How to Protect Yourself From Online Scams | Total Security

Internet security largely depends on us, applying simple rules you can protect yourself from fraudulent activities.

1. Remember the need to protect devices through which access to the global network is carried out. Install antivirus software.

Everyone knows about the existence of malicious software, but they are often frivolous about protecting their computers, smartphones and tablets. This is mainly because at present operating systems, browsers have built-in protection systems and to some extent protect users from viruses and malware, but they do not always cope with the flow of new viruses and malware.

Only regularly updated antivirus software can provide better protection against viruses and malware.

The consequences of a malware infection can be:

disruption of the computer (smartphone, tablet);

loss of information;

theft of personal data, passwords;

theft of funds from bank cards.

The penetration of malware onto devices occurs:

when clicking on links;

opening attachments in emails, messages;

downloading pirated software;

when using infected removable media;

on dubious sites.

A proposal to enter a phone number and send SMS, then these are scammers. Check your device for malicious software with the installed antivirus.

2. Securely protect your accounts

Reliable protection of e-mail accounts, social networks, personal accounts on sites providing various services will also help ensure total security on the Internet.

Consequences of hacking accounts:

access of fraudsters to your personal information;

using your identity for any, including illegal purposes: sending spam, malicious software, insults, requests for an urgent transfer of funds, etc.

Account protection is carried out by creating complex passwords that prevent fraudsters from gaining access to your data, and two-factor access authentication.

A complex and strong password is a password of 10-12 characters long, using uppercase, lowercase letters, numbers and special characters, for example, L2jh3d61e% Fh. But here there is a problem with the fact that remembering such passwords is difficult, especially since each account must have its own password. In order not to store in memory, write on paper or store a large number of passwords in a file, you can use special programs - password managers. Then you will only need to remember one password - from the password manager.

Two-factor access authentication is double protection, the first line of which is the usual combination of login and password, that is, what is stored on the server, and the second is what only a specific user has access to (most often, a message arriving on a smartphone) ... Simply put, this is linking an account to your phone number. Two-factor authentication must be used on e-mail, social media, internet banking accounts.

3. Avoid phishing (fake) sites

To gain access to your accounts and bank cards, scammers create phishing (fake) sites. Therefore, do not go to the sites of social networks, payment systems, online stores using the links offered elsewhere. Such links may lead you to a site whose purpose is to collect your personal data and gain access to your accounts.

Most social networks work with the HTTPS protocol, while Internet banks and payment services have also switched to it. When entering your login and password or making a payment, pay attention to the icon (green lock) to the left of the address bar. Make sure you are working with the site over an encrypted connection. This will help you avoid fake (phishing) sites.

4. Remember that scammers often use social engineering methods, so question and analyze incoming offers and information.

If you have reliably protected all your accounts and regularly update the installed antivirus software, then even in this case, you cannot be sure that scammers will not be able to get to you. The fact is that recently, social engineering methods, that is, psychological methods, are most often used to commit various illegal actions on the Internet.

Fraudsters are well aware of the psychology of people and skillfully use all available information, including the one that we ourselves unwittingly give out when communicating or post on social networks.

Fraudsters use the following motives:

concern for relatives and friends;

worry about your bank account or bank card;

desire to win a big prize;

curiosity - the desire to gain access to any information;

the need to buy or sell something;

a desire to help sick children or people affected by natural disasters.

Social media is a treasure trove of information for scammers. When posting data about ourselves on our pages, we do not think about who can use it. Meanwhile, it is thanks to us that fraudsters usually find it easy to find out information about relatives, contacts, hobbies of their potential victim, and when luring money to instil confidence in knowing her personal life.

Also, unfortunately, there are information leaks, the sale of information, so the scammers have at their disposal databases with various information.

Possessing such information, fraudsters use it to deceive, blackmail, obtain funds on bank cards and accounts.

Bank card fraud

The most popular methods of fraud with bank cards: SMS or phone call about blocking a bank card; about unauthorized cash flow, change of PIN-code, expiration of the card, etc. with the requirement to follow the link, call back at the specified phone number or provide bank card details.

There are a lot of options for committing fraudulent actions and new ones are constantly appearing, and the emphasis is always on social engineering methods designed for the psychology of people so that we ourselves provide scammers with access to our funds. This makes it difficult to fight scammers.

Alternatively, it can be a phone call from a "bank employee", a potential "buyer" with a proposal to go to the nearest ATM and manipulate a bank card to avoid any consequences, making an advance, etc.

Or it will be a call from a "bank total security officer" who is concerned that a suspicious transaction (transfer) of funds has been made from your account to a certain person, usually to another region. To stop the transaction and save your money, a bank employee needs to take some action, and to do this, provide you with your bank card details and/or the code that came to your phone from the bank.

To keep your funds safe, follow the basic safety rules:

do not trust the calls of bank employees if they inform you about blocking bank cards, illegal transactions. If in doubt, call the number indicated on the back of your bank card.

Do not give your PIN-code and three-digit code indicated on the back of your bank card to anyone, even bank employees. Do not enter a PIN code when working on the Internet, it may only be required by fraudsters.

use only the official numbers of the Contact Center indicated on the bank card to contact the bank. If another number is indicated in the SMS message about blocking a card or cash flow, which is suggested to call, then these are scammers;

in case of problems at the ATM, do not accept help from outsiders, call the Bank's Contact Center at the phone number indicated on the ATM;

do not perform any actions at the ATM according to the instructions of "bank employees" and other persons;

if you are contacted by phone, on the Internet, through social networks or in other ways, and under various pretexts are trying to find out information about your bank card (card number, three-digit code on the back of the card), the code that came to your mobile phone, passwords or other personal information, be careful, these are scammers;

do not follow the links in SMS messages, thereby you can download malicious software that will allow fraudsters to gain access to your funds;

upon receiving SMS messages about withdrawing funds from your bank card, immediately contact the Bank's Contact Center, block the card.

 

Social media scam.

Fraudsters actively use social networks and various communication services.

Through social networks, you may receive links to malicious software, fraudulent resources and applications, requests to transfer money urgently. Moreover, such messages will come from your friends if their account has been hacked. Before clicking on the proposed link or transferring money, contact your interlocutor in another way, clarify whether he is currently managing his account.

Familiar strangers. On social networks and on dating sites, scammers create pages where data is indicated and photographs of fictitious people are posted. They use these pages to get to know other users of the site. Over time, fraudsters gain confidence, offer to switch the interlocutor to a more "intimate" communication and leave their phone number. The most harmless consequence of such communication will be that the number will be paid, and money will be debited from your account. Worse, if, as a result of communication, you send some private materials and become a victim of blackmail.

Requests for financial assistance to children, charity events. Fraudsters often use such excuses, so before transferring money for help, make sure that you are not being cheated. Pay attention to the presence of several contacts (phones, e-mail, pages on social networks), the presence of supporting documents.

Free classified site scams

When posting ads, or buying anything on free classifieds sites (for example, Avito), be careful and careful, as scammers very often use them to deceive. By selling something, you want to make a profit, but when faced with scammers, you can lose all your savings.

How can you be deceived:

Payment or prepayment for your product. Very often, interested buyers offer to make a payment (if the amount is not significant) or an advance payment for your product, but for some reason, they can do this only to a bank card (located in another city, there is no cash, money on the current account, etc. .), but at the same time they require to provide not only the card number and full name (nothing else is required for the transfer) but also other data. Remember that if you are asked to provide the code that came to your phone, go to the ATM and perform some actions by inserting your card (for example, to confirm the passage of the payment), inform the card expiration date and the three-digit code on the back, then these are scammers. Stop contacts with such "buyers", and if you managed to provide any data, immediately block your bank card by calling the phone number indicated on it.

Prepayment for the purchased product. When buying anything, be careful if you are asked to make a prepayment. It is possible that having received it, the “seller” will stop answering your calls.

SMS messages with a link. An SMS message with an offer of a product, an exchange and a link to this product may be sent to your number, which you indicated when publishing an advertisement for a sale or a desire to buy something. If you follow the link, then download malicious software to your phone that will allow fraudsters to gain access to your bank cards.

Online store scams

When shopping online, pay attention to the reputation and ratings of such stores. If you cannot find reviews or negative reviews, and the store, moreover, asks to make an advance payment for the goods, then you should refuse such a purchase.

The most unpleasant thing is when the seller, having received an advance payment from you, hides, ceasing to answer your calls and emails.

Also, the danger of shopping in online stores mainly lies in the fact that the delivered goods may not meet your expectations for various reasons:

differs from the one presented on the site in quality, appearance, etc.;

does not fit in size, colour, style, etc.

is faulty, damaged.

To avoid the hassle of shopping online:

make purchases on trusted sites, using the recommendations of friends and acquaintances, or contact large well-known online stores;

pay attention to the possibility of returning or exchanging goods provided by the online store;

make prepayments for purchases only if you are completely confident in the reliability of the online store.