How to avoid online scammers

Cybercrime is an extremely lucrative business for internet scammers, which is why frauds have become so prevalent in the past years. Not all people have good intentions. Some will try to steal money from you, while others will try to take your identity, and they have all kinds of tricks to do it.

Articles are all over the internet on how to be a successful scammer. This means that you need to be vigilant when conducting any transaction online, and arm yourself with safety measures to keep fraudsters away.

In this guide, we have provided you with some of the most important tips on how to avoid online scammers and what to do if you have been scammed online.

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Always use strong passwords and secret questions

Technology has advanced, and it is straightforward for scammers to hack computers. If your password is as simple as your name, it's almost as if you don’t even have a password. Scammers will easily guess it and get in.

Make sure that you use strong passwords that are very hard to imagine. You can use a password generator to get the best ones, and it is better to save your passwords in a notebook instead of online where they can easily be accessed. This way, you are the only one who has access, and you can avoid online scammers.

On top of this, the security questions you are required to fill in after your password are usually the weak links that lead scammers to most computers. Some of these questions are downright easy to figure out, so to protect your email account and avoid online scammers, you need to have tough questions that only you know the answers.

Never buy anything that you did not ask for from emails

One of the most popular, and the easiest way for scammers to get to you, is by dumping spam emails with your inbox. These emails have very enticing deals, but the problem is that they are always bogus and redundant.

There is a long list of scamming websites, and you could end up in one of them if you click on those links. To protect yourself, the best thing you can do is not to buy anything from such emails.

Of course, it is safe to say that newsletters from a website you trust are an exemption. However, keep in mind that spammers pretend to be trustworthy brands, the very same way they act to be from your bank. If the email presents products you like, then go online or to the original website and purchase the products from there.

Be wary of the job posts that are too good

Scammers are aware of the best ways to entice people, and lucrative job deals are one of them. If you're currently in search of a job, be very careful about the job listings on the internet because scammers are lurking in most of those posts. The worst posts are those that involve financial transactions where these people ask you to send money in the promises of getting you the interview.

Use security features on your browser

Most browsers have support systems that check certificates on sites. You can quickly click on the lock icon of the website to see the certificate information. In addition to this, most browsers have a list of phishing and malware sites and always warn users when they click on them. Use these features to your advantage, and have the browser notify you every time you're about to access dangerous grounds.

Ignore browser pop-ups that claim you have a virus

Most of these ads add malware to your computer claiming it to be an excellent virus remover. The pop-up ads are usually very enticing because they tell you your computer has a virus. Then they recommend software that will get rid of the virus for you.

Naturally, most people click on the recommended software, but they end up with a virus that corrupts their computer. Scammers use these viruses to make a computer vulnerable, and then steal all the information they need.

The solution to this problem is installing a reliable and trustworthy antivirus in your computer where you are sure of what you have. It will be easier for you to ignore the pop-ups that claim you have a virus when you know that you have an antivirus taking care of your pc.

Avoid typing your email password into other websites

Certain websites will ask you to invite your friends by joining and entering your email address and password. This is always a complicated situation, and a lot of people type in the passwords without realizing what they are doing.

Avoid this at all costs, because you will end up spamming all your friends and there is a possibility that the website will keep your personal information and continue spamming them. Of course, with your email address and password, they have a chance of accessing all your other platforms. Such situations would be scary so never give your email address, and especially your password to such websites.

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Don't click links to your bank account from your email address

You will find that legitimate financial institutions never ask you to click a link to verify information. If you encounter such links, chances are they are spam emails. You should always open your bank website directly from your browser or even bookmark it so you can access it and avoid being scammed online at the same time.

Be wary when making financial transactions

When buying or selling items online, you’ll either need to pay the seller or get paid if you are the seller. Always use trustworthy payment options or use a third-party service such as escrow service that will help with the transaction.

One of the best services you can use is EscrowKenya. What Escrow Kenya does is hold on to the funds until both parties are satisfied with the transaction. For instance, if you are purchasing something from the internet, you will send your money to Escrow Kenya, it will hold onto that money until you receive the products.

Once you verify with the service that you have received the product, they will release the funds to the seller. This way, nobody loses out, and scammers will not agree to such a deal.

Bottom Line

Now that you know how to avoid online scammers, you can use the internet with confidence and without fear. Always be vigilant because you can never be too careful.