Don’t Become A Victim! What You Need To Know About The Top Internet Scams
Employment Search Scam
This one is particularly hard to figure out these days, because most hiring is completely done online. If you ever get an email from a random company stating that they want to hire you based on commission and with a high salary, double check to make sure it’s legit. Also, never give anyone any money up front.
Anyone Looking For A Job
If you have put your résumé out their on any type of job forum, you can definitely expect some job offers. However, if you are looking for a real job, the employers should always be in contact over the phone or through a direct email process. Never pay for anything when it comes to a job.
Quiz Scam
Quizzes can be some one of the most fun things to do on the internet, however, they can also ruin your financial future. Quizzes that ask for your personal information in order to attain more lives or more points will ultimately drain your credit card. Be sure to know that the site that you are playing on is secure.
This Affects Older Gamers
This game scam and quiz scam affects people who have been playing games for many years. This scam is not one that affects people right away, but over many years in small increments. You’ll never notice a little bit every month, versus a huge lump sum.
Online Gaming
Online gaming, including gambling, is one of the biggest money-making scams out there. Gambling sites that are both illegal and “secret” can cost you a tremendous amount of money, because the site can take all of your information. Don’t give an “offshore” site money at all.
Guys Who Gamble
This affects many men who gamble on the internet, because most of these sites will allow players to gamble on any sport they want. They can even gamble on international events so that they can make the most money from their initial bets.
Disaster Relief Scams
This a prominent scam that is also a terrible way to profit off of someone’s misfortune. These fake charities ask for online donations and credit card information. These fake charities will steal your money — and your identity as well.
People In The Area
These particular online fake charity scams ask for donations for people who are living in the area of disaster relief. This is to ensure that they will get as much sympathy as they can, which in turn garners more donations.
Suspicious Photos
The suspicious photo scam preys on everyone’s insecurities about what is out there about them on the internet. If you ever receive a chat or a message from someone stating that they have a “scandalous” photo of you, do not click the link. The link will give your computer a virus and spy ware.
High-Schoolers And College Kids
This particular scam affects people who are very particular about their online presence and their reputation. Most of the time high-schoolers don’t want people to see any revealing or potentially harmful photos of themselves, and will be so scared that they click the link.
Travel Scams
Travel scams are one of the oldest cons in the book, but people fall for them every day. Travel scams will send you an email stating that you have won a big trip to someplace exotic, trying to convince you that if you provide personal information that you will receive the prize.
Retired Men And Women
Travel scams are mostly emailed to people who are no longer working or are of retirement age because those are the people who are doing the most traveling. But don’t fall for it — there is never a time that a trip is ever going to cost less than the retail value. Sorry to say it, but traveling is just expensive.
Sick Baby Scam
This one is truly the worst one on our list. Not only does it tug on the heart strings, but it also makes people question whether or not charities are genuine at all. On social media, dishonest people will post a picture of a baby asking for money. Bu the baby isn’t sick, the people just want to take your money.
Mothers
This scam is usually aimed at mothers who are on Facebook or social media, because they are the people that are really going to feel the sadness of having a sick child. Even though we hate to say it, only give money to people that you know personally or that you know for sure need it.
The Go Fund Fake Account
Similar to the sick baby scam, the Go Fund Me fake accounts are also asking for money for various, bogus causes. Go Fund Me is a website that profits off of charitable donations that people provide, so be careful with your handouts. Sometimes the scammers will also keep your personal information — not a good thing.
Social Media Fans
Since Go Fund Me became popular on the internet, many people who are familiar with the charity website are prone to giving money. Again, you have to be sure that you are giving money to the right people and not just giving out your credit card information to a scammer.
The Dreaded Chain Emails
Chain emails are the worst! You remember the ones from middle school, and scam chain emails are no better. The classic pyramid scheme is not something that anyone should get involved in, no matter how many emails you get saying that you can “make money fast.”
This Can Affect Almost Everyone Trying To Make Money
These dreaded chain emails can affect anyone who is trying to make money. The best thing to know about the internet is that there is no legit way to make money fast and from home. It’s best to understand that these scams rely on people thinking that they’ll get their big break over the internet.
