How to Avoid Online Scams

Let’s not kid ourselves: the web is interesting — full of pictures and jokes, sound tracks and videos, even excessive advertising.

But along with every genuine deal promising to sell something, there are numerous fraudulent offers at the periphery, seeking to rob you either off your hard-earned cash, personal details or in extreme cases – your identity. On the bright side? Most of the time, sophistication or more easily, common sense can help avoid serious dangers that one encounters online. Here’s how to avoid these risks.

Too Good to Be True? Probably a Scam!

‘Something for nothing’ offers are one of the clearest warning signs that a fraud is at hand. Have you ever seen an ad pop up, offering a free iPhone, free vacation in Bali, or a highly reduced price on that stylish hoodie you’ve had your eyes on? Spoiler alert — it’s most likely a con trick. Be cautious of overly optimistic statements — they are mostly false. Such statements often precede a malicious link or a request for private details. Never trust any amazing offer without verifying the authenticity of the source — does it come from a well-known company or just an irritating ad? If the situation does not feel right, listen to your instincts and do not proceed with any interaction.

Watch Out for Phishing Scams

Phishing is yet another tactic used by con artists, who aim at obtaining valuable information such as credit card details and passwords through trickery. If you happen to get an email or text message that is transmitting personal details, do not click on any link provided. Petty, refrain from any action contained in the message and visit the website on your own, signing in to determine if anything is out of the ordinary. Analyze the content of the message for common warning signs: such as incorrect spelling and grammatical errors, peculiar names of senders, and inappropriate files attached, all indicating that the content is troublesome and possibly a scam. Reputable businesses do not engage in such behavior and neither should you. Therefore, if anything seems questionable, it most likely is.

Secure Your Accounts with Strong Passwords

Moreover, it is imperative that you protect your accounts by creating strong and unique passwords for each one of them. As far as online hackers are concerned, it would be much easier to compromise your account if you relied on one password for every online platform. Use a different password for each account you have – and for that matter, provide a complexity in terms of characters by including alphabets, numbers, and special characters. If this sounds like too much hassle, then a password manager should be utilized. Also, wherever applicable, don’t forget to switch on two-factor authentication (2FA). With this facility, an additional confirmation is required, such as a message to your mobile with a code, in order to access your account thereby giving added security to the system.

Check the URL Before You Enter Your Info

Always verify the website address before providing any personal details on the site. Confirm that the web address starts with ‘HTTPS’ as that extra ‘S’ indicates the security of that website. Be wary of websites which have strange web addresses. Typically, fraudsters tend to register fake websites with almost identical web addresses – for example, ‘amaz0n.com’ instead of ‘amazon.com.’ Should even the slightest variation in the URL appear, it is safer to backoff than risk your details in a questionable site.

Be Careful About What You Share on Social Media

Although social media provides a means to connect with others and stay updated, it has its pros and cons. For example, never post such personal details as your full birthday, residential address, or a telephone number on the internet or public profiles. This type of information can be used by fraudsters to impersonate you or other related crime. Be careful with things like quizzes or contests that require these types of information. There are fun looking things out there that may require submission of sensitive information, but do not presume it is secure – read and understand any terms and conditions before providing such information.

Stay Safe, Stay Smart, and Share the Knowledge

It is correct that the web contains a lot of interesting content, however, it also has a lot of individuals focused on exploiting one’s interest or passion. However, by being vigilant and observing these few measures, you can outsmart online fraud and even safeguard your private information. Always be proactive in dealing with the con artists and do not allow them to emerge victorious. 😎 Don’t keep this to yourself: tell your friends so they remain safe from scams as well!

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