How to Avoid Online Scams?

Internet fraud is a constant threat that users must deal with when they are online. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a total of 847,376 complaints about internet fraud were filed by users in 2021, in comparison to the 791,790 complaints received in 2020. The change indicates a 7% increase in the complaints such as phishing scams, sensitive data breaches, and payment issues.

It is important to remember that anyone can fall victim to online fraud if they are not careful. Older people, who are not aware of the various threats, can be at a higher risk than others can. Learn how you can avoid some common scams that you face online.

Fake Credit Reports

US residents have the option to avail a free credit report, once every twelve months, as per the law. AnnualCreditReport.com is the only website, authorized by Federal Law, that you can use to place your order for the report. Scammers have created a bunch of fake websites, which can trick users into giving up their personal information to unauthorized users. In such cases, people can give up sensitive information such as social security details, date of birth, home address, and more. In turn, the scammers can steal your identity by using these details. You should access your credit report regularly, to keep an eye on any fraudulent activity that has taken place in your name.

How Do Evade This Fraud?

Don’t respond to any emails, messages, texts, or ads that are offering you a free credit report. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com, as it is the only authentic source for credit reports. Remember to pay attention to the website or address to make sure that you are on the correct website, as scammers can create sites that look legitimate.

Online Relationships

There are several online dating websites and apps that offer single people a chance to find someone to date and find a partner. But, just like with all apps, these sites are also home to a bunch of fraudsters who try to find victims they can trick and fraud. According to the FBI, victims of romance scams have suffered some of the biggest financial losses ever reported.

Romance frauds can take place in many forms, but it begins with the scammers starting a relationship with the victim. Once the fraudster has gained the trust of their unsuspecting victim, they start by asking or borrowing money from them. The scammers will usually come up with an elaborate excuse and present the victim with an emergency to persuade them to give them the money. In some cases, the scammer can also convince the victim to commit fraud on their behalf.

How Do Avoid This Fraud?

Some of these scammers target older and lonely seniors who they can manipulate easily. Women particularly need to be careful, as they are more likely to be scammed. Whatever your age or gender, remember that online dating comes with a few risks that you can minimize if you follow some safety tips. If you feel you are getting scammed, stop talking to them immediately, block their profiles and report them to the dating site immediately.

Bogus Pop-Ups

One of the easiest ways to scam consumers is by targeting their fears. If you are visiting a website, you may have noticed a pop-up that says that your device is infected by malware. It instructs you to click on a link to download some security software. These pop-ups can lead you to unsecured sites that will try to trick users into buying unnecessary software. If you download this software and install it on your computer, you may risk giving them access to control your device, after which you can lose all your data. Some of these pop-ups may seem to be authentic and scam even experienced users, so you need to be alert.

How to Avoid This Scam

You can download authentic antivirus software to protect your device from being attacked by any virus. With such security measures, you will drastically reduce the risk of falling victim to scams.

What Can You Do?

Cybercriminals are constantly finding creative ways to fool online users and scam them into giving away sensitive information. You don’t have to feel embarrassed if you fall victim to a scam. Instead, what you should do is gather the relevant information you can and file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Once you file the complaint, the details will be analyzed, and share these details with the appropriate agencies. You should also take the time to inform family members about the various risks that they can face when they are online. You need to start spreading this knowledge from a young age so that they know how to stay protected at all times. If you have young children, use parental controls to keep them safe from unsafe websites and content.

We don’t mean to scare you from using the internet ever again. An internet connection is a crucial service for all households today. You can browse through Mediacom offers and choose a plan that also comes with ample security features. Mediacom internet plan is what meets the needs of security-conscious users.