Archives - Scams

How to spot an online scam

As you spend more time online, engaging in a greater variety of activities and digitizing previously analogue aspects of your life, you entrust your personal information to online processes. This opens up avenues that scammers may attempt to take advantage of. Keeping yourself protected from fraudulent activity is increasingly important, since so much of day-to-day […]

Identify social engineering patterns in chats and direct messages

Chats and direct messages (DMs) are essential features of platforms like social media networks and online gaming service. Their acceptance makes them common channels for social engineering scams, though. Don’t click suspicious links or give out sensitive information in these online exchanges, particularly not to people you’ve just virtually met.

Preventing Online Auction Fraud

Find out, as much as possible about, how the internet auction works, what are your responsibilities as a buyer, and what the are seller’s obligations before you bid. Learn as much as possible about the seller, especially if the only information you have is an e-mail address. If it’s a business, check the Better Business […]

Look out for phishing scams disguised as social media games

Have you ever completed a quiz on Facebook? Although questionnaires are good fun, cybercriminals sometimes design them to solicit personal information. Be wary of any that ask you to share personal information in the comments section, such as your first job or your pet’s name – these are often the type of questions used to […]

Cybersecurity tips for online dating

Online dating – once the ugly cousin of the dating world – is now hitting it off, especially for younger generations. In fact, Pew Research Center claims that while 3-in-10 Americans overall have used an online dating service, that number is much higher for Americans aged 18-29 (48%).  As with any digital innovation, cybersecurity concerns […]

Teach kids about avoiding scams while gaming

Many games now include in-game currencies and microtransactions through which players can obtain new items or features. Scammers attempt to take advantage of these systems by selling fully-upgraded accounts to unsuspecting kids for real-world money. To keep children safe while gaming, instruct them about the risks of in-game purchasing. Teach them what a legitimate microtransaction […]