We all know that scam artists are constantly evolving their tactics in order to take advantage of innocent victims, but it can be hard to keep up with the latest trends in online crime. Thankfully, we’ve compiled some of the most common ways that scammers are stealing money online right now, so you can avoid becoming their next victim. We also recommend checking out this list of things every computer user should do to protect themselves online before reading on.
Why cyber crime is on the rise
According to the FBI, cyber crime is on the rise for a number of reasons. First, it’s become easier than ever for criminals to commit cyber crimes. Second, there’s a growing market for stolen data and personal information. Third, many criminals are using sophisticated methods to avoid detection. Fourth, cyber crimes are often low-risk and high-reward. Fifth, victims of cyber crimes are often reluctant to report them. Sixth, law enforcement agencies have struggled to keep up with the pace of technological change. Finally, some countries lack adequate laws and regulations to prevent and punish cyber crime.
The consequence? Criminals know they can get away with it. As we all continue to spend more time online and increase our dependence on technology, these scams will only increase in frequency – but that doesn’t mean you should give up hope! Stay tuned for my next blog post about how you can protect yourself from these sneaky scammers who want nothing more than your money! First Name Email Address Subject How Scammers are Stealing Your Money Online
You’ve probably heard about the recent Equifax breach and how social media scams are becoming an epidemic (to name just two major instances), but I wanted to talk specifically about one type of scam that’s been gaining popularity over the last few years: phishing.
Phishing is when someone tries to trick people into giving their sensitive information like passwords or bank account numbers by pretending to be a trustworthy source. Typically, this happens through email or instant messaging; if you open an email from your bank asking for confirmation of sensitive details, or click on what appears to be an innocent Facebook message saying Hi! from someone you trust, then congratulations! You’ve been phished. Here are some ways to spot a phishing scam and stay safe:
If you receive an email claiming to be from PayPal or your bank, look at the sender address. If it looks unfamiliar, do not reply. If you think it might be legitimate, call customer service at the company’s phone number listed on their website instead of clicking any links within the email. Other warning signs include poor grammar or spelling mistakes in messages; ask yourself why someone would use such shoddy English unless they were trying to hide something? Also remember that companies never send out security notifications via email, so don’t fall for anything claiming otherwise!
What types of scamming methods are there?
There are many types of scams that can happen online. The most common include phishing, where scammers pose as a legitimate company in order to get your personal information; and vishing, where scammers use voice recordings to impersonate a company in order to get your personal information.
Other scams include malware, where scammers install malicious software on your computer to steal your information; and ransomware, where scammers lock you out of your computer or device and demand payment to regain access.
Phishing is by far the most common type of scam, accounting for about 78% of all reported incidents in 2016. Vishing was the second most popular scam (accounting for 16%), followed by malware (3%) and ransomware (2%). To avoid being a victim of any one of these scams, be sure to watch out for messages from companies you don’t know requesting sensitive information. Be wary if emails ask you to follow links or enter passwords. And never give out personal information over the phone unless it’s been initiated through a known contact method like email or text message. If someone calls you claiming to be with a bank or other financial institution, verify their identity before giving them any information. Also, always check the URL in your browser when visiting unfamiliar websites – look for https in the address bar instead of http.
Finally, keep an eye out for offers that seem too good to be true – they usually are! For example, if someone sends you an offer to give you money without asking for anything in return, there’s probably something fishy going on. These are just some ways that scammers are stealing your money online. In addition to watching out for phishing and vishing schemes, be mindful of the viruses that could infect your computer. Once you’ve become aware of how scammers are stealing your money online, it will be easier to protect yourself from future incidents.
How does phishing work?
Phishing is a type of online fraud that occurs when scammers send emails or texts masquerading as a legitimate company in an attempt to trick you into giving them personal information, like your bank account number or social security number.
They may also try to get you to click on a link that will install malware on your computer. Once they have your information, they can use it to steal your money or commit identity theft.
If you find yourself with one of these scams, report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint, call the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at (IC3) 888-4-FBI-4 Tips for avoiding phishing scams:
1) Know who you’re dealing with and what their intent is before entering any personal information on websites or by email.
2) If you think something doesn’t look right, don’t do it!
3) Turn off pop-up ads and banners on your browser to avoid unwanted redirects.
4) Look out for misspellings and poor grammar.
5) Think twice about clicking on links, even if they seem innocuous or familiar.
You should only enter a website address into your browser if you know the destination address and trust its legitimacy. Pay attention to spelling and grammar, so you can spot any errors.
Always check the URL bar at the top of your screen to make sure you’re not being redirected somewhere else without realizing it.
Finally, remember that anything you provide over email or through a website could be used against you in some way – never share sensitive information unless absolutely necessary. Remember that this applies to all kinds of email accounts: Gmail, Yahoo!, AOL, Hotmail etc. Never include personal information such as your Social Security Number, credit card numbers, banking details, or other private data within an email.
Be careful about following links from people you don’t know – especially those claiming to be from friends and family members. When you visit a site for the first time, check the URL bar at the top of your screen to make sure you’re going where you want to go; if not, close that window and re-enter the correct web address. Even if you recognize the sender’s name, that doesn’t mean it’s actually coming from them.
Lastly, always keep your software up-to-date and run anti-virus scans regularly to protect yourself from virus infections. Keep your passwords strong, too. Try using combinations of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, symbols, and different words. That way they’ll be harder to guess.
What’s the best way to avoid being scammed?
The best way to avoid being scammed is to be aware of the most common scams. These include phishing emails, fake websites, and online auctions. You should also never give out personal information or financial information online. If you are ever unsure about a website or email, you can contact the company directly to verify its authenticity.
Finally, you can use anti-virus software to protect yourself from scammers. There are lots of viruses that will steal your money as soon as they enter your computer.
Another great way to avoid being scammed is by using two-factor authentication. It requires you to enter not only your password but also another code that only you have access to on your phone before logging in to your account, which makes it much more difficult for hackers to gain access to your account and steal your information.
You can keep an eye on recent scams by following our blog posts! Here are some scam examples we’ve written about recently:
We recommend reading up on how these new types of scams work so you can stay informed and continue avoiding them. Check back often for updates on what’s happening with technology crime prevention.
What are you waiting for? Read our blogs now to learn more about staying safe online!
Tips for dealing with an attack
The internet has made it easier than ever for scammers to steal your money. Here are a few tips for dealing with an attack 1) Be wary of any online offer that sounds too good to be true.
2) Never open attachments from people you don’t know or trust, and avoid clicking on links in emails from people you don’t know or trust.
3) Use anti-virus software, and keep it up-to-date.
4) Never wire funds unless you have confirmed the identity of the person sending the request by another means (like by phone).
5) Be cautious about donating to charities over the phone or via email, as some solicitations may be scams designed to exploit those who want to help others.
6) Always check URLs before entering personal information or downloading anything.
7) If someone contacts you and claims to represent a legitimate company but asks for personal information such as credit card numbers, bank account numbers, passwords, etc., be skeptical. Call the organization yourself and confirm that they’re asking for this type of information. It’s also a good idea to contact your financial institution or local law enforcement agency if you suspect fraud.