Everybody gets tempted by free samples or free trials. But what happens when you find yourself buying something online and you don’t want to? In this article, we’ll show you some useful ways to protect your wallet from those pesky traps.
How Trusted Websites are Used by Scammers
Many scams are designed to fool consumers into giving up their personal information by impersonating reputable companies. A basic rule of thumb is to never give out personal information to a company on the phone, via email, or social media until you have researched the company first.
Did you know?
Scammers can use phrases like “call now for your special offer” or “click on the link for an exclusive offer” to fool consumers into giving up their personal information. They may also impersonate reputable companies like government entities or utility providers. Remember that you should never give your personal information to a company that contacts you.
Be Careful of Phishing Emails
One of the most common and easiest ways to be scammed online is clicking on a phishing email. These emails look like they’re from companies you know, but in reality, they’re fake, and it’s your account information that they want. The best thing you can do is avoid any suspicious emails and delete them immediately if you come across one.
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These emails typically have a subject line that is designed to capture your attention. The email could be something about being able to win a prize, or that you’ve won a big lot of money. If you click on the link in the email, it will take you to a website where they can steal your passwords and access all of your personal information.
Beware of Fake News Sites
Hackers often create fake news sites. These sites steal the user’s personal information and then send them phishing emails that trick them into revealing more of their personal data. One way to avoid this is by only clicking links on websites you trust.
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Unfortunately, even a quick Google search can lead people to these fake sites. Hackers create a site with a name that looks very similar to a popular news site and then insert malicious code into the website. Once someone clicks on the link, they will be redirected to another website that appears to be official but is in reality trying to steal their information. So always be cautious when clicking on links from emails or social media posts with controversial headlines.
Closely Monitore Your Online Activity
Ensure that you know what information is being collected by the website you are using. This includes everything from how they use your data to who has access to it and if it will be shared with third parties. This is a red flag if the site doesn’t have a privacy policy or terms of use. Anything collected about you online should be easy to find on the site.
Did you know?
When you are filling out a form or submitting an email, you may be providing sensitive information. It is important to pay attention to what information is being collected for what purposes. For example, if you fill out a job application on the company’s website, they might collect your social security number or credit card information. Data mining can lead to identity theft and fraud.
Conclusion
Online safety is important to everyone. It’s more of a concern for kids, but there are many things you can do to protect yourself from being taken advantage of, from being the victim of identity theft, or just from wasting your time on something that isn’t worth your time. Remember that you have a lot of information online that others could use against you, so it’s best to be careful.