Top 10 Popular Online Scam Format (2024)
Scams on the internet are ever-changing. Fraudsters are presumably targeting a computer or mobile device anywhere around you right now all across the world. What all internet con artists have in common is that they capitalize on their victims’ gullibility and naivety. Many of the most sophisticated scams are currently circulating the internet, from the top page of Facebook to your inbox. Here are some of the most prevalent internet frauds, as well as what you can do to protect your personal data and pocketbook.
TOP 10 MOST COMMON SCAMS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM
Using the internet does not protect anyone from being a victim of fraud. Even someone who has been duped before is confident that now he is more cautious and that it would never occur anymore.
However, because scammers are cunning, individuals continue to fall into their nets. The following are the most typical scams and how to avoid them.
DATING & ROMANCE SCAMS
The most common scam method on this list is dating and romance scams. In this scenario, a person creates a fictitious social media profile.
Because the site has no way of verifying the legitimacy of the information submitted by the scammer, the entire network simply accepts it. The process begins when they send you a friend request and get close and intimate with you. They would take advantage of your emotions to obtain information, personal information, and, of course, money.
ADVANCE FEE FRAUD
Another popular scam to be aware of is advance fee fraud. Whenever trading cryptocurrency, it is extremely noticeable. A scammer pretends as a merchant of some kind of good or service and initiates a transaction with his prey in this scenario. The wants fee ahead in exchange for his items after the bargaining and the deal has been made. Once you’ve paid, the fraudster will never provide you with anything.
Here’s how to avoid falling for the advance fee scam. You must first determine the type of trader this individual is before making a payment. Allow the payments to be made in cash at a nearby restaurant or at his workplace, or utilize an escrow service to pay for the bitcoin.
SCAMS INVOLVING LOTTERIES AND COMPETITIONS
This is yet another frequent scam technique employed by con artists to defraud millions of individuals around the world. You get a call, an email, a text message, a letter, or a message out of the blue from a firm telling you that you’ve won a particular amount of money or amazing rewards in a lottery, sweepstakes competition, prize draw, or job alert that you didn’t register for or participate in.
This is a ruse to get you to stump up funds up front or give over your personal information in exchange for the prize.
BEGGING
This form of internet scam is psychological in nature. It’s simply required to be aware of your Achilles’ heel. To avoid being a victim of such clever fraud, take the following precautions.
To begin with, these individuals have very little in common with others who beg for money on the street. This scheme is more well-thought-out. You’ve probably seen adverts on social media or on particular websites asking for assistance for a sick child? Following such internet postings, bank account details are always provided for money transfers. And individuals with a generous heart are not tight fisted. They do money transfers. It can be a substantial sum at times.
What can you do to safeguard yourself? It’s not tough at all. Call the charity organization for more information before transferring funds. Also, carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages.
VIRUSES
It used to be one of the most popular sorts of internet scams, but there are now fewer dupes.
What is the mechanism behind this form of internet fraud? The scammer employs several types of “bait” in order to acquire the required information from the user.
The user should then follow the link to the special website in order to receive what has been promised. A phone number or a social network login with a password will be required for the operation. If the required details are provided, the person’s mobile phone account will be reset, or access to it will be removed.
There is only one way to deal with this type of scam. Keep in mind that the only free cheese is in the mousetrap, and that enticing offers should be avoided.
HACKING ACCOUNTS
Scammers use social media profiles to spread their scams. What is the nature of this deception? Conversely, he gets a message saying that in order to see the profile, he must send an SMS to the stated number.
Without a doubt, the guy does it. Then they’ll be startled to learn that a large sum of money has been taken out of an account.
Green users are the only ones who become victims. People who have used social media before know that sending an SMS to any number is never required. They, on the other hand, will convey a message by themselves if necessary. If you have any concerns regarding the legality of the social network’s operations, you should contact its technical support.
BUSINESS & EMPLOYMENT SCAMS
Business and employment scams mostly target the working class and investors.
An investment scam starts with a scammer making an unannounced phone call or text message promising a lucrative high-return contract or a guaranteed investment in stocks.
The fraudster will steal your cash and prevent you from contacting him once you place an order.
While an employment scam may appear to be an appealing promise of a job with a high salary and benefits if you pay after making first advance payments, it is actually a hoax.
What is the scammer’s method of approaching you? They claim the money is for a company plan, training course, software, uniforms, security clearance, taxes, or fees, but after you pay, the work is done.
ONLINE SHOPPING SCAMS
Scammers use a variety of methods to rob you from your money, including online shopping scams. Scammers swindle their victims by creating bogus websites and social media accounts.
When you buy something from these con artists, you’ll either get a poor product or nothing at all.
Some of them sell on trustworthy websites and ask you to pay via a more personal method outside of the site’s secure payment system. Your funds will be lost if you do this, and the site will be unable to assist you in recovering it.
They may even pose as a seller of a product on the internet in order to obtain your credit card or bank account information.
CARD SKIMMING
A phony paper or even an ATM card can be made by just about anyone. The manipulation of information from the magnetic stripe of a debit card, credit card, or automated teller machine (ATM) card is known as card skimming. This is the most recent scamming technique used to defraud individuals of their money.
Scammers use a covert camera or a discrete attachment on/around an ATM or EFTPOS machine to clone your card. They then use this camera to take a picture of your card and pin.
Once your card has been cloned, the scammer will make his own replica, giving him accessibility to your bank account’s funds.
BANKING & ACCOUNT SCAMS
This is yet another everyday ponzi scheme. A fraudster might clone a message to make it appear as if it came from a financial institution, requesting your bank details to remedy a pressing problem.
Scammers use this approach to send email or text messages that seem to be from the bank, saying that there is a difficulty with your account and requesting that you verify your information by sending text messages with the needed documentation or by clicking on a link to a fake version of the bank’s website. This is among the most successful scamming methods.
CONCLUSION
That’s the view of the top ten popular online scam format in Nigeria. These are by and large the latest activities of fraudsters which you should be aware of, so as not to fall into their trap. You can also report a scammer bank account too.
