When choosing a profitable option for buying electronics or household appliances via the Internet, you can run into scammers and lose your money. There is always such a risk, although you can try to reduce it to zero.
How do cyber scammers operate?
They use different schemes. You may be asked to pay 50% or 100% in advance and stop communicating after the transfer of money. The courier can demonstrate a genuine gadget, and then make a substitution – as a result, you will be left with an empty box, a cheap fake, or a faulty device. The bottom line is that you give money to scammers and do not receive the promised goods in return.
If my friend has already received a cheap phone, then it is safe to order from this place, right?
No. Some scammers are ready to work at a loss for the first time in order to hit the big jackpot. They build financial pyramids. They sell a small batch at low prices, providing themselves with good reviews. They promise victims a discount for each friend who orders goods from them. Having collected enough orders, they disappear with the money of “customers”. The same applies to online entertainment, such as casinos. Choose verified sites – for example, real casino online.
What should alert in the ad?
First of all, very low price. This is the main advantage that allows scammers to attract the attention of buyers. The discount from the average market price can reach tens of percent. Under the pretext of direct deliveries, you may be offered to wait for the ordered and prepaid goods for several weeks. If the seller specializes in fakes, then the brand name or the name of a specific phone model may be misspelled, and the equipment may not correspond to that declared by the manufacturer. Fraudsters give a minimum of contact information, do not indicate a postal or legal address.
Is there a chance to get back the lost money?
Yes, if you did not pay in cash, and a little time has passed since the transfer of money. Bank transactions can take several days. Contact your bank, your transfer may be blocked. Otherwise, everything depends on the promptness of law enforcement agencies. But even if the scammers are found, you will most likely be returned only a part of the amount – what they did not have time to spend.
How to secure yourself from cyber-fraud?
The most reliable way is to purchase gadgets in large retail chains. They will not disappear without a trace the next day with your money. And due to the large volumes of trade, they can sell equipment without overpayments.
Also, scammers can manipulate people on the Internet. Be careful if you suddenly come across one of these offers on the Internet.
Get paid for your survey
How the circuit works. Fraudsters create a site that offers money for simple actions: for example, asking them to complete a short survey or send a link to friends. They promise a lot: up to $20,000 for answering a few questions.
You answer questions, share the link with your friends. At the last step, it turns out that you need to “activate an account”, “pay a commission”, make a “fixing payment” or enter a card number.
How to protect card details
What is the danger. Fraudsters will take money for a “commission”, but they will not give any payments. They can use bank card details for future debits. And your friends will consider you a spammer.
Connect to free wifi
How the circuit works. Fraudsters create a Wi-Fi point that does not require a password – anyone can connect to the Internet. Such a connection is usually set up in crowded places: on the street, in a cafe or hotel.
The owner of the Wi-Fi sees which sites all connected people go to, but this is not the worst thing. It can get to the passwords that you enter on these very sites.
What is the danger. Fraudsters can steal passwords from social networks and mail, as well as card details – if you pay with it in an online store. Knowing the card details, fraudsters can easily withdraw money to their accounts. And on social networks, they will see messages that you did not want to show to anyone – that’s the reason for blackmail.
Your computer is infected
How the circuit works. The scammers make a site that says that there is a problem with your computer. Phrases are usually alarming: “Your data is at risk”, “Virus detected”, “Urgently protect your computer”.
To solve these problems, they offer to call a toll-free number or write to the chat built into the site. During the conversation, the scammers convince you to install an “anti-virus” or ask for bank card details so that they can remotely clean the computer.
What is the danger. “Antivirus” turns out to be malware that can infect a computer. Trusting remote control of a computer is even more dangerous: scammers can get access to all files.
Online fraud is a growing problem in today’s digital age, as more and more people are using the Internet for their daily activities, such as shopping, banking, and communication. Cybercriminals use various techniques to deceive unsuspecting users and steal their personal information or money.
One of the most common forms of online fraud is phishing, which involves sending fake emails or messages that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or social media site. These messages usually ask users to provide personal information, such as account numbers or passwords, which can be used to access their accounts and steal their money.
Another form of online fraud is malware, which involves installing malicious software on a user’s computer or mobile device. This software can be used to steal personal information, such as login credentials and credit card details, or to hijack the device and use it to send spam or launch attacks on other devices.
Online fraud can also take the form of fake websites, which are designed to look like legitimate sites but are actually created by cybercriminals to steal personal information or money. These sites can be difficult to detect, as they may use similar logos and designs as the real sites.
To protect yourself from online fraud, it’s important to be vigilant and take steps to secure your personal information. This includes using strong passwords, regularly updating your security software, and being cautious when clicking on links or opening attachments from unknown sources.
You should also be wary of unsolicited emails or messages, especially those that ask for personal information or urge you to act quickly. It’s always a good idea to verify the authenticity of a message or website by contacting the company directly or checking its official website.
In addition, you should monitor your accounts regularly for any unauthorized activity and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities or your bank. By taking these precautions, you can reduce the risk of becoming a victim of online fraud and keep your personal information and money safe.