As e-commerce booms, there is a significant rise in online frauds with newer risks arising every day. No one can stay completely safe from scams. History stands testimony to the fact that whenever methods of preventing a certain type of scam are discovered; fraudsters quickly come up with another one. Scams are successful because they appear very similar to the real thing, and catch people off-guard.
To protect oneself against scams, it is essential to be aware of the existence of scams, especially if something appears too good to be true, it might just be a scam. Keeping personal details secure, limiting the personal information available on social media management, careful privacy and security settings on the same, is the first step in preventing scams. This is because fraudsters often use pictures and identifying information in creating fake identities or target someone with a scam. It is also advisable to research on the legitimacy of a business or the person in question. Providing remote access to one’s personal computer is perhaps the surest way of getting scammed—any phone calls asking for the same should be avoided like the plague. Suspicious-looking links, pop-ups, messages and the like should be deleted immediately.
Identifying fake documents or emails also helps in securing oneself against online scams. While fake documents look similar to the real thing, they might have generic greetings with names of organizations that do not exist, poor grammar, spelling and presentation, or overly official language.
Securing devices is another step to protect oneself from scams. The use of strong passwords, appropriate password protection, updated security software, and safely backed-up content aid in keeping personal data safe. One can never be too careful in shopping online. Requests for money or account details, or unusual payment requests, are best avoided.
Scammers have operated in 2017 as an organized community, which is expected to persist through 2018. Top-notch online fraud protection solutions with advanced features like machine learning and the capacity to link to data across third-party databases can aid in preventing online scams. Being aware of common scamming techniques and carefulness will, however, go a long way in safeguarding against scams.
