The internet is a wonderful place to find information, learn new things, and stay connected with friends. But like any other place in the real world, there are also people online who are looking to take advantage of you.
Unfortunately, there are numerous ways that a user can be tricked into giving out their personal information or money by someone posing as someone else online. So how do you avoid these scams?
Thankfully, many of these scams are pretty easy to spot if you know what to look for. However, if you aren’t careful, it is easy for your identity and personal information to be stolen from you.
Since the majority of scam services operate through social media accounts and webpages, the best way to protect yourself is by being vigilant about what personal information you give out and keeping track of all of your passwords across multiple websites and devices.
Here are six tips on how you can avoid common online scams so that your identity stays secure and private at all times:
Don’t Click on Links in Emails From People You Don’t Know
The internet is one of the easiest ways for cyber criminals to trick you into clicking on a link that leads you to a malicious website where you can download viruses and malware onto your computer. These links can be in the form of an email, text message, or pop-up advertisement.
The first red flag is any link that you don’t recognize and that isn’t from a trusted website. If you get an email from your friend that has a link in it, check with them to see if it is a legitimate link before clicking on it. If you get an email from someone you don’t know, it is best to ignore it and delete it without clicking on any links.
Be Cautious When Posting Your Personal Information Online
The internet is a wonderful place to connect with people, but it can also make you much more vulnerable to identity theft. In addition to scams, identity theft occurs when someone gets their hands on your personal information and uses it without your knowledge or permission.
Identity theft can result in someone taking out loans or credit cards in your name, or applying for government benefits that you are not entitled to. They can then use the money you owe or the government benefits you shouldn’t have received against you to harm your credit score. One of the easiest ways that scammers steal your personal information is by going through your online postings.
This can include your social media postings, blog comments, and even online forum discussions. Be careful what details you post online as scammers can use your information against you by taking out loans in your name or applying for government benefits you aren’t entitled to.
Stay away from ads that look too good to be true
Have you ever come across an ad for a deal that seems too good to be true? Chances are, it probably is. There are several online scams that are disguised as advertisements for deals or products that are too good to pass up on.
The best way to avoid being scammed by one of these ads is to be cautious and skeptical every time you see one. If the ad sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
There are several websites that list and track scams such as the Federal Trade Commission, Better Business Bureau, and SpamHaus. You can also report scams to these websites so that they can warn others.
Stay Away From Ads That Look Too Good To Be True
This goes hand-in-hand with posting your personal information online. If a website or app requests that you enter in your email address and password and promises to give you something in return for logging into your account, it is likely a scam.
Other warning signs to look out for include websites or apps that request your social security number or credit card information. The best way to avoid this scam is to stay away from any website or app that requests this information from you.
Pay Attention to the Site You Are On and the Company You Are Dealing With
Be very careful when going to websites that you don’t normally go to. This is often a way that scammers trick you into thinking that they actually have a legitimate website and are a legitimate company.
For example, if you are looking to make a purchase online and the website seems a little off or out of place, be cautious. Does the website have a privacy policy? Is the website secure? Is the domain name registered with the BBB?
These are all things that you should be paying attention to. If you notice something that seems off, either don’t make the purchase or do your research to make sure that it is a legitimate website.
Conclusion
The internet is a very interesting and helpful place, but it can also be dangerous if you aren’t careful. Be vigilant about what information you share online and only use websites that you trust.
If something seems off about a website, don’t use it even if you think you might be missing out on something great. Stay safe online by remembering these six tips and you will be perfectly fine!
Keep these tips in mind the next time you decide to go online and you will be able to protect yourself against these scams. You can significantly reduce the chances of being scammed by only using websites that you trust, not clicking on any links you aren’t sure about, and not sharing personal information online unless you are sure it is a trusted source.
