it can even take advantage of you is a proven method to significantly reduce your chances of becoming a cyber fraud victim. Reporting any forms of cyber fraud you encounter to authorities and other relevant agencies is how you take part in the campaign against these malicious online tactics.

To give you some idea on how to identify and report cyber fraud, see the details below;

• Emails from Unknown Senders

According to the experience of the victims who report cyber fraud, the primary channel for delivering online dubious schemes is through email. Almost all people who go online have their own email. This is one of the reasons why many fraudsters prefer to deliver their scheme through this method. It allows them to easily reach into thousands of victims at a minimal cost.

If you run into an email from an unknown sender claiming that they are from a specific company you are affiliated with, what you can do is call the company directly and inquire about the validity of the email before you respond. Once you find out that it’s a fake then you can use your email provider’s security features and report cyber fraud email that you received.

• Online Offers That Are Too Good to Be True

People who report cyber fraud also revealed that another common indicator of cyber fraud is too good to be true offers. Services and products are commonly offered online and most people in the online community are always on a search for a good bargain, which is why fraudsters commonly use too good to be true offers so they can lure their victims into their trap. Most of these fraudsters are after your personal and financial information so they can exploit your resources. So the next time you encounter offers that you feel are way too cheap or are so good that there must be a catch, chances are there really is. In case you do fall victim to this type of scheme, then you must immediately report cyber fraud incident to the Federal Trade Commission and IC3. Although these two agencies have no power to conduct their own investigation, they can easily forward your report to their partner local authorities who can launch the investigation.

The details provided above are some of the most common identifiers of cyber fraud. The early identification of cyber fraud can save you from going through the stressful and traumatic experience of being a fraud victim, while knowing how to report cyber fraud helps empower you in case you become a victim of these types of malicious schemes. 

Report Cyber Fraud

Report cyber fraud and ensure that online scammers do not make off with your cash, your personal details or turn you into a money or drug mule. The online world can be a dangerous place for people, given that the comfortable wall of anonymity also serves as a screen for criminals and crime syndicates. Online phishing, hacking and cyber fraud should be reported so that the criminal is caught in time. Let Big Scammers help you out and use the fraud alert system to catch these evildoers right away. http://bit.ly/2mV5z5U

 

Prevention from Specific Cases to Report Cyber Frauds

If you are using the web for business or personal use, you are exposed to technology where you could be defrauded. Consequently, you may be subjected to monetary loss. These fraudsters adopt a variety of methods to rob people of their money. If you are unaware of the potential fraudulent methods, there is every possibility of falling victim to any of these tactics. And, in that case, you have to report cyber fraud to the appropriate authorities. The following are specific instances of frauds and suggestive precautionary steps to prevent the same.

1.      Employment/ Business Opportunities

●     Be alert, in case the effectiveness or utility of any product or service is exaggerated or inflated

●     Be alert, if the opportunity offered is claimed to yield exaggerated earnings or profits

●     Smell a rat, if money is asked as advance towards cost of products or for the instructions or guidance for carrying the business

●     If the job posting requires no experience, it is a sign to report cyber fraud.

●     If you are interacting with your prospective employer for the first time, don’t give your social security number

●     Take particular care if you are dealing with individuals, residing outside your country

●     If you receive unsolicited emails, offering opportunity of working from home and making huge earning in a month; be sure, it is fraud and report cyber fraud to the appropriate authorities

●     Contact the Better Business Bureau for determining the legitimacy of the company, offering the opportunity

●     Research well, on the internet to confirm the authenticity of the company

2.      DHL/UPS

●     If you find individuals, using the logo of DHL or UPS, in email communication, be alert

●     In case you are asked to transfer money before delivery of goods, smell a rat

●     DHL & UPS do not collect payment from customers, directly

●     Charges of DHL or UPS include, only the shipping costs and not for costs related to online transactions

●     Contact DHL or UPS and get confirmed about the legitimacy of the communication received through email.

3.      Identity Theft

●     Be sure that before submitting your credit card number, the website is secure

●     Make online research to be sure that the website or the business is authentic

●     Instead of relying and communicating on PO Box or Maildrop, try to get a physical address

●     Don’t throw away, bank statements or credit card statements in usable form

●     Missed bills could indicate that your account number has been taken over. Therefore, be aware of them

●     In case you are asked to provide your personal information, like social security number, be cautious, lest you are defrauded, in which case you have to report cyber fraud.

●     Don’t pass on your credit card number over the phone, before making a call, yourself

●     Keep a track of all transactions, noted on your monthly credit statement and if you find any fraudulent activity, report to your bank

●     If you find any unauthorized transactions on your bank or credit card account, report the same to your bank or credit card Company, immediately.