According to a 2019 Javelin study, around 15 million Americans were victims of fraud in the previous year. Although this number is lower than that of other years, the fact remains that people need to stay vigilant to avoid falling prey to online scammers.
So what can you do to protect your online identity? How can you keep such important information safe?
Keep reading to learn about some different types of online fraud, as well as how you can avoid them.
Be Aware of the Different Types of Online Scams
No one wants to be a victim, and the best way to prevent yourself from falling prey to scammers is by understanding the methods they use. Here are three of their most common tactics.
Job Offers
Are you looking for a new job? If you’re not and haven’t applied for any, then make a point to not open any emails that contain strange-looking job offers.
One common fraudster tactic is to message you about a job offer as an online shopper, or some other strange, similar position. When you accept it, you provide them with your bank info. They then have access to your finances.
If you are looking for jobs, it can be hard to know which offers are legit. Check around and read company reviews before opening or responding to any offers. If they request that you send money or provide them with personal information early on, you should be suspicious.
Charity Scams
Everyone feels good when they help someone. Unfortunately, hackers know this, and it’s something that they take advantage of.
Before sending money to any donation site, make sure to fact-check it. Do some Google searches and read reviews to make sure it’s legit. Any real charity organization will have a clear mission statement, as well as public legal documents that you can check.
Charity scams can be difficult to pass up on, as you get the feeling that you’re helping someone. Check out this link to learn more about SocialProtect.uk, a product that can help identify threats and prevent you from falling victim to them.
Contest or Lottery Scams
Congratulations, you’ve won a special contest! Your reward is a huge payout, and all you need to provide is a small fee and your personal information.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but most of the time, contest offers are another type of scam. The telltale signs to look out for are when they ask for any personal information. You should also be suspicious if the email is from a single person, as opposed to a company.
The Best Way to Avoid Online Fraud? Use Common Sense
Scammers can take advantage of new types of technology, making some of their schemes more nefarious. However, in most cases, their techniques remain the same. As long as you practice common sense and avoid opening strange emails or files, you should be able to avoid online fraud.
Do you have any other tips on how to avoid internet fraud and online scams? Make sure to let us know in a comment.
