Your security measures will help protect your personal information and wallet. 

How to avoid scams: Ask yourself: How do they know about your computer? However, if you allow scammers remote access to your computer, immediately update your security software, run a thorough scan and remove anything identified as a problem. If you shared your username and password, change them immediately as well. Tech support scams are common. The FBI reported 37,560 such scams in 2023. If you think you’ve been contacted or fallen victim to a tech support scam, report it to the FTC. 419 Scams –Advance Fee Scams.

419 scams are one of the most common scams online.

You’ve probably seen this in your inbox before. where mail telling you congratulation you won high amount of money. According to the FBI, 8,045 people were reported to have fallen victim to advance fee fraud in 2023. They lost a total of $134 million, or about $16,720 per person. Scammers typically pose as members of wealthy families and contact you after the death of a loved one.

They are trying to move large amounts of assets out of the country for safekeeping and then transfer the money to your bank account. The prey? They have to pay a small fee to receive most of their cash. How to avoid them: Do not respond to these requests or provide any bank information. Send all correspondence to the U.S. FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Secret Service or FTC. Fake Shopping Websites and Form jacking Thousands of fake websites offer great deals on big-name brands. These websites usually have URLs that look similar to the URLs of the brands they’re trying to imitate, like this one: Amaz0n.net. If you buy something from these sites, you might get a counterfeit product in the mail, or nothing at all.

Form jacking:

This is also retail fraud. This happens when a legitimate retail website is hacked, and shoppers are redirected to a fraudulent payment page where scammers steal their personal and credit card information. How to avoid them: To avoid this scam, double-check that the URL of the payment page matches the website where you made your purchase. Cybercriminals may slightly change the URL. This can be done by adding or omitting a single character to the URL. Always double-check the URL before entering your payment details.

Travel scams:

Travel scams involve social media. Scammers post enticing photos on sites like Pinterest, X-Platform (Twitter), and Instagram to fool even the savviest travellers. Images that promise free trips or flights and entice you to click ask you to fill out surveys with lots of personal information or secretly open your computer to malware.

Fake medical organizations.

Scammers impersonate health authorities, such as the World Health Organization or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to offer information about treatments, testing, and other COVID-19 information. Websites selling counterfeit goods These websites sell face masks, hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes, and other high-demand items that are never in stock. Buy products only from well-known marketers.

Fake government sources.

These scammers claim to issue renewals and payments on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or local tax authorities. Fraudulent financial offers. Scammers may pose as banks, debt collectors, or investors and make offers aimed at stealing financial information. Fake fundraising calls from nonprofits. Many people prefer to donate to charities for disaster relief. This presents a great opportunity for scammers to set up fake nonprofits, hospitals, and other organizations to raise funds. Donate directly through reputable nonprofits’ websites instead of clicking links received in emails or text messages.

How to avoid them:

Make sure the social media sites you use are authorized accounts. All major airlines and travel websites link directly to their social media handles from their respective websites.

Preliminary Approval Notice:

You will receive a letter or email informing you that you have been pre-approved for a credit card or bank loan. Individuals struggling with financial difficulties may fall victim to this scam, which promises instant approval and attractive credit lines. The prey? You will have to pay an upfront payment when you sign up. You will not be asked for an annual fee when you sign up, although credit card companies will charge an annual fee.

How to avoid them:

Beware of offers that involve 100% guarantees, upfront payment, or payment by cash, bank transfer, or gift cards. Debt relief and credit repair scams. Unlucky people can easily be fooled by emails that claim to wipe out their debts or repair bad credit. The scams make false promises to negotiate with creditors to consolidate or settle debts or remove negative information from your credit report. According to the FTC, “These companies often charge cash-strapped consumers large amounts up front, but even when they do provide their services, they don’t help you resolve or reduce your debt.

How to avoid them:

Avoid debt assistance companies that charge you an upfront fee before you’ve paid off your debt. Also avoid companies that guarantee you’ll pay off your debt or reduce it by a certain amount by date X. Research any debt relief or credit repair services you’re considering to choose a reputable credit repair company. It’s a good idea to check with your state’s Attorney General and Consumer Protection Bureau about the company’s reputation.