It seems like every year we are inundated with information about the many scams that fraudsters employ in order to get their scummy hands on the money you worked hard for.
To believe that fraudsters are just active around the holidays, however, would be incorrect. These criminals are still very much active throughout the entire year, eager to grab your money and ready to take advantage of any weakness.
Here in Beastpreneur, we keep an eye on scams on a regular basis in order to prevent these scammers from getting their hands on your hard-earned money.
So, with that in mind, here is are the scams you should be on the lookout for in throughout the year.
Online Scams in 2022
Cryptocurrency scams are on the rise.
The term “cryptocurrency” may seem familiar if you’re active on the internet, are interested in finance, or are a fan of a certain billionaire who manufactures electric vehicles.
Cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, is a sort of currency that functions as money by using digital files to store value.
An often-held misperception regarding cryptocurrencies is that it is more secure than traditional money.
As the popularity of cryptocurrencies grows, so do the number of frauds associated with them. Scams using cryptocurrency were on the increase in 2021, and this trend will definitely continue into 2022.
The beginning of a new year might appear to be an ideal moment to experiment with fresh concepts and break new ground. This can make people particularly vulnerable when it comes to attempting new ventures such as crypto investing.
According to recent study, cryptocurrency crime set new milestones in 2021, with fraudsters taking $14 billion in crypto last year, nearly twice the amount taken in the previous year.
Most cryptocurrency scams work in the same way that other online scams do: they fool you into disclosing your personal information, such as the password to your digital wallet.
If you hold cryptocurrencies or any other digital assets, be on the lookout for red flags of phishing if someone contacts you about increasing your investment or making a new purchase.
Phishing is still a thing.
The phrase “phishing” has been spoken before, and we’ll repeat it again and again – phishing can be found almost anywhere.
No matter where you are online, you should be on the lookout for phishing attempts. Whether it’s a direct message on a social networking site, or email or text message from your bank, it can come from wherever.
A victim is less likely to be found if you know what to look for. Phishing scams are easily identified by their use of urgent or threatening language, unusual links, or email addresses that do not match the sender.
These phishing scams, however, are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to scams.
Ransomware continue to wreck havoc.
It’s important to understand that ransomware is a sort of software that locks access to your data until you make a payment to a cyber criminal. That’s at least what the popup will tell you.
You run the danger of being added to a list of persons who are more likely to pay in the future if you already paid once. In addition, even if you pay the ransom, cyber thieves may still erase your information for good.
Prevent data loss by backing up your information in advance and storing them in a secure area, such as a portable hard drive or the cloud.
Taking away the cyber criminals’ bargaining advantage in the case of a ransomware assault is an excellent strategy to reduce the likelihood of an attack. This can save you a lot of money while still maintaining access to your data.
Imposters want nothing but the worst for you.
Fraudulent impersonation frauds netted customers around $500 million from last year.
These con artists pose as a corporation, a government agency, or a friend who is in desperate need of assistance.
The Amazon scam is the most prevalent right now. You receive a notification informing you that a substantial, potentially fraudulent transaction has been made on your account, which you should investigate.
Many alternative results are possible, including the scammer taking your user name and password when you log into your account for them, harmful malware being installed on your computer, or “tech help” being supplied via remote access to your computer.
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Fake delivery scams are on the rise because of the popularity of online shopping.
The likelihood is that you will get delivery confirmation emails in your mailbox or text messages on your phone throughout the year. If you love shopping online, it is always recommended to set delivery confirmation messages on.
Cybercriminals frequently take advantage of this situation. This type of activity is referred to as phishing, and it will ask you to make money to bogus bank accounts in order to get information.
It is also frequently followed by’spoof’ bank phone calls, in which callers pretend your account has been compromised and attempt to obtain all of your personal information.
Always be on the lookout for this type of fraud throughout the year. Never provide your personal information to a third-party during the delivery confirmation and tracking procedure.
Be on the lookout for fake invoices.
CEO fraud, a scam in which hackers impersonate business emails to appear as though they are being sent by executives, has seen a significant increase in recent years.
An effort to deceive finance or human resources personnel into making illegal bank transfers or sending out secret accounting information is typical.
In addition, scammers who engage in this type of fraud frequently present a forged invoice. Although the invoice seems to be valid, the account number will have been altered, and the money will be sent directly to the scammer’s bank account.
Take caution if the so-called CEO requests that you execute an unusual payment on short notice, or if you are requested to update the bank account information for an established supplier on your system without first consulting with them.
Lottery scams are uncommon, but they still happen.
These are less prevalent than impostor scams, yet they still rank highly in terms of frequency. You receive word that you have won $1 million from the lottery, and all you have to do now is pay the taxes and processing fees, and they will send you the money immediately after.
You are requested to mail a cheque in the amount of thousands of dollars, or even to transfer money through online banking.
Remember that it is against the law to request any type of payment in advance for winners of lotteries.
Romance scams manipulate people’s emotions.
These scams have been present for a long time, but they have developed and are on the increase. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), these frauds resulted in losses of over $300 million in 2020.
Scammers can locate you on dating apps, social media platforms, and online games, to name a few places. Despite the fact that you are not searching for romance, they request to be your friend, strike up a discussion, and generally make you feel special.
The red flags include that this individual allegedly lives or works overseas, or that he or she is a member of the military abroad. They recommend using a private platform, to communicate with one another. They proclaim their love in a short period of time.
After this, they begin to ask for money to pay expenses such as a plane ticket or an emergency operation, among other things.
This is why it is advised to think hard before accepting a friend request from someone you don’t know. Additionally, if the photo of the person appears strange to you, you may conduct a reverse image search to check if it is related with another individual.
Automated hacks are getting smarter.
Robotic cyber assaults, such as those that attempt to guess your password indefinitely, are still a thing of the past. Furthermore, if your account security isn’t up to par, these bots may be able to sneak into your account.
Consider using a strong passphrase for your password to protect yourself against bot hacking. It is recommended that passphrases be composed of four or more random words and be at least 15 characters in length.
Passphrases are more difficult for a machine or a cyber thief to guess, and they’re also simpler for you to remember in most situations.
Another method of preventing bot attacks is to make multi-factor authentication (MFA) available wherever it is possible.
When you lock your account, MFA provides an additional degree of protection by employing an additional authenticator in addition to your password to secure your account.
In the event that someone attempts to hack your accounts, taking this extra precaution would definitely spare you hours of frustration.
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How Can You Protect Yourself from Scams?
Don’t click on links that you get in a text message or email since they might be dangerous.
Check the email address that you receive when you receive phishing emails or messages. It is almost always a spoof. Using a website such as Amazon or your credit card provider to log into your account and verify if any unusual behavior has happened will allow you to double-check for any suspected suspicious behaviour.
Cease communication with the scammer.
Whether you believe you are the victim of a romance scam, cease all communication with the perpetrator, do not give money, and consult with someone you trust to see if they believe you are being targeted.
Compose a rejection voicemail.
Create a standard answer that you may keep next to your phone as a backup plan. As It’s possible that your parents or grandparents will take up even if it’s not a habit for you. Make a rejection script with them so they may utilize it.
Set up a voicemail to avoid scam calls.
You should let your voicemail do the work. Callers will be more likely to dial your number if you answer the phone, as this signals that your phone is a “hot number.” Your phone will ring more frequently if you pick up the phone or engage with the caller.
Talk to your friends and family about scams.
Everybody has the potential to become a victim, but older individuals are particularly susceptible since they are more financially dependent on their families. The latest approaches may not be known to them. To help everyone stay vigilant, share stories of frauds you’ve come across.
Conclusion
Although online scams are always evolving, you can protect yourself against them by following certain tried-and-true tactics. Maintain your skepticism when browsing the internet.
Always keep an eye out for any strange messages, shady links, or anything else that appears to be out of place. Make certain that your accounts are configured in the most secure manner feasible.
As a result, your information will remain secure regardless of how the patterns shift.
Many people don’t report scams or inform their relatives about them because they are embarrassed and ashamed that they fallen prey to a scam.
Provide them with reassurance that they were the victim of a financial crime and that they were not to blame. Avoid asking a question like, ‘how much money did you hand over to them?’ Express your regret by saying anything along the lines of “I’m sorry this occurred; how much money did they take from you?”
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