From real-life calls to the virtual realm, scammers are increasingly looking for more methods to fool even the most cautious people and profit at the expense of others. If you want to learn how not to be naive and still enjoy the advantages of making purchases online and ripping the benefits of the existence of the internet, we will give you these tips to avoid internet fraud that will help you improve your experience as a digital consumer.

How to avoid online frauds or scams?

Whether they send you very generous offers for an online course or you ‘have won’ sweepstakes that you can’t remember entering in your life, online scams use creativity to seduce even the most cautious users. If you spot something suspicious while browsing, you should do the following:

Detect impostors:

In general, the message may be in the name of a relative, acquaintance, or even a government official during campaign times. They usually ask you to deposit money urgently or even ask you for your data to participate in an online campaign.

Do not do it and, if possible, contact the aforementioned by phone or in-person if you know them to clarify if it is a fraud and warn them that someone is using their identity to scam other people. In case the person is unknown, check their details via Google or use Nuwber. That will help you determine if the suspicious message or call is worth answering.

Research the company:

Sometimes the alleged company may already have a history of internet scams. Look up their name in Google and try adding words like “Complaint” or “Scam.” Sometimes Google already offers information in its results, which is an indication that other users have already been victims of fraud.

Pay nothing in advance:

Typically, a fraudulent company can investigate their victim to see if he is in debt or has a mortgage.

If they find out something like that, a scammer will tell you that he can offer you a loan in exchange for you paying him in advance and thus benefiting from his service. The only thing you will get is that they keep your money and disappear from the map.

Tips to avoid internet fraud in online purchases

Many users have claimed to have been victims of fraudulent online purchases, so we will give you some tips to avoid internet fraud when you want to buy a product or service from a supposed business.

Learn to identify a fake website:

Most fake websites pretending to be online stores to fool compulsive digital shoppers. In this case, we recommend you analyze if the URL of the site starts with https:// and if the prices of each product are suspiciously low in its quality. Don’t trust anything that sounds too good to be true. 

Analyze payment options: 

Some payment options like MoneyGram have a very low level of protection, plus it’s nearly impossible to get your money back after the purchase is complete if something is wrong. If you are required to pay with a single payment method, it is most likely to be an online scam.

Be wary of free trials:

Certain companies offer free trials of a product. But when you agree to purchase it, it subscribes you to purchase the product, and you end up paying for it every month without your authorization. In this case, we advise you to read the cancellation policies carefully and read the monthly summary to check if unrecognizable surcharges or charges arise.

Research the virtual store before buying:

A serious virtual store publishes its name, logo, fiscal address, telephone, location, and email. Likewise, the electronic security seal must appear on some of its pages (generally it is on “About”) and, where possible, it must provide a link to the “Terms and Conditions” of purchases, shipments, returns, and cancellations.

How to protect yourself against phishing on the internet?

Although all of the above might already be clear to you, scammers never give up and will use other methods to make you fall for their fraud. One such method is phishing. That is why, if you want to make the scammers’ task difficult, follow these tips to avoid internet fraud.

Avoid chain letters:

Chain letters are a wonderful source of information for scammers who harvest email addresses for phishing. In any case, send the emails with a hidden recipient or delete them if you do not know the sender.

Keep your antivirus updated:

Phishing can also be carried out through malware, so a good tip to avoid Internet fraud is to have the latest version of your antivirus to block any type of threat and keep suspicious Internet files registered.

Use a VPN when connecting over the internet:

If you are one of those who connect online in public places, it is best to install a good VPN to create a secure connection through public networks and home networks. The VPN hides your online activity and can protect you against cyber scammers by changing your IP address.

Pay by credit card rather than by transfer:

Whether you’re making a purchase or making another type of payment online, experts recommend avoiding wire transfers. Once made, these transactions are not reversible, and you have no way of getting your money back.

By using a credit card, authorities can track down the person who collected the money and identify potential scammers. 

Consult the authorities when in doubt

Sometimes unprecedented events arise, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or natural disasters. In these cases, information is limited, and scammers may try to take advantage of the situation.

If you have any doubts, it is better to consult with the authorities to avoid being a victim of fraud.

The main thing is knowing how to recognize possible fraud and knowing your rights as a consumer. This way, you’ll stay alert to avoid scams, take care of your money, and keep yourself safe.

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