Online con artists are becoming craftier by the day. From email scams to social media scams, internet users are unknowingly giving away personal information that is then used to steal their money. Read on to find out which red flags you should watch out for to avoid being scammed online.
Watching Out for Email Charity Scams
Have you ever gotten one of those emails asking you to donate to a charitable cause in a foreign country? The email message usually comes attached with a link to the organization’s site where you’ll find their Western Union or PayPal details. What’s usually so convincing about such scams is their timing as you’ll receive such an email after a calamitous event happens in that country. Some might even try to convince you further, of how a wire transfer is the best means of transferring finances, as it speeds up relief initiatives. What you may not know is that scammers prefer wire transfers as they cannot be undone. The next time you receive such an email, double-check to ensure the legitimacy of the charitable organization. Ensure you’re using an advanced web browser like Chrome, as they usually feature a security lock to notify the user whether they’re in a secure site or not.
Being Aware of the Warning Signs of a Phishing Scam
The most common type of email phishing scam is where you receive an email from your local bank asking for your personal banking details. As the email seems to be coming from a reputable source, you swallow the bait and give them your debit card details, not knowing that your account is about to be wiped clean of the cash in it. To safeguard yourself from an email phishing scam, always double-check the legitimacy of the source of the mail.
Looking Out for Affiliate Marketing Scams
While it is a legitimate and profitable way to make money online, scammers have been taking advantage of newcomers’ thirst for knowledge about affiliate marketing to scam them of their money. Before signing up for an affiliate marketing online training course, it is important to do some research to stay on the safe side, as the webinar course you’re about to pay for may be a total scam.
Luckily for you, there are numerous online sites that have member-submitted reviews about online affiliate marketing courses and their legitimacy, or lack thereof. One such site is sick review, whose founder has been quoted as saying that his main aim of doing such reviews was to help internet users avoid getting scammed. The site features reviews of popular affiliate marketing courses, as well as a comment section that provides you a second and third opinion.
Watching Out for Social Media Travel Scams
This crafty scam is one that could catch even the most skeptical of internet users unaware. First, the cons create Facebook, Twitter, or even Instagram accounts that resemble those of real airlines and travel agencies. They take advantage of holiday seasons such as summer and Christmas to market discount ticket deals that look quite legitimate. They ask you to click on a link to take advantage of the holiday offer, which usually has a time-cap to force you into a hurried decision. The link then redirects you to another replica site where you can book your ticket. In reality, this is a money scam and what you’ll get for your money is a fake ticket, or no ticket at all. It is thus important to check the legitimacy of social media handles of such travel agencies and airlines. Also, remember to think again whenever the deal seems too good to be legitimatie. Such scammers offer unreasonably generous offers, some even up to 80% off on tickets, something an actual airline business trying to make a profit wouldn’t typically do.
While other variations of these scams exist, the manifestations detailed above are the most common. Therefore, the next time you receive a suspicious email or come across a discount offer on your Facebook, take necessary precaution.
