Online Scams

With prosperity of Internet, scams have become increasingly sophisticated and prevalent. From email phishing to online investment fraud, scammers are constantly devising new ways to deceive innocent individuals. To safeguard your finances and personal information, it's crucial to be aware of common scams and learn how to detect and avoid them. This article will explore some of the most popular scams and provide tips on how to protect yourself.

Phishing Scams

Phishing scams are among the most common and enduring types of online fraud. They involve scammers posing as trusted entities, such as banks, government agencies, or reputable companies, to trick you into revealing personal information, such as passwords and credit card details. To avoid falling victim to phishing scams:

• Always double-check the sender's email address and look for inconsistencies or misspellings. You may user our trace email tool to verify where the email is originated from, and identify any suspected frauds.
• Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. Use our online inspect suspicious link tool to identify where the link is destined, and preview landing page without clicking on the link.
• Use two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible to add an extra layer of security to your accounts.

Online Shopping Scams

With the rise of online shopping, scammers have found new ways to target consumers. They create fake online stores that mimic legitimate sites, and entice shoppers with low prices and discounts. If you purchase a merchandise on a scammed site, you become a victim of online shopping scam. To avoid online shopping scams:

• Verify the website's legitimacy by checking for secure connections (https://) and reading online reviews.
• Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true.
• Use secure payment methods, such as credit cards, which offer fraud protection.

Investment and Ponzi Schemes

Investment scams promise high returns with low risk, but they often lead to financial fraud. Ponzi schemes involve using funds from new investors to pay returns to earlier investors. To avoid falling for investment scams:

• Conduct thorough research on the investment opportunity and the company offering it.
• Be skeptical of guaranteed or consistently high returns. If it's too good to be true, it probably is a scam.
• Seek advice from a trusted financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Tech Support Scams

Tech support scams involve fraudsters posing as tech support agents who claim to detect problems with your computer or software. They usually claim themselves as a tech support person from Microsoft, Apple, Google, PC Manufacturer (Dell, HP, and etc.), ISPs or Antivirus software company. They then convince you to grant them remote access or pay for unnecessary services. To avoid tech support scams:

• Remember that legitimate tech support companies will not contact you unsolicited.
• Do not grant remote access to your computer unless you initiated the request and are sure of the person's credentials.
• Hang up or close the chat if you suspect a scam and report the incident to the authorities.

Romance Scams

Romance scams prey on emotions and trust, and typically start by becoming a social media friends. A scammer creates a new social media account with someone else's identity, and makes a friend request to you. Scammers build fake online relationships and eventually request money for unforseen accident or temporary relief. To protect yourself from romance scams:

• Be cautious of individuals who refuse to meet in person or make excuses.
• Never send money to someone you haven't met in person.
• Report suspicious activity to the dating website or social media platform if you suspect a scam.