Top Online Scams You Need to Avoid

Scams aren’t new, they have been around for millennia. They are used to fraud unsuspecting people to gain information or financial benefit.

As we spend more and more time in the digital space we have to be more aware of the threats and how to defend ourselves against them. With the rise of the Internet, scams have become more prevalent, especially since scammers can send out millions of emails, casting a wide net in hopes of hooking a handful of people.

Here is a list of the some online scams and what they look like. We find that if you are aware of these scams, you are a lot less likely to fall for them.

1) Typosquatting

Typosquatting, also called URL hijacking, a sting site, or a fake URL, is a form of cybersquatting, and possibly brandjacking which relies on mistakes such as typos made by Internet users when inputting a website address into a web browser.

An example would be Amozon.com or Goggle.com. Once you get to the websites traditionally they mirror the original websites to lower your guard even more so when you are asked to provide credentials or card information you are comfortable in doing so.

2) Fake Software

Fake software is a way of tricking you into installing software that sounds legitimate, but that really is just a Trojan horse that lets malicious users take control of your computer. The real risk is that this software might be able to record your credentials such as user names and passwords — potentially accessing your accounts, even your bank account.

3) Phishing

Phishing is the fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by disguising something as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Typically carried out by email spoofing or instant messaging, it often directs users to enter personal information at a fake website which matches the look and feel of the legitimate site. Read more in our post about Phishing

4) Text Messages

Text scams are another type of phishing, but you may be less likely to react to them when they arrive in your phone than when they come via email. They can claim to come from Apple, Google, from your bank or even a service like PayPal. If you get a text message like this, don’t click the link. If you get one from your bank, don’t call the phone number, head on over to your bank’s website and find the correct number, then call them. If you do not verify, you may give up your bank account details to a scammer, and your balance will likely empty!

Here is a great video that helps you understand some other potential threats!

Drop us a message or give us a call and we will be in touch to help you gain a better understanding