Fraudsters and scammers are preparing to defraud gullible people of their money and personal data as 2024 approaches. Every year, fraudsters become more adept in creating phony holiday gift certificates and discount coupons for well-known e-commerce companies. Here are a few tips for avoiding internet fraud this New Year’s Eve.
Examine the website’s reviews
Since New Year’s Eve is quickly approaching, scammers are placing bets that people won’t be paying much attention and would ultimately fall victim to internet hoaxes. When you see a deal online that seems too good to be true, it most likely is.
This is particularly true when it comes to vacation deals and discounts on gadgets like smartphones, so be cautious to check the legitimacy of the website you are purchasing from. You can utilize third-party services like Trustpilot or Google the “[website name] review” to determine the legitimacy and dependability of an e-commerce platform.
Don’t click on dubious links
If someone texts you a link to a website, be cautious before clicking on it since scammers can have set it up to steal your money. In an attempt to capitalize on the New Year’s tradition, scammers frequently send emails that contain links to dubious websites. Steer clear of clicking on these links, particularly if the email comes from an unfamiliar sender.
The same is true for goods you view on Facebook and Instagram, among other social media platforms. Make sure it’s genuine if your friend sends you a message or a link to a product that’s on sale, or even better, give them a call and inquire about it.
Give your accounts 2FA
Although the majority of email providers, banks, and social media platforms require two-factor authentication for added protection, some services might not employ these safeguards.
In general, stay away from entering passwords on third-party services and websites you are unfamiliar with because these could be used by scammers to steal your login credentials. If you are logging in or entering sensitive information, such as passwords or card information, on an unfamiliar website, be sure to confirm that the website is legitimate.
Watch out for bank scammers
With scammers now utilizing a combination of artificial and human intelligence to spoof voice and phone numbers of trustworthy banks, make sure you are extra careful before revealing any personally identifying or sensitive information online or on a phone call.
Since Indian banks have declared time and time again that no official bank representative will ask for personal information such as your card number or PIN, you should always end calls from unknown or official-sounding numbers since they may be scammers attempting to defraud you of your money.
Avoid giving up anything
Inviting customers to take part in fictitious giveaways is one of the most popular strategies scammers employ. Avoid anyone you know, even if they send you an email or message claiming to be running a contest, as it is probably a hoax.
Although not all scams will defraud you of your money, a lot of phony giveaways solicit users to provide private information, such as their birthday, phone number, and email address, which these threat actors subsequently frequently sell on the dark web.
Sometimes scammers will also ask for your credit or debit card number in order to obtain the cash price or gift. If this happens to you, simply end the conversation or stop texting.