It’s a trap! Online Scams

As we move further into a world of online shopping, banking, advertising and well… just about online everything really, we need to stay alert to the presence of online criminals as well.

Some scams are easy to spot while other are highly sophisticated. Online criminals are educated, tech savvy and are using their knowledge combined with the anonymity they find online to set up elaborate schemes to steal your money. According to The Telegraph, one in every ten people fall victim to online scams.

Here is what you have to look out for to avoid being trapped.

Goods that are too good to be true

– Technology or high value items sold at a fraction of their value

– Job postings offering huge salaries to individuals with little or no experience

– Winning the lottery you never entered. It’s a trap!

If you are worried about any online adverts or offers you have considered taking, call We Love IT for some honest expert advice.

It’s complicated

This usually happens in an exchange between buyer and seller. You have a good reason to feel suspicious if the buyer or seller is rushing you for the transaction or will not provide you with standard information such an address or authentic identification details.

A common scam is for a buyer to send a false proof of payment to the seller or to request goods before payment has cleared into the sellers account and to withdraw after receiving the goods. Once they have the goods, the seller is left without payment and the “buyer” has vanished without a trace and a false telephone number.

Always wait until the payment has been cleared and confirmed by your bank before handing over goods. If you lose a sale because a buyer is trying to rush you, you have most likely evaded a trap.

Useful tips

– Make sure passwords are not automatically saved in your history, especially for your online banking.

– When doing online card transactions, make sure the transaction is secure. If you are not sure how to do this, call We Love IT for advice.

– Trust your instincts. If you have your doubts, don’t be rushed or baited into a transaction.

Remember, We Love IT is at your service to provide sound advice for your online queries and if you have fallen victim to a scam, call us for help.