The internet is one of the greatest inventions of humankind. The platform it provides has enabled human advancement at a rapid speed, and increased innovation, efficiency, and interaction at levels never witnessed before. Despite all the glam and potential provided by the internet, there is a downside that seems to grow in equal measure to the upside. Within every environment there are always malicious actors and parties that aim to steal valuable personal data, the internet is no exception.
Criminal masterminds have perfected their mastery of the internet and can gain access to our private information, whether at work or home. There is not much one can do to stop it, so prevention is the best cure. Some of the tactics and tools in use involve malicious software that integrates with our apps and programs. Unfortunately, millennials seem to be the most vulnerable to these scams than their older counterparts.
Research done on the same reveals that victims usually fall prey to phishing scams and malware attacks when they shop online, check their email addresses, or access social media sites. The main aim of this actors is your wallet, and they will do anything within their power to arrive at this.
Phishing Scams
Close to a third of security incidences begin with phishing emails and other malicious attachments transmitted to company employees. With time, the phishing scams have evolved to place both organizations and online users in harm’s way. Most phishing scams originate from email communications via social networks where cybercriminals will use emails/messages to trick people into giving up sensitive and valuable data.
Nigerian Scam
There is an old scam about a Nigerian family with vast wealth sent out by a scammer through an emotional letter or social media. In most cases, the subject of the letter is a woman who would like you to retrieve a given amount of money from a bank. In exchange, she is willing to pay for the paperwork and any other legal matters.
Greeting Cards
Whether it is Easter or Christmas, we receive greeting cards in our email inboxes that seem to originate from family or friends. Greeting cards have been used by scammers ever since the internet was still new. The scammers use the cards to inject data harvesting malware into your computer.
Credit Card/Bank Loan Scams
If you receive any unrealistic offer that involves a bank guaranteeing huge sum of money without going through trouble, there is a high chance this is a scam. The scammers will demand a mandatory transfer fee to those who fall for it.
Lottery Schemes
Another classic internet scam is the lottery scam that arrives via your email. This gives you the impression that you have won a huge sum of money. For you to claim your prize, you are to pay some fee. This scam can be easily avoided as you had not purchased any lottery ticket.
Fake Shopping Websites
When shopping online exercise caution as some scammers set up phony websites to harvest your credit card information. The websites are in their thousands and provide false information that redirects your click to malicious links that harvest valuable personal data.
Conclusion
Avoiding scammers is not easy as they have adapted and evolved according to the times. The best way to deal with them is to stay on guard. Regularly educate yourself on How to catch online fraud from IT industry experts.