You go to use your debit card and, strangely, it’s declined. You know you had plenty of money in your account, but you can’t access it. It’s gone. It seems you are a victim of internet fraud and this post discuss about how to avoid internet fraud!
You’re planning for vacation, saving every spare cent so you can go to your dream destination, suddenly you discover that all of your money is gone.
You’ve been saving for years to buy yourself that new car, but without warning, all your money disappears. In the blink of an eye, your bank account has been wiped out.
Everything you worked for, everything you saved, has vanished in a split second. Gone. And you’re left with nothing. You’re not alone. Internet fraud is scary and entirely too common these days. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), internet fraud affects more than 25 million people each year. That means someone you know has likely been a victim of internet fraud and phishing scams.
You can also read: Internet Frauds Penalizing – Things You Need to Know
What Can You Do to Avoid Internet Fraud?
You don’t have to live your internet life in fear. There are ways to keep scammers from running away to Cuba with your hard-earned money. With these six simple tips, you can protect yourself from online fraud.
Do Your Research.
Before submitting any payment information to any website, do your research. Make sure they are a reliable site with good reviews. How long have they been around? Have they been in business for years or mere weeks? Are they a recognizable name or something you’ve never heard of before? When you Google their name, what comes up? Googling is a simple and easy way to find reviews of sites so you can check them out before you give them your money. This article will be helpful 4 Internet Security Tips to Follow to Ensure Maximum Protection .
Use Paypal or Credit Cards where Possible.
Paypal and credit cards both offer buyer protection, usually up to 45 days from purchase. They will keep your information safe and will help you should your information be stolen. If you use a debit card or bank information, the thief has direct access to your bank account and you could be wiped out before you can blink.
Read: Online Business and SSL.
Be Careful where You Click.
Ads can easily lead to sites that steal your information. Be careful where you click on unfamiliar websites. If a site seems to be taking too long to load, either close it out or wait for it to finish. Do not click on random areas on the site. You could be inadvertently downloading phishing software.
To protect your computer you can have a look at the article Effective Tips to Prevent Malware Infection on Your PC.
Avoid Unfamiliar Emails with Attachments.
Emails are a popular way for scammers to gather information and it’s one of their favorites. Did you receive an email from your bank claiming that there’s an issue and you need to download a file to fix it? Don’t download that file. Don’t click on any links in that email. Instead, either call your bank to verify the information or go directly to the bank’s website. Clicking on a link through email can have the same effect. Even if the email looks totally legitimate, it could still be spam. Go directly to the website instead of using the link in the email. Don’t click on random links!
Use Common Sense to Avoid Internet Fraud.
In general, a bit of common sense and a slightly pessimistic attitude can protect you from basic internet fraud. Did you receive an email from someone claiming to be a long lost relative? Chances are they’re not a relative, but a scammer looking for money. Did you get an email from a bank, but it’s not your bank? Most likely, it’s a phisher looking for an easy target. Just be smart and you’ll save yourself a lot of headache.
Get Anti-phishing Training.
Of course, nothing beats proper anti-phishing training. Even the smartest people can fall for silly scams and this type of training can give you extra insight and a greater barrier against internet fraud. There are a lot of great trainings out there to help protect people against this type of fraud. It is amazing how much more common internet fraud is now a days than it used to be.
Do I Really Need To Worry About This?
Yes. Plain and simple, yes, you do need to worry and you need to know how to avoid internet fraud. Internet scammers are running rampant and it’s almost guaranteed that you already know someone who has fallen victim to them. Even smart, careful people have been duped into giving up their money. You need to protect yourself in any way you can.
