With access to the internet increasingly globalized, there are many facilities that the network provides us. Shopping without leaving home, banking, doing business, studying, entertainment… the list is immense.
For many, it is already practically impossible to live disconnected. However, just as there are these numerous tools that make our lives easier, there are people in bad faith, infiltrating the internet in order to take advantage of users. Check out 10 tips to protect yourself from scams and fraud on the internet:
Contents
1. Research the Company
Are you going to make an online purchase or close any type of business online? The first thing to do is research the company.
Check-in search engines if the company exists, if you have complaints, if the company provides contact channels (phones, e-mail, website) and be suspicious when it is not possible to easily locate this data about the company.
2. Check the Digital Certificates.
Virtual Stores and Sites that are concerned with the security of their customers seek to obtain security seals and digital certificates that protect the data provided by customers.
Make sure the website address displays a “lock” next to the address you entered. Also, e-commerce website addresses must start with “https” and not “http”, this indicates that the website has a digital certificate and the information entered into it, such as credit card data, for example, will be encrypted.
3. Receipt of Charges by Email
It is common nowadays to receive payment slips for contract services in your email. Whether it’s telephone services, credit card bills, or course fees. Most arrive by email.
However, more and more scammers are copying billing emails and sending them to the user by impersonating the billing company.
They format the email practically the same, put the customer’s name, and send it by email. In these cases, you need to check several items before making the payment, such as Do I really have this service contract with this company?
Is the e-mail of the company that appears as the sender reliable? Does the ticket have the same value as my contracted service?
Does the ticket contain all my correct personal data? Is the text in the email well-written and has no errors? checking this information can save you from paying a fraudulent bolero.
4. Be Wary of Fancy Promotions
Always be wary of much lower prices than usual. The old saying goes: when the alms are too much, the saint suspects.
If the price is half or less compared to the values of the same product or service on other sites, stop and rethink the purchase. This could be fraud.
5. Detachment
Websites and apps where anyone can sell a used product is a full plate for many scammers.
Whenever you sell or buy something on these sites, pay only on time and try to arrange meetings in busy public places.
Beware of promotional links received by WhatsApp, E-mail, and even SMS. Many scammers send promotional messages such as cell phone credit, free samples of famous brand products, and even government aid. Caution: it could be a scam or a virus. When in doubt, try not to click.
7. Fake ads
The internet is full of ads for numerous brands and products. Most aim only to promote a product itself. But beware: there are fraudulent ads too, both linking to fake websites and linking to viruses. All care is little.
8. Beware of Using a Credit Card
As mentioned in previous tips, you must be careful when entering your data in virtual stores. But if you have checked all the site’s security requirements and are going to use your card, pay attention to this tip: try not to leave your card as a “saved card” on the site. If possible, use the virtual version of your credit card.
9. Use Devices and Secure Internet
Never shop online or use your internet banking using shared computers and the internet. This facilitates the action of malicious people.
10. Keep an Up-to-date Anti-virus Program.
It is very important to have an anti-virus program installed on your computer or mobile device, as it offers greater protection against fraudulent links, and some even signal the user about threats.
Conclusion:
Hearing about virtual frauds, most Internet users have certainly heard. Most of these users also have basic notions of how to protect themselves but do not always know how to identify and avoid scams through fraudulent emails, called phishing scams by technology experts.
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