Expert Reveals How To Spot Common Cyber Scams – Irish Tech News – Irish Tech News
Nowadays, the scams circulating the web are more advanced than ever and it can be particularly easy to fall into cyber scams.
From smishing to fake dating profiles, Finance Experts at Merchant Cash Advance have shared some of the most common scams of 2022 and revealed how to protect yourself from them.
Photo by Tumisu on Pixabay
Scammers are taking advantage of the current situation by setting up fake Covid test sites, selling fake tests or vaccines online to collect personal details and medical information. Wider government scams are also becoming more common, calling innocent people to urge them to pay a debt or verify their personal information.
Authorized officials will never contact you by phone to instantly pay a debt with a prepaid card, gift card or wire transfer; this is untraceable so is a common trick used by scammers and will help you identify an unusual request.
Also known as SMS phishing, smishing is a more recent type of fraud that sees scammers impersonate organizations in order to steal your personal information or encourage you to click on a malicious link. These links can download malware onto your device or send you to a website replicating an official organization, urging you to transfer money.
If you notice a seemingly official text coming from a standard mobile number or notice an unusual looking link, approach with caution and do not proceed without researching its legitimacy.
Encouraging people to download a malicious app is another popular way to steal information or encourage you to pay money. On some occasions, scammers have created near-identical copies of existing apps and trick users into making in-app purchases with the belief that they’re using a trusted service.
Personal information such as usernames, passwords and one-time codes should never be shared or entered into sites which you may be suspicious about. These details can be pieced together and used to access your personal accounts or steal your identity online.
A robocall is a phone call which automatically takes you to a recorded message rather than speaking with a real person. Although these are used by officials, many robocalls are circulating which consist of scams trying to sell you something or tell you that you may have been involved in an accident and are liable for a payout.
If you suspect that an incoming call is a spam, it is best to avoid it completely, letting it ring out or hanging up. If you have already answered a call and are faced with a robocall, hang up the phone as soon as possible and avoid following their requests.
Being designed to target hopeful job seekers, employment scams can be tricky to detect and make people think that they are being offered a job opportunity. Often scammers are particularly manipulative and target people who have been out of work, offering roles that sound incredibly tempting and often asking for money for admin fees.
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is! No recruiter should ask for money or your bank account information so check with reliable sources that you are only working alongside reputable headhunters.
By using dating apps to target vulnerable singles who are looking for conversion with a potential partner, fake accounts can be dangerous if you are not careful. The scammers will strike up a conversation and build up some trust before asking you to transfer money to help them out.
If you have never met someone in person, do not agree to sending money or helping them out financially. This is strictly prohibited on dating apps also so report any suspicious requests right away and if you have sent money, contact your bank immediately to cancel it.
A recent trick is for cybercriminals to set up fake stores online or on social media profiles which offer branded items at lower prices. By luring bargain hunters in with their favourite brands at a cost they wouldn’t find elsewhere, they can get their hands on personal information as well as money.
If you are not familiar with the brand, examine the website before purchasing and research the company to establish its authenticity. A quick web search for its name plus “scam” or “reviews” can provide all you need to know and if you have already purchased from the scammer, contact your payment platform immediately.
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