Nowadays, the threat of online scams has forced Indian citizens to get on their toes to prevent becoming victims of a slew of online scams known for plaguing the digital landscape—be it phishing scams, online job scams, or identity theft. Every single day scammers find new ways to trick unsuspecting victims, and ultimately stealing their hard-earned money.
Here, let’s understand how you can prevent online frauds, learn to identify fake websites, and more.
Ways To Be Safe From Online Scams, Fake Websites, and Emails:
Look for Poorly Written Descriptions
Received an email with a part-time job offer, but the text is poorly written? Well, it could be a sign of it being fake—as part of an effort to scam you. Look for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors in the body of the email. If you find multiple errors, or if the email or website looks unprofessional, the chances of it being fake are quite high. Also, pay heed to where the email has originated. If it is fake, there’s a high likelihood that the domain name and the entity they claim to be end up being a mismatch.
Beware of Fraudsters Posing as Bank Agents, Income Tax Officers, or the Police
Impersonation is another successful tactic that scammers use in tandem with fear to fool people. Scammers can pose as banking agents or the police, and accuse you of a crime you did not commit. In a flurry, victims, often scared, reveal sensitive information such as OTPs or transfer funds.
Don’t Post Personal Information Online
If you have a habit of sharing personal information, such as addresses and Aadhaar numbers, be prepared for harm coming your way. When you unknowingly post a document as sensitive as your Aadhaar card online or share it with a stranger, they can use your identification to carry out scams using your ID. This can create significant problems for you. This is exactly how the fake Army officer scam works—scammers obtain ID cards of real defense officers and then use them to scam victims.
Always Keep Changing Passwords and Turn on Two-Factor Authentication
It goes without saying that having a strong password is the first step towards securing your online accounts. And, when you double down on security with the addition of two-factor authentication, you give yourself a chance against scammers.
Avoid Clicking on Foreign Links (Often Found With Offers That Are Too Good to Be True)
This is also another common tactic that scammers use to lure victims. They would ideally entice you with offers that seem too good to be true—maybe even present giveaways or freebies. It is important to realise that you should never click on links that suggest such offers.
You can also receive similar links in social media direct messages. Beware of these, as you may be moments away from losing your accounts, and ultimately, your money.
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