What are the 7 types of online scams?

1. Do you Need a Signature to access Your Personal Details

Scammers post on websites or social media that they can help you "Verify your details". In the eye of the scam, you need to get your information verified, however, the scammer will take all your personal details and submit it to themselves to fake websites that are created in order to blackmail and rob you.

There have been reports of victims losing thousands of dollars to this online scam and when the scammers couldn't collect their money, they'll send threatening messages or emails, demanding more money.

2. Official-looking Sites of banks and other financial institutions

Scammers pretend to be from real bank and financial institutions and impersonate them by using their logo.

The 5 most common online scams

As scams and frauds go, there are some common tricks used in scam schemes. Also, some tactics are more common than others. One common method that is commonly used in online scams is called the “introduction fee.”

This is when the scammer needs the victim’s help with a payment in order to validate the validity of the transaction. Sometimes, the introduction fee is a low or a no-cost product or service. In other cases, it’s a special offer, rebate, free gift or an entirely different product and it’s used to fool and entice the user.

Others tricks of the trade include tricking people to complete certain tasks in order to earn free gift cards, cash or other rewards.

How to avoid being a victim of cybercrime

According to Capgemini research, cyber criminals have an efficient process to execute their activity. They tend to use similar methods and fraud rings to deceive their victims.

Below are few points that can help you keep your personal information secure online and stay safe from online scams.

Use a Security Software

Security software is a must-have software to have to reduce your online risks. The risk can vary from phishing scams to data stealing and malware. Some of the security software you can rely on are Anti-virus software, firewall and anti-spyware software.

Change Your Passwords and Change Them Often

Make sure to update your passwords every six months to reduce the risk of security breaches.

Avoiding credit card fraud

The most commonly targeted scheme in the UAE is credit card fraud. However, the UAE is not the only country in the world that is faced with such problems. Fraudsters have found it very easy to trick people across the globe into giving their credit card information, so it is crucial to be vigilant.

This is when you will need to be extra careful when making online transactions, especially if the transaction is supposed to be one-off. You should never disclose any personal information to the person who makes the transaction on your behalf and should contact the bank you are dealing with for any related information before the transaction is completed.

Ensuring your online payments are protected

This means ensuring that any transactions you undertake online are protected from being reversed.

Avoiding social engineering scams

While we have in depth online scams guide here, it is never too late to adopt a similar strategy that will help protect you from falling prey to scams. As criminals who target people online want to avoid exposing themselves to police records and legal penalties, they avoid calling victims directly and reveal their identities only to communicate through email and social media. These are the 3 types of social engineering scams that will land you at the receiving end of scammers who want to extract your money from you and harm your reputation.

1. Text Scams

These SMS texts are usually sent via autodialed and pre-recorded phone calls.

Avoiding malware and hacking scams

Users are often victims of malware and hacking scams. These attacks, which try to defraud people through installing malicious programs onto their devices, mostly target computers. Attackers use viruses and trojans to attack systems and install malware. Some trojans are benign while others can run undetected without the users noticing.

DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) Attacks

Malware and hacking scams also use DDoS attacks to try and bring down systems. A DDoS attack forces a system to enter a reboot or shutdown mode, disrupting business processes and bringing businesses to their knees.

Imposter Scams

Fake alerts and emails are frequently used in imposter scams. Some scammers who pose as lawyers offer their services to victims in exchange for money.

Avoiding phishing scams and identity theft

One way to avoid these scams is to stay up to date with new scams and ensure you do not make your personal or financial details vulnerable.

To remain wary of phishing scams, a set of rules should be adopted by individuals as well as organisations. These rules are especially important for firms and other organisations that sell products online. They are designed to keep organisations ahead of the scams and ensure they are not victims of fraud.

Here are some of the ways organisations can avoid phishing scams.

When in doubt – don’t send personal information or wire money. Whenever in doubt, trust your instincts.

– send personal information or wire money. Whenever in doubt, trust your instincts. Use only secure networks. Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks as they are not secure.

Preventing ransomware and other viruses

When it comes to Internet safety, every Internet user should be aware of the potential dangers that they may face. This helps them to take precautions against them and stay safe online.

Choose strong passwords

A strong and unique password should be used for every device that you use online. This helps to prevent criminals from hacking your account. When you reuse the same password for every account that you use, you are also inviting criminals to crack them and get their hands on your online accounts.

Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software

Not all online services offer anti-virus and anti-spyware software. As such, you should purchase these from a reliable provider. This will protect your computer from malware and spyware.