Avoiding Scams Module

Lesson 1: Introduction to Avoiding Scams

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Part 1

Spotting scams

Going online to shop and interact with people can be fun, rewarding and the easiest way to get things done. Even though these online interactions and connections can be enjoyable and make life easier, it is important to be aware that not all connections and people are what or whom they seem. This lesson will help you learn to spot potentially fraudulent behavior.

What are scams?

Scams are fraudulent actions that can be used to cheat someone out of money or confidential information.

Scams can happen in a variety of ways, including through online dating apps, email, social media sites, phone calls, text messages and even traditional letters or other documents. In this section, you’ll learn about each of these common scam types. You’ll also learn helpful techniques for spotting a scam and what to do when you come across one online.

Common online scams

• Financial scams that can include charity, lottery, employment scams, and other payment scams
• Medical Scam that can include identity or medical information theft
• Romance scams that can include catfishing and online dating scams
• Tech-support scams that can include access token theft

In this section, you’ll learn about each of these common scam types. You’ll also learn helpful techniques for spotting a scam and what to do when you come across one online.

Part 2

What is phishing?

Phishing is a type of scam that tricks people into sharing their login or personal information. Phishing can come in the form of emails, text messages, phone calls, and social media posts, to name a few. The messages or emails might look like they are from a real company that you know or trust, like a bank, online store, social networking site, parcel delivery firm or government department. Phishing perpetrated by text is commonly known as ‘smishing', and by a phone call as 'vishing'

Phishing

Phishing messages might use the following strategies to entice people to click on a link, open an attachment or share login or personal information:

• Ask for confirmation of your personal information such as bank account login details, date of birth or social security number.
• Claim there is a problem with your account or payment information
• Include a fake bill or invoice, or a link to make/view a payment
• Offer a coupon for free stuff that seems too good to be true
• Send a notice about suspicious activity or login attempts for one of your accounts
• Tell you that you are eligible for a payment or refund

Catfishing is when a scammer creates a fake account or identity to trick people into believing they are talking to a real person.

How can you detect phishing?

Some signs that a message might be a phishing scam:

• Any of the above signs in combination with a sense of urgency
• Anyone asking you to pay a fee in order to apply for a job or get a resume check
• Messages or posts with poor spelling and grammatical mistakes
• People asking you for money who you don’t know in person
• People asking you to move your conversation off Facebook to a less public or less secure setting, such as a separate email
• People asking you to send them money or gift cards to receive a loan, prize, or other winnings
• People claiming to be a friend or relative in an emergency
• People or accounts directing you to a separate webpage to claim a prize
• People who misrepresent where they are located. If someone signs up for a social media platform using their mobile phone number, you may be able to check which country their phone number is from

Part 3

Financial scams

Some commonplace financial scams can include;

• Tax
• Charity
• Inheritance
• Lottery
• Donation
• Loan
• Marketplace
• Other payment scams

In many of these scams, someone claiming to be from a financial institution or government organization will contact you via phone, text, or email or leave you a message saying that you owe taxes or other money. They may say that if you don’t pay the outstanding balance immediately, legal action will be taken against you. The following is a list of some commonplace scams but new scams come up regularly so you should always practice caution.

Types of common financial scams;

• Tax scams : Use only legitimate software or official government websites to file your taxes. Be suspicious of these types of messages from people claiming to be professionals.
• Charity scams : Charities often have websites that allow for online donations. Be careful if you receive an unsolicited email, text or DM from a charitable organization asking for online donations. If you are donating online, make sure that you are going to the charity’s official website. Type the correct website address into your browser rather than clicking on a link.
• Inheritance scams : The scammer may claim to be a lawyer, close friend, or relative pretending to represent the estate of a deceased person. They may say that you’re entitled to the inheritance. The scammer may ask you to provide personal information such as your physical address or bank details. You may also be asked to pay an advance 'processing fee’.
• Lottery scams : Lottery scams are often carried out from accounts impersonating someone you know or fake profiles pretending to represent an organization. The messages may claim that you're a winner of a lottery and that you can receive your money for a small advance fee. The scammer may ask you to provide personal information, such as your physical address or bank details.
• Donation scams : These scams are done by accounts impersonating famous religious figures or by accounts pretending to be representatives from various charities or orphanages. The scammers will ask for donations.
• Loan scams : Loan scammers send messages and leave posts and comments on Pages and in Groups offering, or claiming to know someone offering, instant loans at a low interest rate for a small advance fee.

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