Technological advancements have made everything easier for humankind. This means that it is now easier for people to do business because it makes it easy to communicate, access consumer goods and services, travel, or even send and receive money. That, however, is not all that advancement in technology does. As a downside, criminals also use various technologies to scam people and defraud them of their hard-earned money. As such, you must always be alert whenever you are online to avoid becoming a victim of online fraud.
Here is what you need to do to avoid being scammed online this Christmas:
Don’t be hasty: different kinds of online spams have hasty decision making in common. For instance, someone will call you claiming that your computer needs urgency repair or that you are a victim of malware and tell you that you need to act fast. Before acting on such information, however, take time to review the situation and call someone who can help such as your technician.
Be sceptical about everything that sounds too good: when a deal is too good to be true, you must exercise restraint and seek more information before committing your money to it. This is because scammers often have access to personal information, something that enables them to contact you with deals that seem like a dream come true. This is often true when shopping online because the scammers might have access to data related to your shopping patterns. This makes you susceptible to deals that are seemingly out of this world. When shopping online, therefore, always make sure that you are dealing with a reputable dealer. The same applies when you are looking for a parcel delivery service online.
Secure your online life: the need to always secure your devices with strong passwords and use an antivirus cannot be emphasised enough. Besides securing your devices, it is also important to check your privacy policy on different social media networks. This is because scammers often use unsecured data to gain enough information on you before creating a story that you could fall for easily. Additionally, use passwords that are hard for anyone to guess and avoid using the same set of words or numbers as your password for numerous online profiles.
Keep your banking details to yourself: many people have fallen victim of scams that involve sharing bank information with strangers online. This means that you should refrain from using your credit cards, debit cards, or your online banking accounts to pay for services that appear suspicious. Moreover, be wary of people who will tell you complete certain transactions on their behalf because such transactions might be connected to money laundering schemes.
Don’t trust people you barely know: the most effective method of avoiding online scams is approaching any new online scheme with caution. This is because scammers are known to make all manner of claims ranging from a promise to make you a millionaire to trying to appeal to your compassion in a bid to convince you to make a donation. When confronted with such scenarios, always take it slow and undertake your own research before committing to anything.
2018 ·
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