Stay Aware (And Alert) Online

Elderly woman looking at her smartphone in shock

Online scams are becoming more frequent and at the same time are becoming harder to identify. They come in many different forms, including everything from phishing emails to false invoices. Considering technology is growing at a rapid pace, online communication, and transactions have followed suit, this has resulted in hackers having more opportunities to scam people.

What is a scam?

Scams are fraudulent methods to mislead individuals into releasing their personal information, money, or both. Knowledge, of how to identify scams can keep your personal information safe, as well as your finances.

Types of Scams

There are many different types of scams, with the four listed below being the most common. Be sure to keep an eye out for them.

  1. Tech support scams usually occur when a false tech support representative contacts individuals trying to get them to supply credit card numbers, or personal information by suggesting that something is wrong with the target’s devices.
  2. Phishing scams are like tech support scams. You can get emails, phone calls and messages about something being wrong with a hospital bill, car payment, etc., resulting in the scammer asking for things that would fix the problem. This usually involves giving up card information or passwords.
  3. Investment scams are false claims that you will get high returns, with little to no risk. Usually done with cryptocurrency or stocks, scammers use misleading tactics like credentials or testimonials to get dupe victims.
  4. Online shopping scams happen when scammers set up fake websites or online stores advertising something that is nonexistent, at attractive prices. Normally, this product or service will not be delivered at all, is fake or vastly different from what was initially ordered. In this case the scammer would get the money spent for that specific item, also some scammers also harvest personal and card information from these transactions.
 
Red flags, what you need to look for.

 Scams come in many forms, therefore there are many signs or red flags, that you can identify to prevent becoming a scam victim.

  1. Request for payment information: If something asks for your payment information that you know you didn’t have any contact or transactions with, even in the case a scammer is imitating an entity that you have been in contact with, something just initially asking for your payment information is a flag to look out for.
  2. Too good to be true offers: These are quite common, as people like things at a discount or just cheap in general. Therefore, many scams come with high promises, in return for little risk, effort or money. These are somethings you want to keep an eye out for as they could get your information from being a victim to these offers.
  3. Pressure tactics: These are used when the scammer wants the individual to hurry and decide, hindering them from carefully thinking about the proposition at hand. These can come in the form of limited time offers, legal duties, etc. Therefore, it is imperative to pay close attention to anything that could fall in these subject matters.
  4. Unprofessionalism: It is becoming harder and harder to identify as scammers are more aware of what they are doing wrong on their side. However, it is still possible for some to be unprofessional, which could be done in many ways. It could be in the form of communication or even how their website is set up. It could also be someone pretending to be something they’re not without verifiable credentials.
 
How to stay clear

Scam red flags are essential to knowing how and when you are dealing with a shady situation. The knowledge of how to stay away from them is just as important because even clicking to learn more could put you at risk.

  1. Trust your instincts: The most important aspect is to trust your gut. If you feel like a call, email, message, anything is a scam… IT PROBABLY IS.
  2. Exercise caution online: When it comes to passwords, apps, communication, please think carefully. Making the correct decisions is important, as it could give a scammer more access to your personal information if you don’t. Again, always be cautious of emails, messages, calls from unknown sources.
  3. Research and verify: When you think you’ve encountered a scam, before you take any action, sure to verify websites, names, numbers or even reviews.

Identifying scams requires vigilance, skepticism, and a willingness to verify information and offers before acting. By understanding the common tactics used by scammers and researching, individuals can protect themselves from financial loss and maintain their peace of mind. Also, if you think you have fallen victim to a scam, stop all communication with that entity, report it and monitor your accounts, including bank, social media, school, and all emails.

To help members keep their information safe, HTC offers free anti-virus software to protect their devices.  Just one more benefit of being an HTC member.

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