Many people think they will never fall into a digital crime, but end up being victims when they least expect it. This doesn’t mean the person is foolish, just that scammers are getting smarter.
How Internet Scams Work and How to Escape Them
It is no exaggeration to say that scams evolve with technology. Criminals are always adapting and changing their strategies. That’s why you also need to adapt and know how to escape the pitfalls.
Therefore, in today’s text, we will point out the most common internet scams, how they work and how to escape them. So read everything until the end to never go through that kind of tightness again!
Discover the 4 biggest scams on the internet and understand how to escape them
In general, criminals try to get victims to reveal their information (passwords, card numbers, social security numbers, etc.) and then go after their money. Due to new technologies, these scams can come in unexpected and sometimes even personalized ways.
Next, we will present the 4 main virtual scams, in addition to explaining how they work and how not to fall for them. So check it out:
1. Transfer scam
This scam usually happens on a messaging app like Whatsapp. The criminal pretends to be someone you know and is in your contacts, usually a close friend or family member.
The scammer even puts the photo and status of the person he is imitating. So, he contacts you, claims he changed his number and needs to pay a bill that expires that day, but they don’t have the money available. Then he asks you to transfer the amount but assures you that he will pay you back the next day.
Those who fall for this scam end up transferring the requested money and, obviously, never see it again, as the scammer blocks the victim and walks away with the money.
To escape this type of scam, the first thing to do is get in touch with your friend or relative, on their first number that you have saved. Another thing to do is check the name and data that appear when making the bank transfer or PIX.
2. Website scam
In this case, you receive an “unmissable” promotion by email or see it on social media with a link to the website of the alleged store. So, you access the site, enter all your data and make the “purchase”. In the end, the criminal steals this data to carry out financial activities elsewhere.
To escape this scam, you need – before entering the link – to Google the name of the store. Thus, you check if the store really has that promotion or if it is an attempted coup.
3. Attendance scam
Here, the criminal pretends to be from the call center of some bank or company. He starts to explain that there was a problem with his account or his purchase. That way, he starts asking for your data little by little, in a way that you may not even notice.
To get rid of this scam, it’s simple: never give your password, card number or other personal data to any stranger on the internet (or outside it), however “official” that person may seem. The correct banks and companies never request your data for service. So if someone requests them, know that it is very likely a scam.
4. Gift scam
This scam can originate from dating apps or other social networks. Usually, the criminal starts a conversation with the victim by pretending to be a person with a lot of money, who has lost a spouse or is serving in the military.
Thus, he starts a long-distance relationship with the victim, but without asking for anything at first, after all, he needs to gain trust first.
Eventually, he will say that he wants to send an expensive gift to the victim. However, after a few days of the supposed shipment, you receive an email from a supposed carrier saying that the gift was retained and, in order to be released, you need to pay a high fee.
The victim, in turn, tells her “boyfriend” or “friend” that this happened and he says that he is currently unable to transfer the amount, but that if he does, he will return the money as soon as possible. After the victim deposits the money, she never hears about the criminal or the gift again.
Before making any transfer or believing in e-mails that seem to be true, do a big search for the company’s name and, if you have any doubts, enter the official website or the verified networks. Also, never trust strangers with conversations like this, even if they send you a photo or video.
Have you ever fallen for any of the scams above or know someone who has? With our tips, you won’t fall anymore!
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