ByScams have been running for centuries, and they have changed with the times, adapting to new technologies. From clever con artists to sophisticated cybercriminals, these schemes prey on our trust, curiosity, and vulnerabilities.
But here’s the good news: with a little knowledge and a healthy dose of skepticism, you can protect yourself and even outsmart the trickiest of scammers. In this article, we have discussed six of the most common scams and how you can avoid falling victim to them.
How to Spot and Avoid 6 Common Scams? Stay Safe Online
1. The “Too-Good-To-Be-True” Online Deal
Who doesn’t love a deal? Well, that is one thing fraudsters know, hence the fake e-commerce sites with offers too good to resist. Probably, it is some designer handbag that has a 90% discount or some of the latest gadgets that cost a fraction of what its retail price was.
As soon as you make the payment, though, the product will never show up, or what arrives will be cheap knockoffs.
In fact, the FTC reported that 44% of social media fraud loss reports in early 2023 involved undelivered goods—mostly clothing and electronics.
To outsmart this scam, pause before you hit “buy.” Give yourself time to look for red flags, or better still, use a specialized tool like the scam detector from Bitdefender. In the case of the former, ask yourself, is there a legitimate-sounding contact for the website?
Are there genuine reviews elsewhere online? Cut and paste a few lines of the product description into a search engine-the results may show multiple sites selling the same thing. Trust your instincts. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
2. The “Urgent” Call from Tech Support
You’re at home, having coffee, and your phone rings. The other end claims to be from a large tech company and says that the computer has been hacked. They say they need to get onto it remotely right away to resolve the problem.
If you don’t do something, now, they say, your data may be in jeopardy. This is a classic scam aimed at making you panic and giving them control of your computer.
Remember, genuine tech companies do not cold-call customers as they understand and respect your privacy. If you get such a call, just hang up. If you are genuinely concerned, then you can contact your computer’s manufacturer or a trusted IT professional. Your best defense is to keep calm.
Moreover, if you’re confused as to why online privacy is important, take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the dangers you can become exposed to if your data becomes accessible to unwanted parties.
3. The Bogus Job Offer
Think of how many of those e-mails have come into your inbox, offering that dream job with great pay, easy hours, and very little required of you. The only hitch is that you need to send money upfront for “training materials” or your personal information for “background checks.”
As great as most of these offers sound, they all too often lead to disappointment and worse, identity theft.
Protect yourself and do your homework for any company. Check out their official website for job postings matching your position. If it sounds too good to be true, seems to have grammatical errors in the email, or seems vague regarding the position, it probably is.
Real employers do not ask for upfront money.
4. Romance Scam
Romance scam is targeting the heart. A romantic stranger hits you up on the dating app or your social network. He sends a deluge of messages like he really is into getting to know you. As they build a rapport, they say, “I have a really sad story.
I’m asking you for money, a sick family member, a trip home that went astray, an urgent operation needed.”
In general, when developing relationships online, be careful not to get your heart, and wallet, broken. If possible, video chat early in the relationship to confirm the other party is actually who they said they were.
And once money enters the equation, be aware that a major warning sign has appeared. Love shouldn’t have a price tag attached to it.
5. The Lottery or Prize Scam
You get an unsolicited message that congratulates you for winning some big prize-a lottery you never entered, a vacation package, or even a car-where all you have to do is pay a small “processing fee” or provide personal details to claim it.
The fact is you can’t win a competition you never entered. Scammers know the surprise of winnings that come out of nowhere will cause you to lose all judgment. If you get one, don’t respond; just delete and move on.
And always remember that legitimate prizes don’t come with fees attached.
6. The Fake Charity Scam
Scammers know that generosity is an overwhelming human instinct in times of crisis or natural disasters. They take advantage of this by putting up fake charity websites, or even soliciting donations through email and social media.
The money you send, thinking it will go to those in need, often goes directly into the scammer’s pocket.
Before giving, do your research and check whether the charity is registered and has a track record of doing work. Websites like Charity Navigator help verify the validity of organizations.
Never donate through unsolicited emails or links; just go directly to the charity’s official website.
Final Words: Outsmarting Scammers Starts with Awareness
The first step to beating scams is to understand how they work. Scammers thrive on urgency, emotion, and the lack of scrutiny. By slowing down, asking questions, and doing your homework, you can spot the red flags and protect yourself.
While it’s a pity that scams abound, they also remind us to appreciate the importance of staying up-to-date with new tech and careful. Remember, it’s okay to say no, to hang up, or walk away. You are much better off, already well ahead of the game now that you have acquired the facts from this article.
Being vigilant, trusting your instincts, and then sharing what you’ve learned can be the best defense against keeping scammers at bay.
