How to avoid being cheated in Online frauds
Crooks use clever schemes to defraud
millions of people every year. They often combine new technology with old
tricks to get people to send money or give out personal information. Here
are some practical tips to help you stay a step ahead.
1.
Spot imposters. Scammers often pretend to be someone you trust, like a government official, a family member, a charity, or a company you do business
with. Don’t send money or give out personal information in response to an
unexpected request — whether it comes as a text, a phone call, or an email.
2.
Do online
searches. Type a company or product name
into your favorite search engine with words like “review,” “complaint” or
“scam.” Or search for a phrase that describes your situation, like “IRS call.”
You can even search for phone numbers to see if other people have reported them
as scams.
3.
Don’t believe
your caller ID. Technology makes it easy for
scammers to fake caller ID information, so the name and number you see aren’t
always real. If someone calls asking for money or personal information, hang
up. If you think the caller might be telling the truth, call back to a number
you know is genuine.
4.
Don’t pay
upfront for a promise. Someone
might ask you to pay in advance for things like debt relief, credit and loan offers, mortgage assistance, or a job. They might even say you’ve won a prize, but first you have to pay taxes or
fees. If you do, they will probably take the money and disappear.
5.
Consider how
you pay. Credit cards have significant
fraud protection built in, but some payment methods don’t. Wiring money through services like
Western Union or MoneyGram is risky because it’s nearly
impossible to get your money back. Government offices and honest companies
won’t require you to use these payment methods.
6.
Talk to
someone. Before you give up your money
or personal information, talk to someone you trust. Con artists want you to
make decisions in a hurry. They might even threaten you. Slow down, check out
the story, do an online search, consult an expert — or
just tell a friend.
7.
Hang up on
robocalls. If you answer the phone and
hear a recorded sales pitch, hang up and report
it to the police. These calls are illegal, and often the products are bogus.
Don’t press 1 to speak to a person or to be taken off the list. That could lead
to more calls.
8.
Be skeptical
about free trial offers. Some
companies use free trials to sign you up for
products and bill you every month until you cancel. Before you agree to a free
trial, research the company and read the cancellation policy. And always review
your monthly statements for charges you don’t recognize.
9.
Don’t deposit a
check and wire money back. By law,
banks must make funds from deposited checks available within days, but
uncovering a fake check can take weeks. If a
check you deposit turns out to be a fake, you’re responsible for repaying the
bank.
1 If you spot a scam, report it to the
police immediately. Your reports help the police and other law enforcement
investigate scams and bring crooks to justice.
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