How to protect yourself from getting scammed

• If someone contacts you unexpectedly – whether over the phone, through the post, by email, on a website, in person or on social media – always consider the possibility that it may be a scam.

Scammers go to great lengths to appear trustworthy but there are things you can do to recognise and take action against scams. If it’s possible you are being scammed, figure out what’s happening and what you can do about it.

Despite the benefits derived from the internet, scammers have become a threat to everyone online.

They keep developing sophisticated ways to rob you of your money or personal details.
Telltale signs of Internet scam have different storylines but several things in common.



11 common ways you can get scam by scammers

1. ADVANCE FEE FRAUD

A scammer requests fees upfront or personal information in return for goods, services, money or rewards that they never supply.

Scammers invent convincing and seemingly genuine reasons for requesting payment, such as to cover fees or taxes.

They often ask for payment by international wire transfer.

These scams are commonly mass-marketed with scammers sending them out to thousands of people all over the world at the same time, usually by mail or email.

2. LOTTERY, SWEEPSTAKES AND COMPETITION SCAMS

An email, letter or text message from an overseas lottery or sweepstakes company arrives from out of nowhere.

It says you have won a lot of money or fantastic prizes in a lottery or sweepstakes competition you did not enter.

These scams try to trick you into giving money upfront or your personal details in order to receive the prize.

Scammers typically claim that you need to pay fees or taxes before your winnings or prize can be released.

You may also have to call or text a premium rate phone number to claim your prize.

Remember you cannot win a prize if you haven’t entered.

3. DATING AND ROMANCE SCAMS

Scammers create fake profiles on legitimate dating websites.

They use these profiles to try to enter into a relationship with you so they can get a hold of your money and personal details.

The scammer will develop a strong rapport with you then ask for money to help cover costs associated with illness, injury, travel or a family crisis.

Scammers seek to exploit your emotions by pulling on your heart strings. Sometimes the scammers will take months and months to build up the rapport.

4. COMPUTER HACKING

Phishing emails are commonly used by scammers to trick you into giving them access to your computer.

They ‘fish’ for your personal details by encouraging you to click on a link or attachment.

If you click, malicious software will be installed and the hacker will have access to files and information stored on your computer.

A phishing email often appears to come from an organisation that you know and trust, like a bank or financial institution, asking you to enter your account password on a fake copy of the site’s login page.

If you provide your account details, the scammer can hack into your account and take control of your profile.

5. ONLINE SHOPPING , CLASSIFIED AND AUCTION SCAMS

Scammers like shopping online for victims. Not getting what you paid for is a common scam targeting online shoppers.

A scammer will sell a product and send a faulty or inferior quality item, or nothing at all. They may also pretend to sell a product just to gather your credit card or bank account details.

These scams can also be found on reputable online classified pages.

An online auction scam involves a scammer claiming that you have a second chance to buy an item that you placed a bid on because the winner has pulled out.

The scammer will ask you to pay outside of the auction site’s secure payment facility.

If you do, your money will be lost and the auction site will not be able to help you.

6. BANKING, CREDIT CARD AND ONLINE ACCOUNT SCAMS

Scammers send emails or text messages that appear to be from your bank, a financial institution or an online payment service.

They usually claim that there is a problem with your account and request that you verify your details on a fake but convincing copy of the bank’s website.

Card skimming is the copying of information from the magnetic strip of a credit card or automatic teller machine (ATM) card.

Scammers skim your card by putting a discreet attachment on an ATM or EFTPOS machine. They may even install a camera to capture your pin.

Once your card is skimmed, scammers can create copies and make charges to your account.

7. SMALL BUSINESS SCAMS

If you own a small business you can be targeted by scams such as the issuing of fake bills for unwan

Here are common elements of internet scam to help you avoid being suckered:

8.OFFERS, TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

Scams often promise high returns for very little financial commitment and pitch that a deal is too good to miss.

When they provide fast ways to increase your money and pressure you to give small capital, run!
You have to dispel the natural desire of every human to get rich with minimal effort and know that a deal too good to be true is aimed at crowding your judgment.

9.MANIPULATE THROUGH FEAR

To get your head mixed up, scammers use fear to manipulate your judgment into doing what they want.

Usually, they present something wrong with your account or your computer to get you confused.
Some scammers further try to convince you that you've committed a crime and as such they need to enforce the law by tricking you into paying a "fine".

Besides your money, Phishing scammers need your personal information to access your credit cards, thus, avoid revealing any personal information in response to an unsolicited email or a pop-up message.

10.THE, URGENT! ACT NOW! DON'T WAIT! TRICK

Avoid making any deal under pressure because scammers use false urgency to distract you from their true goal.

They trick their victims with a need for urgency which induces panic so as to alter your rational thought process.

Investigate emails especially from banks before acting on its content. No bank will ask for your personal information to correct any error emanating from your account.

Messages like, ‘pay now else you might not get this deal again’, ‘this is a onetime offer’ should not phish you into becoming a prey.

11.JARGONS GALORE

Scammers pitch ambiguous and confusing explanation to sweet-talk you into paying for a deal you do not understand.

It is important you opt out of any deal that is not clearly stated and defined in simple terms.
At every point of making a deal, ask questions and if the answers are not very clear to you, opt out

How to protect yourself against scams

Be alert to the fact that scams exist.

When dealing with uninvited contacts from people or businesses, whether it's over the phone, by mail, email, in person or on a social networking site, always consider the possibility that the approach may be a scam. Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Know who you're dealing with.

If you've only ever met someone online or are unsure of the legitimacy of a business, take some time to do a bit more research. Do a Google image search on photos or search the internet for others who may have had dealings with them. If a message or email comes from a friend and it seems unusual or out of character for them, contact your friend directly to check that it was really them that sent it.

Do not open suspicious texts, pop-up windows or click on links or attachments in emails – delete them:

If unsure, verify the identity of the contact through an independent source such as a phone book or online search. Don't use the contact details provided in the message sent to you.

Don't respond to phone calls about your computer asking for remote access – hang up – even if they mention a well-known company such as Telstra. Scammers will often ask you to turn on your computer to fix a problem or install a free upgrade, which is actually a virus which will give them your passwords and personal details.

Keep your personal details secure.

Put a lock on your mailbox and shred your bills and other important documents before throwing them out. Keep your passwords and pin numbers in a safe place. Be very careful about how much personal information you share on social media sites. Scammers can use your information and pictures to create a fake identity or to target you with a scam.

Keep your mobile devices and computers secure.

Always use password protection, don’t share access with others (including remotely), update security software and back up content. Protect your WiFi network with a password and avoid using public computers or WiFi hotspots to access online banking or provide personal information.

Choose your passwords carefully.

Choose passwords that would be difficult for others to guess and update them regularly. A strong password should include a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols. Don’t use the same password for every account/profile, and don’t share your passwords with anyone.

Review your privacy and security settings on social media.

If you use social networking sites, such as Facebook, be careful who you connect with and learn how to use your privacy and security settings to ensure you stay safe.

If you recognise suspicious behaviour, clicked on spam or have been scammed online, take steps to secure your account and be sure to report it.

Beware of any requests for your details or money.

Never send money or give credit card details, online account details or copies of personal documents to anyone you don’t know or trust. Don't agree to transfer money or goods for someone else: money laundering is a criminal offence.

Be wary of unusual payment requests.

Scammers will often ask you to use an unusual payment method, including preloaded debit cards, gift cards, iTunes cards or virtual currency such as Bitcoin.

Be careful when shopping online.

Beware of offers that seem too good to be true, and always use an online shopping service that you know and trust. Think twice before using virtual currencies (like Bitcoin) - they do not have the same protections as other transaction methods, which means you can’t get your money back once you send it.

The next step to avoiding scams is to know how to protect yourself.

While some of these are good advice in general, many are aimed at keeping you safe online:

Avoid any unexpected contact. Any phone calls, letters, emails or people knocking on your door should be ignored.

Never give out personal information. This can be used to steal your identity and access accounts.

Keep operating system and virus protection software up-to-date. Don’t ignore updates as these can often include patches to protect against new kinds of scams, viruses and ransomware. This goes for mobile devices as well.

Make sure all accounts have a strong password. Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts and change them regularly.

Don’t make any advanced payments until you are sure the company you’re dealing with is legitimate.

If you’re unsure about a financial services company, check the FCA register of regulated companies. If they’re not on it, don’t have anything to do with them.

If you’re unsure about any other kind of company, you can look them up on Companies House to find out their background, or search for reviews online.
Use safe and secure WiFi connections and avoid public WiFi.

Your standard 3G or 4G connection is often more secure than the one in the coffee shop or restaurant.

Make sure any websites you are using are secure. Check to see if the web address starts with HTTPS, not just HTTP.

Sign-up for a call blocking service like the Telephone Preference Service. This might not stop all scam calls as they operate outside the legal guidelines, but it will stop cold-callers. This means any suspicious or unexpected calls you do receive are almost certainly from people you don’t want to deal with.