In this article, we’ll be discussing the common habits done online that can be harmful to your pockets and that might put your life and those you love at risk. Avoid these five common internet scams by learning what to look out for.
- Logging in at an internet café/cyber-café
- Social Networks
- Get rich quick scheme
- Donations
- Do not buy Facebook/Instagram likes, views, watch time
Logging in at an internet café/cyber-café
The number of people using an internet café to log in to emails, social media, and banks can vary due to privacy concerns.
Your login details might be logged, or the screen might be recorded and might be hard to detect without any technical background. What’s important is knowing how to protect yourself against a breach and the risks of personal info being leaked.
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To be safe use the below instructions:
- GUEST MODE: to browse securely, as the browser does not record browsing history on guest mode.
- Do not show password on screen: the screen might be recorded, if your password has special characters(@,%,<,$#) click the SHIFT button 5 times to activate sticky keys, which allow you to click 1 button at a time and doesn’t require you to hold 2 buttons for a special character. Always use 2-step verification for any account to protect the security of your password and personal information.
- 3. If an ‘ALLOW’ push notification pops on the screen deny access as it might be a phishing attempt.
- LOG OUT: Normalize logging out when using a device that you have no claim of.
Also Read: Brave vs Tor- The Best Browser To Surf Internet Anonymously
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Social Networks
According to stats 4.7 million people use social media and around 95 000 as of 2021 reported about $770 million in losses to fraud scams. Do not include personal information on social media such as Residential addresses, or car registration plates, This can lead to kidnappings, Hijacking, housebreaking, and more.
Take note of the information below:
- Do not publicly share the email address/phone number associated with your account, as this might lead to your information being cloned and sold to the highest bidder.
- Scammers can monitor your every like, comment, and share, Thinking before you post is effective. Do not click suspicious links, They might imitate the brands you follow, and use your full name & DOB obtained on social media to lure you to take a poll and then redirect you to a website that requires you to download malicious software (like ransomware) and lock your device remotely and require you to make a payment.
Be aware of the comments section, Many scammers saw it as an opportunity to reach a huge audience.
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Get rich quick scheme
These types of scams are everywhere, while most people are aware of these scams, poverty-stricken and low-income individuals still fall for them. These scams leave you in huge debt and bankruptcy. Scams pose a threat to your health, mentally and emotionally.
Banks in South Africa give an average of 4.88% interest on a savings account. When compared to scams, scammers give 100% interest and in some cases 50% + bonuses(depending on the information they have about you).
They don’t use their own capital to payout returns. For example, they use John to pay Peter and Andrew to pay John. They form a pyramid scheme, depending on how long you have been a member determines your returns. Once they reach their targeted amount of invested capital they will disappear with all the invested capital leaving every member Penniless.
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Donations
There is nothing more helpful than a helping hand. Donations can be in as clothes, money, products, food, equipment, and so on.
Today scams are mostly in donations, and social media has become a huge helping community for those in need from celebrities, poor people, entrepreneurs, and more, and scammers saw it as an opportunity for financial freedom. It’s important to VERIFY the organization before donating.
Do not buy Facebook/Instagram likes, views, watch time
Bots are slowly replacing real people to promote personal agendas and fake news. The purchase of fake likes, views, and shares. This can lead to your account being banned/suspended. It is better to promote your work honestly, formally, and with a real audience.
There are also many risks with the purchase of fake views and likes. The company associated with the software now has your personal information and login details, and they might sell your information to third parties or use it to scam you. To protect yourself you need to avoid this kind of behavior online.
conclusion
Scammers are always looking for prey, Do not be a victim of an online scam take action with the guidance provided above and be cyber-wise.
