Hackers and fraudsters can be hard to avoid even if you’re doing everything right. Stealing your money or your identity or your private information are just some of the things these fraudsters and hackers do, so being super-careful while on the internet is a must.
However, even being super-careful can sometimes be not enough. This is because some fraudsters don’t use regular, cliche ways to trick people, but they develop relationships with them first and then take their money. So the best way to protect yourself is to learn the tricks thieves use.
Loved One in Trouble
Impostors will pretend to be a family member in trouble who needs money.
Protect yourself: If the person doesn’t tell you their name, ignore the email. If you’re really worried, call your relatives and check on everyone you think may be in danger.
Owning the Government
Thieves will pretend to be from IRS or another agency, saying you owe money. They may pressure and even threaten you if you don’t pay the “debt.”
Protect yourself: rest assured that no government will send you an email if you owe them money. However, if you’re still unsure, call the agency to see if there is a problem.
Broken Computer
Hackers will send you an email saying that your computer is broken or has a virus. They may pretend to be from Microsoft or another big company and ask you to share some of your files or pay for the “repair.”
Protect yourself: Companies have no way of knowing if your computer has a problem, so they will never contact you in this manner. Ignore these emails completely.
Reference:
Phys.org (https://phys.org/news/2017-08-dont-fall-financial-scams.html)
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