In the age of online resources and technology, you probably use the internet for a significant portion of each day. It’s your trusted news source, the means to stay in touch with friends and relatives even if they’re half a world away, and an endless source of education and entertainment that allows you unlimited access to music and visual media via streaming services. It helps you pay your bills from the comfort of your sofa and shop from stores that don’t even have physical locations on your continent. With all this in mind, it’s not difficult to see the immense allure of the internet and why it is arguably one of the most important developments in the history of humanity.
However, it’s not all sunshine and roses. Given the increased reliance on digital means, hackers are always seeking the opportunity to scam unsuspecting people of their money and data. While the damage can typically be reversed, it’s going to take a while to get your money back or recuperate the data that was subjected to infringement. While some scams are impossible to predict, knowing the most common methods used by cyber criminals helps you stay safer and ensure your private information stays private.
The Imposter Scam
This is one of the most common frauds. The criminals can impersonate anyone, from government officials to company representatives and even family members or close friends. The modus operandi includes making contact via phone or email and requesting money for different purposes. These can include alleged money you owe in taxes, fines or debt. They can also claim to be a friend that’s in trouble or had an accident and now requires your monetary assistance.
The scammers will also try to instil a sense of urgency in you. They are likely to stress how you need to pay as soon as possible or risk a myriad of unpleasant consequences. This is a strategy employed to make you act impulsively and driven by apprehension and fear. However, if you rein in your panic, you’ll be able to calm down, think more clearly and realise that you’re being tricked into an illegal scheme.
Most of the people that fall victim to this strategy are fifty or older, so keep an eye out for situations that sound like this. If you have parents or grandparents that belong to this age group, you should inform them of the dangers of this type of scam. If the call you received comes from an agency of business, you should notify them of the scam that is claimed in their name. If you have already followed the caller’s instructions, you must notify the police about the theft.
Dating app scams
This one can be particularly difficult to spot right from the beginning, as the scam will generally only occur after the offender has established a rapport of trust with the prospective victim. From then on, the scam can go in different directions. For instance, the cybercriminal can convince you to invest in a trading venture, such as crypto or stocks. Soon after raising the desired amount, however, they’ll vanish into thin air and take your money with them. They can also go the simpler route and convince you that they’re experiencing some form of financial hardship and convince you to deposit a hefty amount in a bank account, with the false promise that you’ll get everything back soon. And while the loss of money is a huge problem, hackers can, more seriously, also try and gain access to your accounts. By finding out private information, they will be able to gain access to various accounts by cracking your security questions.
If you believe that third parties, namely data controllers or processors, that should have better protected your personal information breached their duty of care and didn’t do everything in their power to stop malicious entities from accessing your information, you should reach out to Data Breach Claims. They can help you get the justice that you’re owed, as well as offer realistic estimates on the amount you are entitled to receive based on the particulars of your case.
Romance scams are not specific to gender, race or sexuality, so if something appears off, don’t brush it off because you just don’t believe it could happen to you. If someone asks you too many questions but avoids answering your own, it may be due to something other than shyness.
Online Shopping Scams
This scheme is usually employed on people fifty years or younger as they tend to make up the majority of online shoppers. You will generally be contacted via social media or website advertisements. The scam will present you with a plethora of enticing products at incredibly affordable prices. These can include anything from designer clothing and handbags to furniture and appliances and even pets.
After you’ve clicked a link, you’ll be transported to a fake website. Although you’ll fill in your bank details, you’ll never see the product you purchased arrive. In some instances, however, you may receive a much lower quality product or something altogether different. Suppose you ordered a bag, you can receive something with an entirely different design and colour scheme, or you might open the package to discover a ruler inside.
When it comes to online shopping, you should be attentive to the warning signs. As a general rule, you should try and keep your purchases on well-known platforms, as they are certain to be trustworthy. You should also be highly suspicious of websites that don’t add contact details or refund policies on their page. You should also avoid following ads and instead go directly to the retailer or official website. You have no way of knowing if an ad is genuine or not.
You should keep a record of your purchases to be able to identify any unexplained transactions that you haven’t made yourself and take the appropriate steps to secure your bank account. If you’ve completed the transaction and realised afterwards that you’ve been scammed, you should report the theft to the platform you believed you were buying from. Inform your bank, and they should be able to help you get your money back.
When you’re faced with something that may be a scam, it’s important to trust your gut. If something seems suspicious or too good to be true, it’s probably because it is.
Aftab Hussain is a versatile journalist who covers a wide range of news topics with depth and precision. His commitment to delivering unbiased reporting ensures that readers stay well-informed about the most significant events and stories shaping India and the world.