1-866-445-8084Top Tips for Guarding Your Personal Information Against Online Scams
Whether you're using social media, shopping online, or gaming, scammers are always looking for opportunities to exploit your personal information. In today's digital world, online scams are a persistent threat that we all must navigate.
It’s no surprise that scammers usually want one thing: your money. But there are many ways scammers can profit from their misdeeds. Sure, they can trick you into making direct payments, but that’s not all they are after. Personal details, such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, phone numbers, full names and many more can be used for identity theft.
According to a recent survey, 34% of individuals encountered a cyber scam in 2023, and an alarming 85% reported being targeted by a digital scam attempt. The odds are that you have already faced scams online as well. Thus, it’s no wonder that trust is plummeting, as 7 in 10 don’t know who to trust online.
To stay safe, it’s crucial to understand the types of scams you might encounter and adopt best practices to protect yourself. We want to help you with that, as falling for scams can be costly and fixing damages may take a lot of energy and time. And the best way to deal with them is to avoid them altogether. So, let’s dive into some expert tips and red flags to keep you and your loved ones secure online.
Recognize the red flags of a scam
Recognizing the signs of a scam can save you from falling victim. Here are four key red flags:
Urgency and pressure: Scammers often create a sense of urgency to pressure you into quick decisions. Phrases like "Act now!" or "This offer expires soon!" are clear indicators. Typical topics include account issues, problems with your credit card or huge offers.
Unrealistic earnings claims: Be wary of promises of guaranteed, high returns with little effort. If a platform claims you can make a lot of money quickly and easily, it's likely a scam.
Unsolicited contacts: If you receive contact like a delivery notice without initiating any action, be suspicious. Scammers often lure victims with unsolicited and surprising communications, like friend requests and messages from strangers, IT support, or payment issue notifications.
Mistakes in URLs and sender addresses: Pay close attention to the URLs of the websites you visit. Scammers often create fake websites with URLs that look similar to legitimate ones but contain slight misspellings or variations. Same goes for email sender addresses – small mistakes may reveal a scam.
Use strong, unique passwords
If scammers get your password, they will use automated tools to try it on other accounts as well. But if you use unique passwords, they can’t access any other account. That’s why one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect yourself is using strong and unique passwords for each online service. Consider a password manager to help you create and remember them.
And it’s even better if you have enabled two-factor authentication for your accounts. Together, these two safety measures can effectively prevent criminals from hijacking your accounts – and stealing your personal details from them.
Protect your devices
Scammers may try to infect your device with malware. Such stealer viruses and spyware have become hugely popular lately: in 2023, 89% of malware included information stealing capabilities, such as saving your keystrokes when typing passwords.
Block these threats with antivirus software. Keep your antivirus and anti-malware software up to date – on all devices. Regularly update your operating systems and apps to patch vulnerabilities, and don’t postpone system updates when they’re available.
Limit personal information sharing
The less personal data you share, the better. You can’t always be certain that the service requesting your personal details is safe. A popular scam is to create sites that look exactly like those of real services. Then when you give your information, it goes straight to scammers.
And while you may have shared data with a service or company you know and trust, sadly even legitimate sites and services can suffer a data breach, in which criminals may steal vital personal details. Ultimately, the less you give to online services, the smaller the chance is for hackers to steal your details online.
So, question if services really need your home address or full name. If not, avoid sharing such details. You can also consider using aliases: for non-essential services you may use a pseudonym or give partial information.
Use a reliable internet security app
As online scams come in many forms, it’s good to prepare for a wide set of potential threats. For example, an internet security app that detects and blocks malicious websites for you can save you from a lot of trouble.
On top of that, an app that offers a complete set of security features like safe browsing, antivirus, identity theft monitoring, and secure password management will help you stay safe against many scams and other threats out there.
Tailored scams for different activities
The types of scams you might face largely depend on what you do online:
Social media: Scammers often create fake profiles or send phishing messages to trick users into sharing personal information or clicking on malicious links.
Online shopping: Beware of fraudulent sellers on platforms where you buy items from strangers. Scammers may offer products at low prices to lure you in, only to disappear once you’ve paid.
Online dating: Romance scams are prevalent, with fraudsters creating fake profiles to build relationships and eventually ask for money.
Online gaming: Gaming accounts, especially those with valuable items or virtual currency, are prime targets for cybercriminals.
You don’t have to face online scams alone
Staying safe online requires vigilance and smart practices. By understanding the threats and adopting these best practices, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to online scams. Always remember: if something feels off, it probably is. Protect your information, stay informed, and use online security as a backup.