How To Identify Avoid Online Scams
Online scams such as the Monzo text scam are constantly evolving. They may use tactics such as creating artificial urgency or impersonating a family member, or they may use new technology like AI to mimic the voice of a victim during an online video chat.
Scammers also target consumers with bogus employment and investment opportunities. They can even steal your credit card information by using phishing to direct you to a fake website.
Romance scams
Romance scams are one of the most common forms of online fraud. They use emotional manipulation and romanticism to steal money from unwary victims. These scams tend to be carried out by criminal bands operating from overseas. These gangs use stolen photographs to create personal profiles and contact people on social media. They may pose either as attractive models, soldiers, or US citizens living abroad. Some scammers also fake illnesses or financial difficulties to gain the trust of potential victims and trick them into sending them money.
It is possible to detect romance scams. The first step is to never send money or personal details to anyone you have met online. Also, don’t share intimate photos or videos with strangers. Asking questions and looking up the name and photo of your new contact on search engines is a good way to learn more about them. This will help you determine if they are a legitimate person or a scammer.
In addition to requesting money, romance scammers often ask for specific personal information or account passwords. These requests are red flags, as they can be used to commit identity theft later. You should never share your passwords or account information with people you only met online. If someone claims to be an expatriate or military member, you should run a background check. This will give you more information about the person’s identity and location.
Romance scammers can also use phishing to steal money. They may ask their victims to send money in order to purchase virtual currency or other assets. Scammers convert the money into their own crypto wallets. So, they can avoid taxes and fees that may be imposed on their money. They can also use the funds they have to launder money by transferring them to a cryptocurrency trading exchange that is owned by themselves.
These scammers can also blackmail victims in addition to stealing their money. They can threaten the victim with embarrassing information or intimate pictures unless they send them more money. In some cases they may even blackmail their victims by telling them they have a terminal disease. These scams are very dangerous and should be reported to the authorities as soon as possible.
Disaster relief scams
Local relief organizations often provide assistance to victims of natural disasters. Fraudsters take advantage of the situation to scam victims of their money and personal information. The scams are usually carried out by phony charities, contractors or other individuals that claim to be part of the relief effort. Scams are carried out through social media, email campaigns, crowdfunding and even in person. They may try to steal money or personal information from the victims by using fake names, photos and other information. Survivors need to be aware of common relief-scam tactics and take proactive measures to protect themselves.
Many disaster victims need help, especially when their homes or businesses have been damaged by a natural disaster such as a hurricane, wildfire, flood or other. Fraudsters are aware that charitable giving increases during times of crisis. They often create fake charities and crowdfunding campaigns in order to steal money from people. They use familiar-sounding names and heartbreaking stories to get people to donate. Some of these scams request donations via wire transfer or prepaid cards. These are not secure methods. The Federal Trade Commission has more information on donating wisely during a disaster.
Other types of disaster-related fraud include false property insurance claims, price gouging by retailers, and fraudulent contractor and vendor solicitations. Fraudsters may pose as representatives of government agencies, insurance investigators or relief workers to exploit victims. They can also pose as building contractors or alleged contractors and claim to be working on behalf of a local relief organization. To avoid this type of fraud, survivors should contact their local government for verification or FEMA.
Remember that fraudsters are not limited to those who have had their homes or businesses evacuated. They can also take advantage of elderly people, who are less tech-savvy. Elderly people should be cautious when responding to unknown texts and calls, and should never provide personal information to a stranger. They should also check online databases to see if the charity or contractor they are considering is legitimate.
Fraudulent email messages
Email scams are often based on personal information and scare tactics. They also use a sense urgency to get victims to click on malicious links or share sensitive information. They may claim that your account will be shut down unless you respond within a certain time frame, or that you have won a prize and need to open an attachment to collect it. These emails contain hidden malicious software that can be installed on your computer or mobile device. This allows the attackers spy on you and steal information.
Some scams impersonate people or organisations you trust. For example, a message might come from your HR department asking you to click on a link or provide personal information. The attacker could then use that information to access your bank accounts or credit card details, and commit identity theft or fraud in your name.
Email scams that target businesses are also common. In these attacks, attackers impersonate trusted colleagues and coworkers and request a wire transfer or other sensitive information from the victim. These requests look and sound like those that occur in the course normal business. This can cause the victim to lose money, or even create a security threat for their organization.
Another common form of email scams involves fraudulent messages that ask victims to verify their account or password. Criminals send messages that look like legitimate log-in prompts from a well-known service, such as Dropbox or Google Docs, and ask the victim to follow a link to confirm their identity. These links take you to fake login pages which download malware onto your computer or device.
In some cases the scammer may try to trick victims into thinking they are an emergency contact. They might mention an event that happened recently, such a break in or unauthorized charges made on Apple Pay. They may pretend to represent customer service and ask you for personal information to resolve an issue.
Your email provider can block or mark as junk many types of unsolicited emails. Spam messages often have spelling or grammar mistakes and might include a file attachment with a virus. To determine the legitimacy of an attachment, you should run it through a file scanner online.
Scams targeting buyers
Social media platforms like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Craigslist give people the chance to make money by selling their items. Unfortunately, these sites are also a haven for scammers who want to steal money or personal data from buyers. Scammers try to steal money from sellers using fake payment notifications, or by claiming they sent an overpayment. There are a few steps you can take to safeguard yourself.
Scammers may try to take advantage of you by asking for a deposit or advance payment to hold the item. This is a common scam that takes place on second-hand marketplaces and it is usually easy to spot. The fraudster will not send the item, and will disappear with your money. You will be left without your product or cash.
Other scams that target sellers include the bait and switch technique. Fraudsters will post an attractive, but too-good-to be-true listing, which lures potential buyers into buying their products. Then, once the victim has sent their money, the seller will change the sale conditions, upping the price or offering a lesser-quality item. If you come across this scam, you should walk away.
Fake shipping or delivery messages are another common scam. Fraudsters create fake screenshots or notifications to trick buyers into thinking that their purchase was delivered. These fakes can be dangerous for sellers of high-value items such as furniture and electronics.
Some scammers will target renters or homebuyers with fake real estate listings that include pictures of apartments and homes they do not manage or own. This type of scam can lead to homeowners being duped out of thousands of dollars by crooks who pose as escrow companies and wire transfer services.
To avoid scams, use a peer to peer payment system or marketplace that offers buyer protections. Avoid messaging methods like texting or emails that bypass platform controls. So, you can be sure that the communication is being monitored by an independent third party.
