There’s a good chance that you have a friend or a relative who has fallen victim to an online scam as a result of internet scammer tactics. You may have asked yourself, “How can you fall for such simple scams online?”. The reality is that scams that run in the online space are becoming increasingly effective, even for those who think they are protected.
So, how do you protect yourself from an online scam? First up, it’s important that you know what to look out for. It’s also important that you know how significant the issue is. Here’s a fact that may scare you. Last year the US had the highest number of data compromises in a single year, beating the previous all-time high (in 2021) by 72%. This amounted to over 350 million people that were impacted.
Even the FBI has shone the light on the increasingly serious nature of the issue. The law enforcement agency reported over 880,000 internet crime complaints received in 2023, a 10% increase on the year prior. What was the impact of this cybercrime? They claim it was over $10.5 billion, with California, Texas, and Florida being impacted the most.
A Drastic Increase In Internet Scams
Unfortunately, humans can be their own worst enemy at times. In an effort to improve our digital capabilities and make life easier, there’s been a rapid increase in the evolution of technology. Think about AI for a second. It was only in late 2022 that ChatGPT entered the scene. While Facebook took over four and a half years to reach 100 million users, ChatGPT achieved this in only two months. That is how quickly things are moving.
The issue with this high-speed evolution is that the controls that are put in place are not always the most robust. Added to that, new users to these platforms are not as aware as they should be of the dangers that lurk in the shadows. This provides the perfect playground for cybercriminals to act and take advantage of unsuspecting victims.
Social media is another reason. Looking at one of the latest platforms to join the social media race, Threads, achieved the 100 million user milestone in only 5 days.
While we may all be at the mercy of this advancing technology, the reality is that it’s a part of our lives on an everyday basis. We can however take action with the most effective weapon at our disposal – vigilance.
Why Being Vigilant To Online Scams Is So Important
Today, being vigilant online is far more than just a precaution – it’s a necessity. Scammers continue to shift their strategies, playing on emotion, human psychology, fear, urgency, and even curiosity to lure their victims in. As one threat becomes known and countered against, they create another, often being incredibly creative in how they structure their cons.
Another reason online users need to be vigilant is that digital scams are often far more consequential than simply stealing your personal information. They can be extremely costly. Cybercriminals use various internet scammer tactics to access bank accounts and deplete them, or even use blackmail to demand significant amounts of money.
It’s Not Only The Elderly Who Are At Risk
It’s not only older people who are targeted by these cons. Recent data tells us that young people are falling victim to online scams at a faster rate than ever before.
So regardless of your age, location, or how secure you believe you are, it’s vital that you are constantly vigilant against online crime.
Common Internet Scams
There are many types of internet scams that you need to be aware of, with new internet scammer tactics entering the online space all the time. To assist you with knowing what to look out for, we’ve summarized a few of the more common cons to look out for.
Phishing Scams
Phishing scams are one of the most common types of online fraud. They are simple to execute and trap more users than you may think. These scams typically involve a fraudster posing as a legitimate company or organization.
These scams involve scammers posing as legitimate entities to trick you into providing personal information. This is most often your passwords, credit card details, or even your social security number.
What to Look Out For:
- Unsolicited emails (from someone you’ve never engaged with before or messages that ask you for your personal information
- Emails that you receive that come across as urgent or threatening in nature
- They often contain poor grammar and spelling errors
- They’ll include suspicious links or attachments (don’t ever click on links in an email you are unsure of)
How to Protect Yourself:
- Take a close look at the sender’s email address. Make sure you open up the actual email address as they are often labeled as though they are a specific company
- If you are unsure of an email that contains a link, hover over the link to see the actual URL
- Never give away your personal information to someone you do not know or have not engaged with before
- Using two-factor authentication is a great way of adding another layer of security
Tech Support Scams
In tech support scams, scammers will pretend to be technical support personnel from well-known companies. They’ll often claim that your computer is infected with a virus or some sort of malicious software. Or, they’ll try to convince you that your computer has some sort of software error or needs an urgent update. The objective of this scam is to gain remote access to your device or to ask for payment to correct the non-existent issue.
What to Look Out For:
- As with the phishing scams, keep a close eye on unsolicited pop-up messages, emails, or calls that warn you of computer issues
- Anytime that someone requests remote access to your computer, be suspicious.
- They’ll try to use high-pressure tactics to urge you to act quickly
How to Protect Yourself:
- Don’t trust communication from tech support companies or individuals you don’t know
- If you are suspicious, hang up and call the official number of the company. If contacted via email, get the official support email from the legitimate website
- We always advise that online users install trusted antivirus software and make sure it’s up to date
Online Shopping Scams
If you are a consumer who loves to shop online, do so carefully. Online shopping scams, which are prevalent, involve fraudsters targeting users during the online purchase process. They often trick consumers into paying for items that don’t exist, or they capture credit card information to be used elsewhere. Fake e-commerce website scams are a common way that shoppers are conned.
What to Look Out For:
- Websites that feature items at prices that seem too good to be true
- Poorly designed websites with limited contact information
- No reviews, fake reviews, or a lot of negative reviews warning you of a scam
How to Protect Yourself:
- Only shop on websites that you trust and are credible
- Use secure payment methods like credit cards or PayPal. Don’t ever enter this information on a website you don’t trust
- Read the reviews of the website and do your research on the seller before making a purchase
These are just a few of the many types of online scams that exist in the digital space.
Make Sure That You Stay Vigilant
With an ever-evolving digital landscape and creative scamming strategies emerging on an ongoing basis, it’s vital that you stay vigilant and know what to look out for. Be sure to educate yourself on the techniques that these scammers use and share this knowledge with friends and family.
Remember, if something seems suspicious, it most likely is. Trust your instincts, verify sources, and never rush into decisions that could compromise your personal information or financial security. By taking these precautions, you can browse the online space safely and securely.
At Anti Fraud News, our goal is to help consumers navigate the online space without falling prey to scams. To educate yourself on these and other cons, take a look at our fraud news blog.