A few years ago, it was rare to hear about people getting scammed on the internet. These days, you can’t open up your social media feed without seeing someone complaining about being ripped off by fraudulent internet users. While there are many different types of online fraudsters, scammers, and spammers, they all have one thing in common – they’re out to get your money or personal information, and they don’t care who they hurt in the process. If you need to know why scam artists are a threat to internet users today, keep reading to find out more. Recently we interviewed Raghib Khan and Faisal Abidi of RNF Technologies and wrote this helpful article for our readers.
What is Cybercrime?
Cybercrime is any illegal activity that involves computer networks. Some cybercrime, like identity theft, can take place in person or offline—but most of it takes place online.
Have you been targeted by scammers?
It’s never fun or convenient when you fall victim to online fraudsters, but if you see a new charge on your credit card statement you don’t recognize, it pays to know what scammers try to pull. Unfortunately, if they see your credit card number online or in an app, they might assume that you haven’t read up on them yet. To make sure that doesn’t happen—or worse—check out these red flags
What do scammers look like today?
Today’s scammers aren’t as easy to spot as you might think. They don’t always look like malicious software programs, dodgy fake websites, or bad guy hackers. Rather, they look just like us—and many of them might even be sitting in cubicles in your very own office building. Read on for what you can do about digital fraudsters, scammers, and spammers.
How can you protect yourself against scams?
Stay up-to-date on malware protection. Free anti-virus software, such as Avast!, can protect you from viruses that steal your personal information or spy on your online habits. Fraudsters and spammers sometimes infect computers with malware (viruses) in order to gather information about users. They then send phishing emails, containing links to these infected sites.
Is there anything I can do to stop cyber criminals?
Staying safe online is everyone’s concern. And, while you might think there’s little you can do, there are steps you can take to help protect yourself from cyber criminals. For example, stop letting spammers bait you into clicking on their links by not clicking on any suspicious emails or texts that seem sketchy.
Tips on how not to be a victim
By now, you know better than to trust an email that arrives out of nowhere, especially one that asks for your money or personal information. But there’s another type of online fraud you might not have considered: phishing scams designed to lure businesses into paying illegitimate invoices. Small business owners should be especially wary of these scams, since they may be more likely than consumers to respond if they believe they have been victims of fraud.
Things everyone should know about scammers
1. Do not share any personal information over email or social media.
2. Make sure you know who you’re talking to before sharing personal details.
3. Be aware of what links they send you, make sure it is from a legitimate website that uses HTTPS
