How To Watch Out For Scams In 2021

While online scammers use technology, they usually take action using most of the techniques used in real-world fraud. Scammers manipulate how people typically think or behave, so they can give out sensitive information about themselves. For instance, you may get an email claiming to be coming from your bank, and attached to it is a non-legitimate website link directing you to fill in your banking details. Also, you might get a phone call or a text from someone pretending to fix a security problem on your device only to end up installing software they can use to defraud you.

Most scammers would want to steal money from you. They’ll deceive you into paying for a fake product or a service, and they’ll normally extract your sensitive details, especially the credentials you use to log onto your online banking portal. So, it’s mandatory to watch out for scams.

Scam Prevention

Becoming familiar with scamming signs can help you spot trouble early before it happens. If you see any one of these, be careful not to let fraudulent people have a part with your hard-earned money. You can also consider online guides from Inbound Closer and other trusted sources to learn more about how you can deal with online transactions.

Here are some things you should do to watch out for scams :

1. Unsecured Websites

If you’re visiting an unencrypted site, then you’re exposing yourself to scammers. Be more cautious about looking for ‘HTTPS in the website address bar any time you visit a site as most unencrypted sites have ‘HTTP in their address. Such sites are unsecured, and your information can easily be stolen if you provide these details to them.

2. Threats And False Hopes

The main aim of a scammer is to instill fear in you, so you can provide sensitive details or send money to them. When they know you have fear, they might start threatening you’ll lose your job, go to jail, or something else to humiliate you if you fail to honor their request.

Alternatively, they can give you false hopes to get into their trap. They may promise you a big or expensive price if you follow their instructions, which ends up being a scam.

3. Bank Wire Transfer Requests

If you receive a request by someone you don’t know to wire money through money transfers, be more cautious. There are some instances where transfers through these don’t make sense, especially if you’re dealing with strangers.

Also, be careful about fraudsters who pretend to be your relative. Most of them will say they’re in a serious crisis and ask you to send money immediately, and they’ll tell you not to share the information with anybody. Scammers like to use the wire transfer method because they can withdraw this money immediately.

Again, wire transfer offers no protection to the sender because once you send the money, you can’t request the bank to cancel the transaction.

4. Suspicious Emails

Sometimes, you can receive an email message that’s poorly written in terms of grammar and spelling. If you see such, you might be dealing with a phishing scam. A phishing scam is a type of fraud where scammers use email messages to trick you, so they can steal your data such as bank details, passwords, and credit card information electronically. They later use these details to defraud you.

5. Requests To Handle Payments For Someone Else

There’s no reason why you should handle payment on behalf of somebody else. Never accept a request to receive any payment or deposit money into your bank account, then forward it to another person. If you receive such a request, it’s a sign of a scam, and you could at risk of being tricked or you could be involving yourself in illegal activities like money laundering.

6. Receiving Messages Promising You Money

This is the most common method used by thieves to defraud people. Fraudsters often send email messages promising you a lot of money you haven’t earned. They might tell you’ve won a prize and you need to send them some money first. If you receive such, especially from a stranger, it might be a scam, so you need to be more careful.

Takeaway

If you see any of the signs of fraud, then it’s best not to engage in such transactions at all. If you’re in doubt, it’s good to conduct thorough research to know more about the person or the website in question. It’ll also help to share this information with your friend rather than keeping it to yourself.

With the advancement in technology, scammers will continue to come with techniques to defraud you. It’s necessary to continue educating yourself about the types of scams and how you can overcome them.