Certainly, you have heard of the catchphrase, "Everyone is doing it, so it must be legit," right? One of the big mistakes for new investors is believing in this catchphrase. They get persuaded by the impressively articulated sales talk from scammers that usually lead to them getting ripped off afterward. For better and safe background checking, it would be best to check out this anti-fraudster guideline.
This tactic is what we all know as baiting. Some of these smooth-talking fraudsters will latch unto you until they get what they really want, your cash - all of it if they're cunning enough. Their usual openers are phrases like, "Are you open-minded?" It is such a simple and harmless-sounding question, but it is covertly lethal once you answer it with a yes. And once they got you hooked from the get-go, it is relatively smooth-sailing for them to make their plans come to fruition.
First off, they will ask for your source of income and how badly you need money. If the scammers find out that you're capable of providing them money, they will pest your inbox from time to time. Make sure not to make any transaction with them and avoid clicking anything they send. If they're rushing you to either join them in the organization to become wealthy in no time or buy products with limited time offer only, don't hesitate to block and delete them from your contacts.
Moreover, there are many ways these scammers will infiltrate your inbox no matter what. Even if you block their account, they'll create another one to bug you again. Some scammers may also say that there's a problem with your bank account and need a fast response to fix them. But one of the most creative ones is the one claiming that you won money in a lottery, and there's a fee you need to pay before claiming it.
These all sound fishy, right? Because they are. If something is too good to be true, then it probably is - keep that in mind.
Now, let's assume they got the domain name for their scam material. Check the "about us" to see where they are incorporated. After that, you need to go to the Secretary Of State (SOS) and search for available corporations in that state. Lastly, check the United States Patent and Trademark Office credentials to see if the company is registered under a trademark with their name. If you truly want a foolproof plan, then enlist a reputable lawyer because if a large amount of money is at stake, what's the harm in overdoing it, right?
So, before engaging with messages, ensure where they came from and their credibility. If you're searching for something and need to find it somewhere on the web, you need to activate your anti-virus and firewall to protect you from malicious content.
Shopping Scams
One of the most common types of scams out there is the shopping scam. These are difficult to detect because they are often very random in nature. Here, you will see bogus retailers claiming that they are selling a specific product. However, once they get your money, they have no intention of actually providing you with said product.
Keep in mind that this type of scam will often come to you either on social media or through email. If you get an email saying that you can buy some sort of luxury product for an unbelievably low price, you can rest assured that it is most likely a scam. Moreover, this is a dangerous type of scam because if you provide your credit card information, your card may be used for future "purchases".
Phishing Scams
Another common type of scam, perhaps the most common of all, is the phishing scam, and the reason it is so popular is because it works far too often. Phishing scams have one purpose, and that is to gain access to your financial information. An example of this is if a friend emails you asking for your credit card information, in which case it is clear that their email account has been hacked.
Some of these emails are designed to look like they originate from a trusted business or government entity. For instance, you could get an email asking for your social security number. People, no legit agency is every going to ask for your social security number via email.
The Nigerian Scam
One of the oldest scams out there that still gets way more people than it should is the Nigerian scam. Here, you will get an email from someone claiming to be Nigerian royalty, such as a prince.
They might tell you something along the lines of they need you to send them $1,000 so they can unlock their bank accounts, and when they do, they will send you $100,000 for your troubles. Rest assured, these people are not Nigerian royalty, and they will certainly never send you any money.
Digital Kidnapping
Another form of online scam is known as digital kidnapping. Here, scammers or hackers will take control of your social media accounts, and other accounts, and then force you to pay them money to hand control back over to you.
There are also many cases where these scammers will threaten to post or share harmful contact, such as pictures that you don't want others seeing. Essentially, this is nothing more than blackmail and extortion.
Dating Scams
The next most common type of online scam out there is the dating scam. Here, scammers will create online dating profiles to lure in unsuspecting victims. They will seem like real people and they will work very hard to create a relationship with you, to establish trust.
Then, once trust has been established, they will ask you for money. If you notice that somebody likes you a whole lot in spite of never having met you, which is then followed by them asking for money, you can rest assured that it is a scam.
Charity Scams
Another common type of scam out there is the charity scam. This one is very simple. An organization that claims to be a charity contacts you, generally through email, asking for a donation. If you haven't heard of the charity, particularly after doing some research, then it is a scam.
Lottery or Sweepstakes Scams
The other type of scam you should be aware of is the fake lottery scam. Here, you will be contacted by someone who claims that you won money or some sort of prize.
However, to access your prize, you will need to provide some personal or financial information. People, if you never entered the lottery or sweepstakes, then how could you possibly have won something?
