How to Avoid Online Scams: A Guide

Rosslyn Elliott / Updated Apr 02, 2024 | Pub. Jan 03, 2024

Home - Blog - How to Avoid Online Scams: A Guide

Table of Contents

In the digital world, our money and personal information are just one click away from potential thieves. We all need to know how to keep ahead of fraudsters online.

We’ll check out common online scams, red flags for suspicious activity, and ways to guard yourself on the web. Let’s have a look!

Scams on the Rise

Online fraud is increasing rapidly [1]. There’s a good chance you or someone you know has been a target before. Con artists are getting sneakier too, so it pays to be extra careful when browsing the web.

Our goal here is to empower you to protect yourself from shady online activity. Get ready as we uncover secrets for steering clear of digital traps.

Common Online Scams 101

One day, you get an email saying you won a lottery—but you never entered one! That’s just a taste of the many online scams out there.

Scammers always have new tricks up their sleeve. Here a few popular scam types.

Varieties of Online Scam

Phishing: It’s all in the name—just like a fisherman putting out bait to catch unwary fish. Fraudsters set up fake emails, sites, etc. to get you to input private info. Watch out for sketchy communications claiming to be legit companies.

Identity Theft: Your personal info is valuable to scammers. They use sneaky tactics like raiding your trash or hacking databases to steal it. We’ll offer tips to safeguard your identity from these digital thieves.

Shopping Scams: Who can resist an unbelievable online deal? Scammers know this and create fake vendor sites or online ads to sucker you into spending money on nothing. We’ll help you tell real steals from sly scams.

Email Scams: Even your inbox can hide deceitful messages like bogus job offers, fake lottery winnings, or pleas for financial help. We’ll show you how to tell real emails from shady ones.

Social Media Scams: It’s not just email – scammers invade social platforms too. From false profiles to romance rip-offs, we’ll uncover the ways fraudsters fool social media users.

Woman looks at her phone in shock due to online scam

Don’t click that link

Red Flags to Watch For

Ever get an odd vibe from something online? Trust those instincts! Here are some red flags signaling suspicious activity:

Strange email addresses/site URLs: Legit companies use professional domain names on secure sites. Anything fishy should raise eyebrows.

Poor writing: Scam operations often originate overseas. Bad grammar and misspellings could indicate fraud.

High pressure/urgent demands: Scammers want fast action before you think too much. Beware intense time constraints.

Requests for sensitive information: Legitimate companies won’t ask for financial/personal details over email or social media messages.

Unbelievable offers: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Use good judgment with tempting offers.

Real-life Online Scam Stories

Let’s look at some real cases where folks got duped by online fraudsters. These sobering tales demonstrate why it’s so important to stay savvy and guard yourself on the web.

Online shopping goes bad

As the National Debt Helpline reports, one customer named Sarah tried to order a cheap BBQ grill online [2]. The company claiming to have the grill then sent her a message saying that the grill was not available and the order would be canceled. Unfortunately, though they promised to send a refund, she never received the refund. This example shows why it is so important never to send a cash equivalent payment to an online vendor. If you use a credit card, you can challenge fraud. But once you send a cash payment, you may be out of luck.

Phishing for the big one

In a phishing example from 2020, cybercriminals used emails to pose as members of Twitter’s IT team [3]. They were able to get user password information from several Twitter employees who trusted the so-called “IT request.” The hackers then invaded the Twitter accounts of celebrities and posted requests for donations in Bitcoin. A large number of Twitter users donated Bitcoin before the scam was stopped.

person gives credit card number in online shopping scam

Shopping scams

But it was a real website!

Some scammers will create a decoy website and many fraudulent linked articles to support their scam [4]. In India, scammers created a fake website for an investment firm, along with many decoy pages with false testimonials. Indian amateur investors were duped out of thousands of rupees by the realistic look of the website.

True love…or a con artist?

One of the most common online scams is the dating/romance scam. Many people are vulnerable to the promises of someone online who posts attractive photos and sends messages of love. The scammer will often prey on the lonely or elderly, which is why the AARP cautions older people in particular about romance scams [5].

The FTC provides a helpful list of the lines usually used by romance scammers in order to get money from their victims, including, “I am in jail and need bail,” and “I am sick and need money for medicine.” Romance scammers also claim to be making a helpful investment on your behalf or to be in the military, on an oil rig, or on a ship [6].

Social media scam targets widow

Romance scammers also work through social media, as was the case for Marjorie with a What’s App scam [7]. After Marjorie lost her husband, an online scammer romanced her and then bilked her out of 100,000 British pounds even though they had never met. The scammer claimed to be a man named Gerald who needed a short-term business loan. In reality, charming “Gerald” was a group of cybercriminals working together to steal Marjorie’s money.

a woman types an email to a man in a hood as she falls for a romance scam

Romance scams

Safeguarding Yourself Online

Now let’s talk about building your defenses against online villains.

Bolstering Web Security

Here are great habits for locking down online accounts with the best cybersecurity:

Use long, unique passwords
Turn on two-factor authentication
Keep software updated
Limit personal info on social media
Regularly check financial statements

Getting Savvy about Scams

Staying informed is your best weapon against con artists.

Follow trusted cybersecurity sources
Share tips with friends/family
Take online safety training
Report suspicious activity

hands on a computer keyboard with shadowy figure behind

Don’t give out private info

Tools and Resources for Scam Prevention

Being proactive in preventing scams involves utilizing the right tools and resources.

Anti-Scam Tools

Browser extensions that watch your back: Add-ons like Web of Trust (WOT) can lend a hand in calling out shady websites trying to hook you with phishing scams

Email filtering helpers: Make friends with email services that have strong spam filters to keep those nasty emails away.

Anti-malware/antivirus software guardians: Spend a few bucks on reputable security software to shield your devices from malicious programs.

Social media platform bodyguards: Get to know the security settings on your social media accounts so you can control who sees what you’re putting out there.

Government and Nonprofit Resources

Links to official government websites for reporting scams: Know where to report scams in your region. Government agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are invaluable resources.

Report American scams to the FTC’s Report Fraud [8].

Report international scams to Econsumer.gov [9].

Nonprofit organizations also provide educational resources: Explore resources from organizations like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and StaySafeOnline to enhance your knowledge {10,11].

hands on a laptop keyboard with abstract symbols for cybersecurity including padlock

Use strong passwords

Staying Safe with Online Shopping

Shopping online is super convenient, but it does come with some risks. Let’s talk about how to shop smart and avoid issues.

Smart Online Buying Practices

Stick to large, well-known online stores to reduce chances of running into scams. Go with secure payment types like credit cards that offer fraud protection.

Before entering any personal info, check that the site has “https” in the URL and displays a padlock icon. Reading user reviews can give helpful hints about real product quality and seller reliability too.

Is This a Real Seller?

Researching shops and sellers online first is wise – scammers bank on you knowing little about them.

Hunt for visible contact info and responsive customer support channels. And honestly ask yourself if an unbelievable deal really makes sense or seems questionable.

A few precautions will help you avoid headaches and get genuine bargains instead of scams.

Takeaway: Stop Those Scammers

By all means enjoy the web, but stay vigilant against scams by arming yourself with knowledge. Share insights with your community, trust your instincts, and let’s work together for a safer internet.

Find a Secure Internet Provider

If you need to find a trustworthy internet provider with top-notch security practices, enter your zip code to get a detailed list of plans and prices in your area.