{"id":67074,"date":"2022-08-15T11:07:46","date_gmt":"2022-08-15T08:07:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mywot.com\/blog\/?p=67074"},"modified":"2025-01-07T11:38:34","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T09:38:34","slug":"common-scams-look","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mywot.com\/blog\/common-scams-look","title":{"rendered":"The Most Common Scams to Look Out For"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s no secret that as the internet continues to evolve, <\/span>so do its common scams.<\/span><\/a> The FBI released a statement that within the last few years there has been a record $3.5 billion in losses due to internet scams. Hackers and scammers around the world are constantly \u201con\u201d, looking for the next device and account to gain access to. They could even be targeting a computer or mobile device near you right now. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at the most common internet scams, how to spot them, and how to keep yourself and your sensitive information safe and secure. In the meantime, you can <\/span>install our Chrome Extension<\/span><\/a> to receive instant alerts about potential scams and threats heading your way. The best way to stay protected is to stay proactive in making sure you\u2019re covered from all angles. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Internet<\/p>\n

Phishing<\/span><\/h2>\n

Phishing is one of the most common scams and cyberthreats, yet it continues to be effective in that it successfully tricks people into clicking on malicious links, opening dangerous files, or providing their personal information. \u201cPhishers\u201d take on a persona of someone who should seemingly be trustworthy- someone from the post office, a colleague, someone from Amazon – with the hopes that you\u2019ll click on the links within the email, text message, or other messaging apps (Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, etc.). Keep in mind though that <\/span>96% of phishing attacks<\/span><\/a> are sent via email. <\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most important ways to identify a phishing attempt is to review the entire message in its entirety, more than once. Doing this will help you spot things like spelling and grammar mistakes. If you aren\u2019t positive but think that the email is suspicious, you should always check the sender’s email address. For instance, if someone from Microsoft is emailing you with regard to your account, it makes sense if the email address is noreply@accountprotection.microsoft.com. But if the email address is microsoft@internetsomethingsketchy1234.com you can take an educated guess that this is not the email address Microsoft would be using. And that goes for any email that seems suspicious. In addition, a lot of companies will have it written in their policies, or let you know when you\u2019ve registered to their service, that they\u2019ll never ask for your password or personal information via email.<\/p>\n

If you are being asked to click on a link within a suspicious email, you can hover your mouse over the link and see the full URL displayed in the bottom left-hand corner, and be able to understand if they\u2019re sending you to a legitimate website or a scam website.<\/p>\n

Fake Shopping Websites & Formjacking <\/span><\/h2>\n

There are thousands upon thousands of fake websites offering great deals and sales on well-known, popular brands. They typically have URLs similar to the brands or websites they\u2019re trying to copy, like \u2018Walmrt.com\u2019 instead of Walmart.com and \u2018Amaz0n.net\u2019 instead of Amazon.com. If you order something from one of these websites you\u2019ll probably receive a counterfeit item or nothing at all, and they just gained access to your payment details.  <\/span><\/p>\n

Formjacking is a cyberthreat created to steal credit card information. This happens when a legitimate, popular e-commerce website is hacked – without their knowledge – and cybercriminals redirect the checkout and payment pages to different URLs that look almost identical to the brand you want to order from. Then they steal your information. While these specific situations can be difficult to identify, get into the practice of double checking the URL of checkout pages and look for anything that seems off- like an additional letter, random number, etc.<\/p>\n

Fake Antivirus Software <\/span><\/h2>\n

You\u2019ve probably come across ads before telling you there\u2019s a virus detected on your device. These fake antivirus software ads and pop-ups want you to believe that your computer is infected with viruses and that these viruses can be removed, and the problem resolved, if you simply download their software. If you click and download the software, they gain access to your entire computer, all of the information that\u2019s saved on it, and your computer will most likely now have a virus, malware, or ransomware. <\/span><\/p>\n

Something helpful to know when it comes to staying secure online is that if anything is requiring you to take immediate action, or you\u2019re having trouble closing a pop-up, it\u2019s most likely coming from a cybercriminal.<\/p>\n

Make Money Quickly<\/span><\/h2>\n

We would all like to be able to make easy money quickly, and cybercriminals use that to get the attention of unsuspecting people. These scams tend to claim that you can make a week’s worth of salary in just a few hours, in just a few clicks, to get your attention and your hopes up. You’re then asked to provide your personal information and financial information, which is of course sensitive by nature. <\/span><\/p>\n

While being able to make money quickly and fast from your computer is a nice thought, it\u2019s unlikely that the offer is ever real. If they\u2019re making claims that there\u2019s no skill involved, that you can set your own schedule or that you need to put a down payment to get started, chances are you are being scammed. <\/span><\/p>\n

Phone Scams aka: Grandparent Scams <\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s up to us<\/span><\/a> to help our loved ones stay safe online. They might not be able to quickly identify when something is legit or actually a scam. Phone scams, which are quickly changing to \u2018Grandparent Scams\u2019, occur when a scammer poses as a panicked child or grandchild who needs financial support right away due to an emergency. AARP says that grandparents scams are on the rise, with nearly $41 million in reported losses during 2018. <\/span><\/p>\n

You can avoid falling for these types of family emergency scams if you<\/span><\/p>\n