Online Scams

Whatever you may think, anyone can be a victim of fraud or online scams and scammers often operate on a huge scale, messaging thousands of potential victims in the hopes that just one will respond. Scammers also use many different sophisticated tactics to target their victims and steal personal information or money. 

Scammers will often use psychological tactics, like promising you something that might otherwise be hard to get. Hard to find tickets or an amazing deal might seem too good to be true, but scammers hope their victims won’t risk missing out. Another tactic might be pressuring victims to make a decision quickly, for example by claiming a deal is only around for a limited time. You also might spot scammers pretending to be someone trustworthy, even using a famous person’s name, photo or fake video of them, or using official logos to look more believable. A scammer may pretend that a person has missed a payment and that they need to pay a fine immediately, or they will get into trouble.

Scammers are also quick to use our emotions against us, sometimes using fear, guilt or even love to pressure victims into making decisions without thinking them through

Ultimately, if you’re contacted out of the blue or someone is asking you for money, especially via bank transfer, or if they want to borrow your bank account or email address, or if they ask you for some of your personal information, including pin numbers, passwords, or one-time security codes, there’s a good chance you’re being targeted by a scammer.

Tips For Staying Safe Online

Passwords

Don’t share passwords with other people and ensure they are hard to guess. Passwords shouldn’t contain any personal information and are best when they’re a mixture of letters, numbers and symbols. Most importantly, make sure each account you use has a separate password so that if one gets breached, the others aren’t also at risk.
You should also set up two step verification for your accounts where it’s available. This means for some actions like changing your password or logging in on a new device, you will need to prove it’s you. You are sent a code to another device you’re already logged in on, which prevents scammers from gaining access with a password alone. 

Carefully consider online purchases

If you’re looking to buy something online, think carefully about whether it’s worth the money. It’s safest to buy from known retailers or using marketplace and second-hand apps that offer buyer protection. Look out for scams by checking reviews of the seller, and always make payment through the app itself, and not via bank transfer, as this offers the least protection.
Bargain prices can be too good to be true and limited offers may be trying to rush you into spending money quickly, so if you can, take your time and look to see what’s available elsewhere first. 

Stay up to date with common and emerging types of scams

Scams are evolving all the time and scammers are always looking for new ways to target their victims, but there are some clues to look out for. Hard to find tickets or an amazing deal may well be too good to be true, and anything pressuring you to make a decision quickly could also be a scam. You might spot scammers pretending to be someone trustworthy or using your emotions against you. Sometimes fear, guilt, or even love can pressure victims into making decisions without thinking them through.
With developments in generative AI, it may be trickier to spot when emails, websites and logos have been faked, so if you’re in any doubt, don’t click. Stay up to date with common and emerging scams by talking with friends and family about what they’ve seen. You can also seek out advice online from Action Fraud