The Most Common Internet Security Scams You Need to Avoid
Surfing through the internet has been a huge part of today’s life. From shopping to learning, online platforms aiming to ease the process are ready at your fingertips.
However, the fast and easy process often comes with risks, and sometimes, they seem to be bigger than the actual advantages. The moment we talk about privacy, everyone seems to agree that it is one of the basic human rights that need protection at all costs.
Unfortunately, the shimmering virtual world often takes away our consciousness, leading us to endless traps of online security scams with our privacy at stake.
It should be one common agreement that before entering the virtual network, one should promise to themselves that they must never share too much.
Although certain people get more benefits with online drama after sharing things that should be kept hidden, it does not mean every user needs to follow that path.
Remember that there are people out there, behind those avatars, that are up to no good. Instant cash and scams are their only goals. The key lies in the information that users circulate online freely.
If you do not want to be part of these unfortunate people, try to filter things you expose online before hitting the post button.
To take the suggestions above to the realm of action, below are some types of security-related online scams to avoid:
Phishing
This type of scam deserves the top spot for being the evilest form of cyberthreats. The term refers to an action of impersonating someone else’s persona to deceive the victims.
They can imitate victims’ close family, friends, and even colleagues. Not only does it bring disadvantages for the targeted victims, but it also can defame the reputation of the people they impersonate.
What is even more dangerous about this scam is that the criminals are extremely good at impersonating.
A more professional-and-structured level of this scam often involves months of online stalking before the execution day. They will grab the information you share online to be used later to lure you in.
Borrowing some money is only the most basic level. Another more advanced type of phishing can include having you click or open URLs or links that can give them direct access to your accounts, including bank accounts.
Fake Antivirus
Another common online scam when surfing through the web is fake antivirus. This scam often comes in the form of a sudden pop-up alert on your screen, notifying you that your device is infected and that you need to take action by downloading their software.
They further provide you with a flashy button to click that will take you directly to their download page.
Despite its convincing nature, following the instructions can only harm your device. Note that real antivirus software is not the type of sharing flashy download buttons in random places.
Another alert worth noting is that you should, as much as possible, stay away from any type of ads that seem to lure you to click certain links. It is most likely an online threat.
Online Money Maker
With the internet being a promising platform to make real and fast money, many unsuspecting users often fall prey to cybercriminals who take advantage of their lack of literacy and resourcefulness.
Instead of helping users earn money, this type of scam often comes with a made-up professional-looking web page, which convinces the victims to pay good money to proceed with the application they have applied.
One good and effective tip to spot this form of scam needs only a little common sense. They usually use fake promises that seem too good to be true, like paying you a one-month worth of salary by only doing a one-hour job.
Fake Online Shops
This one takes the form of the traditional selling and buying process through an online platform, like social media apps. The culprits will deceive you into visiting their fake online shops selling things you want at a lower price.
After the transaction, you can no longer contact them, probably blocked, and your money is gone forever. Despite its simple method, this scam is the one with the most victims.
Most of the time, these poor users are unsuspecting even after knowing that the prices offered are strangely lower than the actual prices in the market.
Knowing some types of online scams can get you a long way. Although there is no 100% guarantee that you will never be one of the victims, updating your knowledge on this topic can save you big time.
