Common Scams and What You Can Do to Protect Yourself From Falling Victim
No one wants to believe that they could be so gullible as to fall victim to a scam, but the truth is, at some point or other most people have at least come close to being taken in by a clever email or persuasive phone call. If an offer seems too good to be true or a notification sends alarm bells ringing, it’s best to think again and do some research into the source.
By being aware of common scams, you will be better able to spot them when you see them and take measures not to fall foul of them.
1. Phishing
Most people now use email for communication in their everyday lives. The majority of the time, there are no issues with this; however, sometimes, a slightly off-looking email from a bank or other financial institution may appear in your inbox. Such an email may be a phishing email trying to trick you into providing details that will give access to bank accounts and other finances, and at first glance, they can be compelling.
If one of these emails appears, always double read the information within; often, there are basic grammar and spelling mistakes and are sent from email addresses that aren’t correct. Never click on any of the links in these emails; instead, log in via your usual means if you feel you must access your account.
Here is a complete list of phishing scams.
2. Online Shopping Fraud
We all love a bit of online shopping, and the excitement of something arriving through the door gives a little joy to the day. Sadly, some take advantage of this and unscrupulously use fake shop websites to take your money then never deliver any goods.
In the first instance, be wary of an online retailer who offers a product at a significantly reduced price to competitors, then look at how they ask for payment.
If it’s not a secure payment method, you have no recourse to get your money back. Should the worst happen and you find yourself out of pocket by a significant amount of money and the company is ghosting you, a private investigator can undertake fraud investigations to help you track down the company and get your money back.
If you feel a website might be suspicious, feel free to verify it using our unique Scam Detector website validator below:
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3. Car Insurance Fraud
While it is right and good that if you cause an accident, your insurance is liable to pay out for any damage, some people will try to take advantage of this by engineering an accident to claim injury. Whiplash injuries are most often caused by an impact from behind and can be difficult to disprove.
By having a functioning dashcam, should you end up in the unfortunate position of having a vehicle stopped abruptly and intentionally in front of you, there will be footage that can quickly be reviewed and prove your innocence. Having a dashcam has the added benefit of reducing your insurance premiums, whereas being falsely accused of causing an accident will increase the price.
How To Report a Scammer
Let your family and online friends know about these common fraud types by sharing this article on social media using the buttons provided. You can also officially report any crime and suspicious activity to the Federal Trade Commission using the link below:
How To Prevent Identity Theft and More
If you want to be the first to find out the most notorious scams weekly, then subscribe to the Scam Detector newsletter. You’ll receive periodic emails – we promise not to spam. Meanwhile, educate yourself with some other fraud-related articles right under this paragraph, so that you can protect yourself in many other aspects and niches. Last but not least, use the comments section below to expose other scammers.
Here are some must-reads for the end:
Identity Theft: How To Stay Safe
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Are you just about to make a purchase online? See if the website is legit with our validator:
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