Cybersecurity is such a major issue these days, and scams targeting personal information are all too common. It’s essential to stay vigilant and be aware of various frauds and scams to protect yourself and your personal information.
The Scammers’ Motive
Their goal is often identity theft, where they use the personal details collected to open bank accounts, apply for loans, file taxes or commit other financial fraud in the victim’s name. Scams also allow installing malware for hacking or ransomware that encrypts files until a ransom is paid. Security is an ongoing thing and everyone must make the effort to champion it personally.
Risks of visiting questionable sites.
When you visit a website, your web browser requests and downloads various files to render the site correctly, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and media files. Malicious actors can exploit vulnerabilities in your browser or its plugins to initiate “drive-by downloads.” These downloads can occur without your knowledge or consent.
Scam or hacked websites can hide malicious code within their pages. This code can exploit vulnerabilities in your browser or its plugins. Once the code is executed, it can download malware or malicious files to your device. This process often happens quietly in the background, without any visible signs or user interaction.
some common scam alerts that require attention:
Phishing Emails and Messages:
- Be cautious of unsolicited emails, texts, or messages that ask for personal or financial information.
- Check the sender’s email address or phone number to ensure it’s legitimate.
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.
Tech Support Scams:
- Beware of unsolicited phone calls or pop-up messages claiming to be from tech support or a reputable company.
- Legitimate tech support will not ask for remote access to your computer or request payment for fixing a problem you didn’t report.
Online Shopping Scams:
- Investigate online sellers and websites before making purchases.
- Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true.
- Use secure payment methods when shopping online.
Romance Scams:
- Be wary of online relationships that progress quickly, and the other person avoids in-person meetings.
- Never send money to someone you haven’t met in person, no matter the reason they give.
Social Engineering Scams:
- Scammers may impersonate trusted individuals, such as friends or family, to request money or personal information. Verify that you really know these individuals before making any payment of sending money while online.
Investment and Financial Scams:
- Be cautious of investments that guarantee high returns with little to no risk.
- Verify the legitimacy of investment opportunities and the credentials of financial advisors.
IRS and Tax Scams:
- The Internal revenue service or department will not contact you by email, text, or phone for tax-related issues.
- Be cautious of calls or messages claiming you owe back taxes or threatening legal action.
Job and Employment Scams:
- Be skeptical of job offers that promise high earnings for minimal work or ask for upfront payments.
- Legitimate employers do not usually ask for sensitive personal information during the initial application process.
Conclusion
Friends, we must all be vigilant about protecting our private information online. Whenever you encounter an offer that seems too good to be true or asks for sensitive details, stop and think carefully before acting.
Rather than clicking unknown links or supplying data straight away, take time to verify the source through independent research. Consult official websites like the Ghana Police cybercrime unit to confirm any requests are truly from legitimate organizations.
Whether it’s a message, phone call or pop-up you see, avoid panic and instead seek confirmation from trustworthy sources before divulging passwords, ID photos or financial account numbers. Scammers prey on haste and uncertainty, so staying calm and learning the facts first can prevent trouble down the line.
