Scammed? Not Me!
Helloeveryone! Audra here.
TheInternet has become an integral part of our daily lives. Such a wonderful, creativeinvention shared with the world to help and inform us on everything fromshopping to research to socializing! It has given us the ability to reach outand touch new friends – like you!
However, this familiarity has also created abreeding ground for scammers and nogoodniks (as my dad would say). Online scams take many forms,including phishing emails, fake websites, fraudulent advertisements, andmalware attacks. As much as you think it might not happen to you, believe me,scams can worm their way into lives before you realize it.
Stay vigilant:Thefirst step in avoiding online scams is to be aware that they exist. Scammersuse sophisticated techniques to trick people into giving away personalinformation or money, and they can be very convincing. Be wary of anyunsolicited emails or messages that ask for personal information or money.Remember the old adage: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Use trusted websites:Whenshopping online or using other services, make sure you use trusted websites.Look for the padlock icon in the address bar. Many hosting services offer SSL forfree and stand behind the domains they host. Check the website's privacy policyand terms and conditions to ensure that your information is being handledproperly. Always deny access to cookies except for the most necessary.
Keep your software up to date:
Keepingyour computer and other devices up to date with the latest software updates andsecurity patches can help protect you from online scams. Scammers often targetolder software with known vulnerabilities. By keeping your software up to date,you can minimize the risk of being targeted by these types of scams.
Be careful with email attachments and links:Phishingemails often contain attachments or links that can download malware onto yourcomputer or take you to a fake website designed to steal your information.Always be careful when opening email attachments or clicking on links,especially if the email is from an unknown sender. More on this in a littlebit.
Use strong passwords:
Usingstrong passwords is an essential step in protecting yourself from online scams.Avoid using simple passwords that can be easily guessed or hacked. Instead, usea combination of letters, numbers, and symbols to create a strong password. Passwordmanagers are available to help you remember your passwords and generate strongpasswords for you. Personally, I don’t use these services and prefer to writemy passwords in a notebook, not on my computer.
Don't overshare on social media:Becareful about the information you share on social media. Scammers can useinformation you post online to target you with personalized scams. Talk aboutthe rotten neighbor at the block party! For as much as you want to share allthe fun and memorable events with others, think about creating identities foryou and your family that can’t be traced easily. Avoid posting personalinformation, such as your full name, address, or phone number, on social media.Also, be cautious about accepting friend requests from people you don't know.
Watch out for fake charities:
Scammersoften use natural disasters or other tragedies to set up fake charities andsolicit donations from unsuspecting victims. Go to the charity directly ratherthan through the proffered link. Research a charity before donating to ensurethat it is legitimate. Look for information about the charity's mission andtheir history.
Trust your instinctsFinally,trust your instincts when it comes to online scams. If something seemssuspicious or too good to be true, it probably is. If you receive an email ormessage that asks for personal information or money, take a moment to thinkbefore responding. Don't be afraid to ask for more information or to verify thesender's identity before taking any action.
I have atrue story to share - the one that inspired this post. It started witha conversation with a woman wanting to purchase some land I had inherited inLithuania. THAT is a long story (for another time!). These people had done their research - unfortunately for me - and Ifelt they were legitimate. It wasn’t until I checked out the links she had includedin an email that I realized it was a con.
I immediatelyshut down my computer, but knew it was too late to avoid any malware that mighthave been downloaded. The next day, I tried to schedule an appointment with my GeekSquad (using that laptop) to have them look through my computer. There was acurious blip on the screen that should have flagged my brain that something was up, but oh nooooo, Icruised ahead and talked to a nice lady - dressed in Geek garb - about using a remote clean up. Let’s not relivethe entire sordid affair, but once I realized Geek Care was not Geek Squad, I had already allowedthem access to my drive.
I repeat, it was a tiny blip on my screen but that was long enough for them to redirect me to their scam site.
I tookmy computer (physically) to Geek Squad, explained this scam happened on theirsite and left it to their techno-gurus to fix. They were backlogged and said itwould take 3 to 4 days to finish. I didn't care; I just wanted it fixed! When I returned topick it up the next day, they explained a tech had completed a project ahead of schedule andpicked up my ticket. He or she spent 10 hours cleaning up my drive. They uninstalledand installed some apps, ran deep diagnostics, and updated my security.
10 hoursto clean up planted malware!
Ithought I knew all about scams. I had attended numerous trainings on thesubject while I worked for the County - we had hands-on sessions. I regularly take my computers in fortune-ups. My son constantly harps on all of us to avoid the traps I had falleninto. Despite all these precautions, a scammer got lucky.
None of us are immune.
Theadage of “if something seems too good to be true, it probably is,” is one toburn in your gray matter, no doubt. BUT, sometimes we need to be vigilant withour tried and true sites, as well. There was a time when being skeptical wasn’ta welcome trait. Unfortunately, the world around us requires us to be vigilantwhether we want to or not.
How about you? Are you ready to fight the good fight and keep the scammers at bay? Has anyone fallen prey to a scam that caught you in the blink of an eye? Let's share. Maybe through our experiences, we can help others before it happens.
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Audra Harders
writes "rugged stories with heart" featuring fearless men who haven't a clue about relationships, rescued by ladies who think they have all the answers. In real life, she's married to her own patient hero, has two adult children, and a very strong-willed Corgi. She began writing right after her second kidlet was born and sold her first book to Love Inspired mere months before that same young adult graduated from high school. Surviving those years in between reminds her God does have a plan for her life...and that He has a tremendous sense of humor. You can visit Audra at:Website: https://www.audraharders.com
