The world of business has evolved so rapidly with technology. Modern-day businesses utilise different forms of technology in their various operations such as customer care, transportation, as well as human resource management. Technology if used transparently greatly improves the quality of services and products thereby giving them that competitive edge. However, the use of technology in online business transactions have birthed another monster, internet scams.


WHAT IS AN INTERNET SCAM?
‘Internet scam’ is a type of fraud or deception which uses the internet and could involve hiding of information or providing incorrect information for the purpose of tricking victims of their money, services or property.

We truly want to believe the internet is a safe place where we cannot easily fall prey to fraudsters. But while the internet is a wonderful information tool, it can pose great risks if not cautiously used. The internet as much as the real society holds vast areas fraudsters exploit to scam unsuspecting users.


HOW ONLINE SCAMS BEGAN
The history of internet scams dates back to many decades. Gradually, internet scams have become more rampant with the use of technology sprouting roots in virtually all countries of the world.


HERE ARE SOME OF THE COUNTRIES WITH THE MOST INTERNET SCAMMERS
Mexico
Ukraine
Hungary
Malaysia
Colombia
Romania
Philippines
Greece
Brazil
China
Indonesia
Russia
Singapore
Nigeria
Canada
Portugal
Switzerland
United Kingdom
India
Netherlands
France
Austria

Internet fraud is becoming increasingly popular, but you don’t have to worry. According to the popular aphorism, “being forewarned is being forearmed”. Knowledge in advance enables one to be prepared. Internet scams might have one too many faces, nevertheless, we will try our best to expose the different ‘masked faces’ of all the common internet scams. So each time you come across any, you’d be able to tell right away.


THE LATEST TYPES OF INTERNET SCAMS
Free or discounted vacation scam
Vacation ticket re-sell scam
Vacation rental scam
Advanced fee/prepayment scams
Fraudulent cloud mining companies
Anti -Virus scam
Charity Scam
Emergency Scam
Employment Scam
AdSense account scam
Fake Check Scam
Grandparent Scam
Identity Theft
Car Auction Scam
Immigration Scam
Internet Purchase Scam
Lottery/Prize Scam
Matchmaking Scam
Social Networking Scam
Relationship Scam
Fraudulent Cryptocurrency investment schemes
Phishing
POS agent scam
Fake coin exchangers
Ponzi Schemes
Fake website/app builders
Counterfeit goods sites
Amazon delivery scam
Wallet fork scams
Third-party content injection
Credit Card Scam

We can go on and on, but let’s not bore you with a list too lengthy. For the purpose of this article, our focus is to discuss ways of identifying an online scammer or scam website when you come across one.


HOW TO DETERMINE IF A WEBSITE IS FAKE, FRAUDULENT OR A SCAM
1. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE URL
Most internet users pay very little attention to the address bar in their browser. The address bar contains a ton of vital information about how secure you are at each level on a website. If you want to be sure if you are secure or not, then you have to develop a habit of glancing up there whenever you visit a new page.

Most browsers make use of a concept called the Line of Death. This is the point where a user should never go trust anything below a certain point on the website.

Another similar tactic scammers use in phishing is to create a website that is almost indistinguishable from the real thing. They can even go as far as creating subdomains that mimic real domains. So at each point, you are on the browser, check your address bar.

2. LOOK FOR TRUST SEALS
Legit companies who serve customers online make substantial investments in the security of their users. And when they do, they want to take good credit for it. Many trusted websites place their trust seals boldly on their homepage or login page.

SSL certificates also come with trust seals that display verified information when clicked on. Just seeing the site seal isn’t enough, it is essential that you click on it to verify it’s legitimate.

3. CHECK CONNECTION SECURITY INDICATORS ON THE ADDRESS BAR
The address bar contains several connection indicators that can tell if your connection to the website is secured. Hackers can easily eavesdrop and gain access to information on non-private internet connections.

The internet was first built on HTTP or the hypertext transfer protocol. However, any communication done via HTTP is sent in plaintext and can be intercepted, manipulated or stolen. In order to remedy this, SSL or Secure Sockets Layer was developed. SSL was later succeeded by TLS or Transport Layer Security. In a nutshell, any site with a
HTTP = Bad
HTTPS = Better

Also lookout for the Padlock Icon, the EV Name Badge Or a Green Address Bar. Either or both of these indicate that the site is using an HTTPS and that you have a secure connection.

You must note however that having a secure connection doesn’t necessarily mean you are safe. (This is explained in 4). There are lots of fake websites that make use of free SSL certificates.

4. CHECK TO CONFIRM SSL CERTIFICATE
A website might have the padlock icon, name badge or green address bar but that might not necessarily mean it’s secure. Lately, most browsers (like Safari and Firefox) allow you to view the certificate by clicking the padlock icon in the address bar. When you click on the certificate information, you will get all of the information the CA verified before it issued the certificate.

If an organization has an OV SSL certificate – which is recommended as a baseline for e-commerce businesses, financial institutions, etc. – then you will be able to see verified business details in the certificate information. Provided the website is registered to the right company, you’re fine. You can probably trust this site. If it doesn’t, then you need to be careful


TIPS TO STAY SAFE ONLINE
1. USE STRONG, UNIQUE AND COMPLEX PASSWORDS
Most people make use of simple passwords for the fact that they are easy to remember, but creating strong, unique passwords for all your critical accounts is the surest way to keep your personal and financial information safe. If you find complex passwords too difficult to manage or remember, Our best advice: use a password manager to help you store and create strong passwords for all of your accounts.

2. MAKE SURE YOUR CONNECTIONS ARE PRIVATE
When at home or work, you probably use a password-protected router that encrypts your data. But, when you’re on the road, you might be tempted to use free, public Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is usually unsecured, which makes it easier for a hacker to access your device or information.

That’s why you should consider investing in a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN is a piece of software that creates a secure connection over the internet, so you can safely connect from anywhere.

3. USE A FIREWALL
A firewall is an electronic barrier that blocks or limits unauthorized access to your computers and devices. You can use a firewall to ensure that all devices connected to your network are private.

Firewall security is important because many IoT devices such as thermostats and webcams aren’t equipped with security measures, leaving hackers a vulnerable point of entry to your entire network.

4. BE VIGILANT
A reasonable number of today’s internet scams rely mostly on phishing to trick unsuspecting users into revealing sensitive information. Watch out for spam emails, click baits, phoney “free” offers, online quizzes, and other offers that either ask for your personal information or sound too juicy.

5. GUARD ZEALOUSLY YOUR IDENTITY INFORMATION
Recently, while signing up on social media sites, you are required to fill your personal information. Just be cautious about what you share, particularly when it comes to your identity information. Scammers can Phish this information and use it guess your passwords or steal your identity.

6. SECURE YOUR DEVICES
Mobile devices are now as vulnerable to online threats as laptops. Be wary of risky apps and dangerous links sent by text message. Download apps only from official stores after reading reviews from other users. Ensure your mobile security software is enabled just as your laptop.

7. ALWAYS ENSURE YOUR CONNECTIONS ARE SECURE
As earlier explained, when shopping online, or visiting websites for online banking or other sensitive transactions, always make sure that the site’s address starts with “https”, instead of just “HTTP”, and has a padlock icon in the URL field. You should also check to confirm the type of certificate if you are still having some doubts.

8. KEEP ALL SOFTWARE REGULARLY UPDATED
Regularly update your software to be in tune with the latest security patches. Enable automatic updates so you don’t have to worry about it. Also, set your security software to run regular scans.

9. LOOK OUT FOR THE LATEST SCAMS
Internet scams keep evolving all the time, so make sure you know what to look out for. Currently, “ransomware” is on the rise. This is when a hacker threatens to lock you out of all of your files unless you agree to pay a ransom. Stay on top of this and other threats by staying informed.

And finally BE CAUTIOUS about what you do online, the information you share, the apps you download and always do a backup just in case something goes wrong.

If you believe you have been a victim of an internet-related crime, promptly report to the relevant government authority.

SOURCE: https://www.canontimes.com/2019/07/04/latest-online-scams-tips-to-stay-safe/

Let me move this topic to the front-page

MrCoker:
Let me move this topic to the front-page

Alright, that will be great.

Copy and paste
Who doesn’t know all this

Webmasterjerry:
Copy and paste
Who doesn’t know all this

Because you do, does not mean others do. I shared it infact cos of the enlightment I gained by it.

It's ITK people like you that will still end up being scammed. Shiooor.