The Internet has proved to be a wonder. Every day there’s a new service, a new app, or a new trend that has the power to change the way...
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The Internet has proved to be a wonder. Every day there’s a new service, a new app, or a new trend that has the power to change the way we live. That’s what makes the web so revolutionary – it’s constant ability to evolve.
It seems not a day
goes by that we don’t read about some form of Internet fraud. Banks, video
gaming networks – and email providers, to name a minority, have recently
endured organised fraudulent activity. Con artists are always improving their
tactics.
They look normal
They may steal
Facebook photos or photos from the many blogs and social network pages we all
have. They may even be impersonating someone of the opposite
gender. It is no longer easy to tell if someone is likely a scammer based
solely on their photos. While photos are important, don’t entirely rely on them.
More
clever than ever
Someone you’re dating
is not likely to ask for your bank account number, but you may end up in a
conversation where your date asks what high school you went to – or where you
were born, or your first pet’s name. Of course, this kind of information is
what banking sites ask when you’ve forgotten your password. And if you’ve been
emailing back and forth with that person, they have all the information they
need to access your accounts. Be on guard and don’t reveal too many personal
details.
No
longer in a hurry
One of the hallmarks
of fraud used to be the big rush. Today’s con artists take their time. They may
invest in hundreds of emails or calls. They may see you in person many times –
and know that time puts people at ease. Many victims of fraud have cited “all
our time together” as the reason they were willing to hand over personal
information and money. Don’t let your guard down.
They
are into social media
Yes, con artists have
learned about social media. They know that people are vetting them in the
social spaces and have responded accordingly. Watch out for the warning signs
and don’t become complacent just because you found other information online.
They are excellent in “Phishing”
“Phishing” is the act
of securing private information by appearing to be a trusted source and sending
links that download personal information or install a damaging virus. A con artist
will send you an email with a link and write, “Watch this video. It’s the
funniest thing I’ve ever seen.” One click of the link and passwords, credit
card numbers and other personal data can be removed from your computer. This
email can be sent on Facebook or email. Know what you’re clicking on before you
do.
Strange things
It seems hard to
believe, but many acts of fraud have been committed because a con man has
persuaded a user to let him/her log into their account. This usually happens
after the con artist – and the victim has been in communication for a
considerable period of time, and a certain amount of trust has been
established. They may say: “I want you to see what I wrote in my profile. If
you click on this link, it will take you to it, but you may have to log in
first.” Never give your log-in credentials to anyone.
Who
is a potential con artist?
They include a person
who asks for money from you online. A person who asks for access to your online
accounts – and someone who asks specific personal questions about where you
bank, your address, pet’s names, school names, etc. – Online Sources
Derick
Matsengarwodzi is a communication consultant, author – and founder of The Aloe
Media. An ardent researcher plus media devotee – you can interact with him
through Facebook or derickmats@gmail.com. Follow his
authoritative, eloquent, analytical and revealing writing flow on: http://tinzwei.blogspot.com or http://thehealthoracle.blogspot.com.
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