Protect Yourself from Online Scams

Protect Yourself from Online Scams. The modern world is becoming better in a lot of ways; the internet has had such a profoundly substantial positive effect on the world. But some people use it maliciously. Some people try to take advantage of good-natured people. Some common scams are going around that you should be aware of to help keep you and your finances safe.

Protect Yourself from Online Scams

IRS Scam

There is a common scam going around where the scam artists pretend to be calling from the IRS. They will often insist that you owe a huge amount in debt and threaten to freeze your accounts or arrest you. Unless, of course, you pay them right that minute. They will typically ask you to make payments directly into an account for them.
In some cases, they will ask you to pay off the “outstanding balance” through the use of gift cards, such as iTunes gift cards. This is very much a scam. The IRS will NEVER call you asking you to make payments over the phone, especially by gift cards. What use does the IRS have for gift cards?

If you get a call from the IRS, hang up and call the IRS back yourself on their official phone numbers. This is the same when you get a call from your “bank”. Always hang up, call them back using their official number and confirm the reason for the call. You won’t upset the person on the other end if it turns out it actually is the bank, they will understand why you hung up and called them back.

Social Security Scam

One of the harder to catch scams is the social security scam. You will receive a call from an unknown number stating they are calling to confirm personal information about your account. The IRS won’t ever call you out of the blue, asking for this information. So if you do suspect that it is a scam call, hang up. Then call them back at their official number to confirm if the call was real or not. Your personal information, once gained, can be used in plenty of malicious ways, from opening fake accounts to accessing your real ones. You could have your money stolen, and your credit ruined. Always be careful.

Protect Yourself from Online Scams – Fake Tech Support

Tech support can be a real blessing if you are having computer troubles. But fake tech support can be a nightmare. There are two primary forms of fake tech support going around; they are as follows:

Scam Advice: Always Block The Number After a Suspicious Call

No Refund Scam Or You Have a Refund

The no refund scam is set up, so they will ring you explaining that you have issues with your computer, and they need to fix them. Or on the other hand, they will say you have a refund coming to you.

There are no issues, and if there are, you are safer, always taking it into a store to have it fixed. They will insist on you paying them upfront by wiring them money, or paying with the use of gift cards. Never pay these people, because it will be tough to get your money back in those situations. It is impossible to get a refund for payments made in these ways in 99% of cases. Just hang up and block the number.

Remote Access Scam

The remote access scam is similar; you will get a call out of the blue, insisting you have an issue with your computer. They will ask you to go on a remote access site and give them control of your computer so they can “solve your problems.” Once they have control, they will lock you out, steal whatever information they can, and then wipe your computer. This one is particularly bad because you may be set to auto-login to things such as your bank accounts and email accounts. Never hand control of your computer over to someone you don’t know.

Fake Charities

Charity is a beautiful way to give back to the community and help those less fortunate than yourself. Sadly, some people prey on the generous. They will phone you, email you, or sometimes send you physical mail asking for a donation to their charity. If you have never heard of the charity, they mention you should give it a quick google. You can check a charities 501(c)3 status on the IRS website. If they don’t have this registration with the IRS, there is a good chance it is a scam, and you should ignore them.

Grandparents Scam

There is a very malicious scam going around targetting good-natured grandparents. A phone call will come through from a “distressed family member,” insisting they need money. Typical reasons are that they need money for a flight home or money to get bailed out of jail. They will ask for a direct bank transfer, or the use of gift cards again. If you get a phone call like this and it seems suspicious, ask some questions to poke holes in their story. Furthermore, hang up and phone the person who is supposedly calling you on their phone and ask how they are doing.

Conclusion

It isn’t all doom and gloom. Hopefully, you never run into one of these lowlife scammers, but if you do, you will now know what to look for. Just remember, if it seems fishy, always take yourself out of the situation. Hang up the phone, throw the junk mail away, delete the email. Better to be safe than sorry.

Scam Advice: Never Buy Gift Card to Pay for a Service over the Internet or Phone Ever

Read more – How to Avoid Stimulus Check Scams