How To Protect Yourself From A Scam? : Know All Facts! >> The guide is to help users stay protected from online scams and update the route to report those scams.
Are you aware of all kinds of scams that are carried out every day on the internet? It is very unfortunate how scams are becoming more sophisticated with every passing year.
This post discusses what kind of approach phishers are using, how phishing has evolved, and how to protect yourself from them. For example, phishers can target you with mobile-based attacks. They’re using social engineering techniques. They’re using fake social media profiles Worldwide to build up trust in a targeted way.
So, let us move further on this post and discuss in brief How To Protect Yourself From A Scam?
Internet Scams Defined
Here are the different kind of internet scams that are most common nowadays:
Phishing
Phishing refers to many deceptive, fraudulent techniques used by hackers to steal personal or confidential information. Attackers typically create websites or emails that look similar to legitimate websites or email addresses.
Phishing messages usually have the bank’s logo or other details such as URL to a real website and offer you to help with a problem. Once users enter their information, the attacker can access that information and steal the victim’s identity.
Credit Card Fraud
You might also know about it, as this is the most common way for an internet scam Worldwide. Fraud scammers may illegally obtain your personal financial information like credit or debit card information on this internet and then take all your money using a credit or debit card.
Lottery Scam
You probably see this internet scam everywhere on the internet or text and calls. Scammers first tell you that you have won some unbelievable amount of money and tell you to deposit some of it to claim that reward. It’s amazing how much pressure they put on people to get the money out of them.
Identity Theft
Identity theft is a scam that seeks to steal personal information from unsuspecting victims. Unskilled hackers and fraudsters often carry it out.
The scammer uses your personal information to get loans in your name, and you will have to pay for it, and you know the consequences if you don’t pay for the loans.
How To Protect Yourself From A Scam?
If you are using the internet today, you have to be aware of scams because they are everywhere. But, if you are cautious about it and verify everything before trusting it, you will probably be safe. Here are some of the things listed below that can ensure your safety even more:
- Activate Two-factor Authentication – Two-factor authentication is a handy service that lets you access your accounts with your password and the special code on your phone. Take two-factor authentication as a more secure way of accessing your accounts.
- Keep Updating your Accounts Personal Information – You have to be more aware of using the platforms where you have crucial personal information and take small security actions like updating passwords and personal account information.
- Do Not Email Your Account Numbers and Signatures – Avoid sending your signatures online as it is very important personal information. If you send this kind of details to anyone, confirm it on the call if its them and use secure file transfer services.
- Only Use Encrypted Websites – To identify an encrypted website, look for HTTPS in front of the domain name. Encryption does not guarantee safety, but it means a more secure and safe to use the website. If any platform is using http, then it is not a good sign.
How To Report A Scam?
With different online scams, it becomes challenging for average users to determine the right route to report each type. Use the below information to know where to report when you are scammed.
- Email Scams – If you spot a scam email or phishing email, report the same to the internet service provider or ISP used to send the email. You will find a “link” or a “report” button in the inbox from where you can report. Gmail has a “Report Spam” key, and Yahoo urges the users to report the email scams at abuse@yahoo.com. If the scam email is from a company that seems suspicious, report it to the original company about the fake email.
- Credit Card Scams – Credit card issuers offer zero fraud liability on all unauthorized charges. So, when you suspect a credit card scam, report it to the card issuer immediately. You must report the credit card scam within 60 days of a billing statement that comprises suspicious charges. The issuer will cancel the card and assign you a new card, and all necessary actions will be taken to offer you the chargeback.
- Online Scams – There are different types of online scams, and the methods of reporting the virtual scams vary depending upon the type of online scam. However, cybercrime departments in every state and nation where you must report the online scams for necessary actions. You must approach the local police to report the online scam with details, and they will escalate the case to the cybercrime department for further necessary actions.
- If you feel like you are already scammed, you have to take action and report the scam. For reporting phishing scams, you can send an email to the Anti-phishing working group reportphishing@apwg.org. If you don’t reply, you can report it to the local police or your known cybersecurity. You can also send a complaint to Econsumer.gov in case of online shopping scams.
The Bottom Line
If you have made it this far in this post, you surely know How To Protect Yourself From A Scam? However, you have to know that these are not all the tactics that scammers use. This post was to increase awareness and inform you about common scam tactics and how you can avoid them.
Does this post help you by any means? Please tell us in the comments section below. Also, do share this post to inform others about these scams and help in creating awareness. Moreover, if you want to know everything about the PayPal Scam and how to get refund, please visit this link.