Keep Yourself Safe Online
The end of the year is when online scams are at their peak. And with huge advancements in technology, scams are only getting more and more believable.
So how can you keep yourself safe online? The best way is to be aware of the common tactics and to follow one of the oldest rules: if it seems fishy, then it probably is.
Below is a list of common scams that are popular right now.
Tech Support Scams
These scams usually involve accidentally downloading a virus or relying on popups to get people to call in to a support line for anything from Microsoft to Facebook. There has been a rise in direct messages on social media sites for this too.
Another way these scams work is by putting themselves on top of search results when your computer is having an issue. This has been a lot less common as of late, but is possible with specific search results.
These scams also work by calling or texting you and saying there’s been an issue with your bank account, package, amazon account, Netflix account or even that there’s been an unusual charge on your account.
What to know:
-If anyone ever tries to get you to pay for support services, it’s a scam.
-Corporations will rarely text or call you first if there’s an issue. They will report the issue on the app.
-If a corporation does contact you directly, they should not ask for any personal information, and if they do, it’s a scam.
Phishing Scams
We wrote a longer piece on this a few years ago (linked here). A phishing scam usually works on top of a different scam. It essentially uses “bait” link or website that looks legitimate but isn’t.
The most common phishing scam is through email. You’ll get an email saying you need to review something (tech support scam) or that you won a prize. It then takes you to a website that asks for personal information you might give without thinking about it.
Phishing attempts look usually like links, but they can also be QR codes or advertisements. The best way to identify phishing scams is to always think critically about where the link or QR code is coming from.
More often than not, there is some part of it that gives away that it’s not legitimate. For examples, see the article linked earlier. We highly recommend you rarely click on links unless you trust the source.
What to know:
-A very common phishing link will do something to get you to act quickly, it will say something like “urgent” or “now” and will usually be attached to something major.
-Phishing is most common through emails, make sure you recognize the sender before you click something.
-Another common phishing attempt is an email that says “your package has been delayed” or “there’s an issue with your account,” if you weren’t expecting a package, don’t click that link!
-Hovering over links can usually work to see if something is legitimate. But if you get an alert that seems suspicious, go check your account on your own. For example, if something says “your amazon account has been hacked,” instead of clicking the link in the email, go to amazon and check your account on your own.
Grandchild/Grandparent Scams
This, to me, is the scariest, but also one of the rarest. The scammer will contact you and say something terrible has happened to a family member. They will sometimes even use AI to mimic your family member’s voice.
They will often ask for you to wire/transfer money or send gift cards to help them. They will usually ask you to keep things a secret.
The best way to combat this is to be extremely careful whenever anyone asks you for money. This obviously sounds way more simple than it actually is. If your family member is in grave danger, money doesn’t usually need to be urgent. Hospital bills take time before they show up, bail doesn’t get posted immediately after someone is arrested, etc.
Contact the person through their actual phone number to confirm the story. Even if the caller says their phone is broken. Ask them personal questions if you’re still not sure, (just be sure the answer isn’t yes or no).
What to know:
-These are new scams and so it’s important to share and tell others about this scam.
-AI is not perfect, if something about a call makes you uncomfortable, trust your gut.
-Don’t ever send money over the phone, email, or text.
Impostor/Spoofing Scams
This is a very common type of scam where someone uses a fake email/phone number that looks like the actual email or phone number for a government agency, your boss, or even charity organizations.
Much like phishing scams, ensure the email is coming from the right source and that it makes sense. Your boss most likely won’t be asking for your bank info or company login information. And as always, be extremely wary of links that don’t make sense.
Think about the source of an email and when in doubt, follow up. And think about it, when has the government ever sent an email to you with a link!
What to know:
-These scams used to be easily identifiable because they usually had errors, with chat GPT and other AI tools, it is harder to identify spoofs.
-It could (and does) happen to anyone.
-Double check information in the email, such as the sender’s address.
Pig Butchering Scams
The name for this scam is terrible, but it’s very real. Essentially, these are true confidence scams, where someone lulls you into a false sense of security after befriending you. These usually start with a wrong number text or call and evolve into a fast friendship.
These scams can go on for months and usually end with them asking you to invest in something or loan someone money. As a general rule of thumb, if you haven’t met someone in person, don’t buy something from them.
And unfortunately, there are more, many more
While the scams listed here are some of the most common or some of the more technological, there are plenty of scams that are not on this list. The link below has more that you can check out.
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-are-some-common-types-of-scams-en-2092/
Be safe, smart, and secure online. As we said earlier, this is when scams are most common. Look out for others and remember the 2nd golden rule, if someone asks you to pay them with gift cards, it’s a scam.