With the amount of scams out there, it's a wonder we don't fall prey to at least one a day—or maybe we have and just don't know it yet. From credit card cons to job scams, here are tips to spot the telltale signs before you get duped.
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by Geoffrey O'Brian
Geoffrey O'Brian is a freelance writer and digital content strategist.
Updated on: April 3, 2023 · 4 min read
Is that a scam artist in your living room? Indeed it is, and he's probably in your cell phone, too. Technology has brought con artists and their tricks of the trade into our everyday lives, making it increasingly difficult to avoid getting duped. The best line of defense is to recognize the scams before they get you. Here are five common scams and ways to avoid becoming a victim.
1. Online used goods or housing scams—buyer or renter beware
Free sites like Craigslist.com offer an easy forum for buying and selling a variety of used items and renting housing online. However, it's also rife with scams. Not surprisingly, most of the scams involve payments—such as sending you a genuine-looking, but fake cashier's check, often for more than the amount you are asking for with a request to wire the balance back to them. Some of the bait used to lure in unsuspecting shoppers include apartments, laptops, TVs, or other high-ticket items.
To avoid online used goods or housing scams:
2. Email scams—to believe or not to Believe
More than 294 billion emails were sent each day in 2010. That equates to 2.8 million emails sent every second and 90 trillion emails sent per year. Experts say 90% of these emails are spam and virus-laden, and many are scams in a variety of forms. Most email scams attempt to extract sensitive information or money from the victim.
Tips to avoid email scams:
3. Senior scams—keep your grandparents safe
Scammers don't discriminate—they will take money from whoever is willing to play along. The target is often the most vulnerable, such as senior citizens who are less adept at protecting their electronic data. Common scams include phishing requests for sensitive information, shady investment schemes and fake Medicare discount cards. Help protect your elders by sharing the following as a first line of defense.
Tips to avoid senior scams:
4. Online job scams—this job isn't for you
While job searching has gone online, so have online job scams known as payment-forwarding or payment-transfer scams. These schemes target bank accounts by requesting direct payment information from job applicants. A con artist pretends to be an employer, luring applicants with a job ad or resume search. In response, the applicant receives an email requesting the prospective employee sign up for direct deposit by sending their bank details. Since direct deposit is so common, it's a typical request from an employer to the applicant. Or is it? A legitimate employer will offer the option of direct deposit, but not demand that it be used, and they will never ask for your bank details online.
Tips to avoid online job scams:
5. Investment scams—it's not your father's IRA
The Internet has made investing easy—stocks, bonds, research, even free stock advice is common these days as money market accounts have been paying less than 1%. We all want to get more with our money—and we can; however, the Internet has made it tricky to avoid unscrupulous claims and downright scams. Think twice before you invest your money in any opportunity you find online and beware of these common tactics:
Tips to avoid investment scams:
Scams have been around since people have been on earth. They have a way of finding their way into almost every aspect of society—often in very creative ways. Scam artists and scams aren't going away anytime soon, but with a little education and precaution, we can all help ourselves—and others—from becoming just another statistic.
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