Cyber criminals affected the online
businesses and individuals since the internet networks first appeared and
spread all over the world.
The computer revolution, like all
revolutions, has brought as much bad as it has good, but it's here to stay.
Therefore, as painful as it may be, it's necessary to wise up to the fact that
many nefarious people are using the internet to con you.
Our freedom to navigate and access
a wide number of online locations represents in the same time a main
vulnerability, because an open door always allows access in both
directions.
Internet services and websites
make it easy for us to pay bills, shop, make online reservations and even work.
And you can do any of these actions from any place in the world. Old boundaries
and human limitations were dropped, in order for us to have access to almost
any information. Our lives became so much easier.
But the same thing is true for
CRIME.
Criminal minds can reach these
days further than before, into our private lives, our homes and work offices.
And there is little we can do about it.
Attack methods and tools vary from
traditional attack vectors, which use malicious software and vulnerabilities
present in almost all the programs and apps (even in the popular Windows
operating systems), to ingenious phishing scams deployed from unexpected
regions of the world, where justice can’t easily reach out to catch the
eventual perpetrators.
For this reason, we need to know
what are the most popular schemes and techniques used by cyber criminals in
order to obtain our private information and financial data.
We must not forget their final target is always our money and there is
nothing they won’t do to accomplish their mission.
So here are the few most common
internet scams, designed to fool you into handing over your money or private
details. Fortunately, simply being aware of these scams, and the modus
operandi of these modern criminals, is enough to fortify and protect
yourself from them.
1. Phishing
email scams
Phishing is a
scam that pretends that your bank account or online shopping account has been
compromised. They will ask you to confirm your details and to unfreeze
your account on an official looking website, which is totally fake. Once you
have given your password and account number they are happy, but you won't be.
Be very careful with internet banking. If you have doubts, close the window and
go to the bank's website directly. Check the information you have from the bank
and take the URL from there.
2. The
Nigerian con
This is a
very common scam. You receive an email saying a rich Nigerian nobleman has
died, or perhaps a foreigner with no heirs has died here, and all you need
to do is help the e-mailer by letting them move the money to your account for
safe keeping. For this you will be handsomely rewarded, they say. At some point
the e-mailer will ask you for money, for bank fees, or something like that.
Don't reply to any email that promises you money.
3. IRS
internet scam
This is a
really audacious scam, but it has been working. You may receive a call said to
be from the IRS, claiming you owe back taxes. If you don't pay up you will be
arrested. They offer you a quick solution. Simply purchase a gift card at
Amazon or iTunes and read the code to them, they ask. Of course they are not
from the IRS, who will never call you before you call them.
4. You have
been pre-approved - Click here for your credit card!
The word
pre-approved should send alarm bells ringing. But if not, you need to know
that this scam will ask you to pay an annual fee upfront. Then you will never
hear from the credit card company again.
5. An email
ransom
So much
information about many of us is available online, particularly through social
media. Therefore someone with a cold heart can use this information to write
you a ransom email, claiming your relative has been kidnapped, and you will
only see them again if you pay up. This unfortunately does happen, but almost
always, it is a barefaced lie. You should call your relative to make sure they
are fine, to put your mind at ease.
6. Buy gold
(and silver)
These people
are often told that gold and silver make the best investment. So, if a company
you have never heard of contacts you saying this, beware. They will ask for a
deposit by credit card and a wire transfer for the purchase. Often, elderly
people are taken in by this wicked scam. Only make investments via reputable
companies and talk to an accountant if possible.
7. Take our
survey
A lot of
surveys on the internet are genuine marketing tools. Some, however, are
designed in order to steal your internet passwords, bank details and internet
history. Watch out for this. If you don't want to take a survey, try to close
the window on your browser.
8. The scammer
who loves you
Many men and
women have been taken in by exotic strangers' professions of love, and poverty.
If these adorable new friends start asking for money they probably are not for
real. Always exercise caution when making friendships online.
9. The natural
disaster scam
Some scammers
take advantage of high profile disasters they have seen on the news. They will
often set up a fake website, or email you with a request for a charitable donation
to the cause, pulling on your heartstrings. Always check to see if the charity
is real. Don't take their word for it.
10. The 'your
friends were robbed' scam
Frequently
people have received messages from friends' email addresses saying they have
been robbed. The friend asks for money because they are all alone in a strange
country with nothing. The email account has been hacked by malware, though. If
you send any money it won't be going to your friend. Ask your friend to
call you so you can hear their voice.
11. The
'please click on this greeting card' scam
During
holiday season some scammers post fake greeting cards all over the internet,
but not with a spirit of good will. If you click on the link it will tell you
to update your media player. This update is actually a virus. Don't accept
software updates from emails.
12. The
Craigslist scam
A common scam
used on popular website Craigslist involves a buyer offering you triple the
price of the item you put up for sale. They send you a check and ask you
to use it to cover the delivery costs on your end. Unfortunately after you send
the item, the check bounces and you are left with nothing.
13. The 'fake
festival' scam
A lot of
young people have been taken in by the promise of tickets to a unique festival.
The tickets get paid for, but the event does not exist. Do some research before
you attend a festival. Does anybody else know anything about it? How did it go
last year?
14. Hacked
Facebook accounts of people you trust
Just like
emails, Facebook accounts can be hacked. So you may receive a message from
someone you know requesting money or something like that. Always call the
person on the telephone - not via the Facebook account - to verify the request.
15. Fake bank
SMS message
This is known
as smishing, when a fake text message will appear in your inbox, purporting to
be from your bank, they may claim you are required to enter your details. If
you do, some criminal has just got them. Do not respond to a message from a
bank. Call the number on the back of your bank card and speak to them directly
to see if there is a problem with your account.
16. You have
won the lottery - in Portugal
If you ever
get a message claiming you have won the lottery, even a lottery in a country
you have never even been to, that then asks you to pay some money up front, you
should know that this is also a scam, a very common one.
17. The phone
number quiz
If you ever
play a quiz online that asks for your phone number, don't give it. They could
be using your phone number to charge your phone account quite a lot of money.
18. The
'starved orphan' scam
Perhaps you
will notice an image of a poor child on the internet with a message. It
may say that if you donate a small amount of money he'll eat today. Yet the
money is not going to him at all, but some scammer. Always check that the
charity you donate to is a registered one. Remember they may be giving a fake
charity number, so do a proper search.
19. The
classic classified scam
If you see
something, a car, a house, with a ridiculously low price, something that stands
out, then really question whether it is genuine. This type of scam is
extremely common. The house itself, or car etc, may be for sale, but not with
the person you are dealing with - they have just stolen the photo. If you never
get to see it yourself, and they request an up-front deposit, don't pay a dime.
It's a con.
20. The fake
antivirus
This scam
takes advantage of our awareness that viruses are everywhere online, and plays
on your fears. It offers you a free scan and tells you, you should purchase or
download their antivirus program. It could be theft or simply a clever virus,
either way, avoid it. If you are in the market for a good antivirus program, do
some research.
21. A free
diploma?
A few
companies have promised official standard high school diplomas. All they ask is
a fee and that you answer a multiple choice quiz. These exams are not real and
they are simply designed to make money. If you want a high school diploma,
contact an educational institution that you have heard of.
22. Travel
based scams
Travel is big
business on the internet, so you should expect a certain amount of fraud here
too. If you see some too good to be true deals for top hotels or luxury flights
then you may be on to something. Either they are totally fake, or are loaded
with so many hidden costs that you will be paying more than you bargained for.
Stick to trusted websites and travel agents.
23. Fake
policeman fraud
Some scammers
have taken to impersonating police. They will call claiming a relative of yours
is in police custody. They will demand a bail payment from you to be placed on
a pre-paid card, and ask that you provide the card's secret code. The police
won't ask you for money like this. Hang up and call the police yourself to make
sure.
24. Work from
home set-up scam
This is all
over the internet at the moment. You will see what seems to be testimony from
someone on social media, or as a comment on an article. The person will claim
it's easy to make money working from home. They will want you to pay a large
fee and they will promise to provide you with all you need to start up your
home business. It's just a con.
25. The hit
and run scam
This shocking
scam will claim that your child has committed a hit and run offense, but the
victim and his friends have caught up with them and kidnapped them until they
pay up for the damage caused. The 'kidnapper' will ask you to pay up, or else.
This is a common scam perpetrated on Face book and other similar places, so you
should not believe it. Call your loved one to check all is well.
Conclusion
You may think
that you can’t be fooled by these online scams, since some of them are quite
hilarious, such as the one promising to send you money or the one where the
scammers pretend to be FBI agents.
But some stories are so convincing
for the potential victims that it is difficult to know how to deal with them.
Since some scams are so well
organized and convincing, and the people behind so difficult to catch, we need
to always keep our guard up. Stay informed about the latest scamming
strategies.
Online scams
developed using increasingly sophisticated means of deceiving users, especially
in the rich Western countries.
According to FBI, online scams
have increased over the last 10 years and the total losses doubled in the
recent years, affecting both private individuals and large scale businesses.
For this reason, cyber criminal activities are now subject to federal
investigations and are treated as a very serious problem that affects us all.
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