What is scam?
A scam is when someone tricks you to take your money , personal information or valuables. Scammers use fake offers and tell a lie about the offers to make you believe that something is real when it’s not. They may promise you for big rewards , pretend to be a trusted person or company or create a fake situation to make you believe that and forced you to respond without thinking. Scam is dishonest way of getting something from you .The scammers also pretend that they are relate to you and they use some kind of tricks to believe their stories.
Scams can occur in many ways :-
1) Online scams – Online scams are fake websites and phishing emails. fraudsters use emails , texts or phone calls that appear to be from the banks ,government agencies or known companies that convince the person to give his personal information . They use the generic greeting like dear customer or dear user they request you for sensitive information like your password bank account details, otp .
◊ How to avoid
- Don’t click any links
- Verify the message or sender’s email through your bank (if it’s come from the bank).
- Contact the company or agency to their official websites .
2)Online shopping scams – This is the most attractive scams people buy online things from the fake online stores because the fraudsters create fake online stores to sell non-existent goods at the attractive price.
◊ How to avoid
- Check reviews and ratings of the websites .
- Check the payment method that offers fraud protection
- Research the website’s details and return policy .
3)Lottery or prize scams-Scammers send you a message that you have won a prize or lottery and you’ve to click on this link and proceed the other steps . They also ask you to click on the link as soon as possible otherwise you will lose the prize.
◊ How to avoid
- Don’t click unnecessary link.
- If you buy any lottery verify with the official channels and websites.
4)Investment scams – Fraudsters promise you to high returns your investments with no risk and they also involve multi level marketing skills to trick you. Pressure you to recruit others in the scheme give less information about the scheme .
◊ How to avoid
- Research any investment thoroughly .
- Don’t invest the money you can’t afford to lose.
5)Social media scams – It is a major platform for young people get scam by scammers . Most of the scammers use Instagram, Facebook, snapchat to trick users. They message the young people for the collaboration and offering prize .
◊ How to avoid
- Be skeptical of unrealistic offers.
- Check the profile and verification.
- Be cautions with free giveaways or surveys.
6)Job and Internship scams – Many young people especially college students or recent graduates search for the internship and jobs. Scammers post fake jobs on their social media and they also message for work from home jobs and ask for the training payment after paying the payment the victim never receives job or money back .
◊ How to avoid
- Never pay for the job training.
- Research the company before applying.
- Always use reputable job boards (Example- LinkedIn, Indeed, Nakuri.com).
7)Phone call scams – Fraudsters give you a fake calls through this fake calls they ask you to your personal information and otp. They pretend that they are from tax authority, tech support(they claim to be from well known company like apple Microsoft saying that your computer has a virus that need to be fix and immediate payment ) , bank and they also pretend that they are from your family member’s friend requested for money for an emergency .
◊ How to avoid
- Don’t share personal information over the phone unless you are sure of the caller’s identity.
- Scammers try to make you act quickly so take your time to think and verify.
- If you get the call from unwanted family friend so verify with your family member before sending money.
How to protect yourself from scams
- Be skeptical- When it comes to scams being skeptical helps protect you from falling for fraudulent schemes
- Don’t rush decisions – Scammers often pressure you to making a quick decision like paying money or sharing your information . so take your time to think .
- Educate yourself- Familiarize yourself with the latest scam tactics .
- Report scams – If you encounter any scam report it .
- Use strong passwords – Protect your online accounts with strong and unique passwords and enable two factor authentication where possible .
Conclusion
Scams are tricks to steal your money or personal information. They can happen in any ways like fake jobs offers ,online deals or phone calls . To avoid these scams always be cautions ,verify things and never share your personal details to anyone. If any scam happen report it. By staying alert you can protect yourself and your family.