How to protect yourself from Online Scams

Anyone who has spent time on the Internet knows that things online aren’t always as they seem. The general anonymity of the Internet has provided fertile ground for new forms of fraud. In this section, you’ll find information on common online scams and steps to take if you’ve been the victim of one.
Common Types of Online Scams
Online scams can take many forms. Here are just a few of the most common types of online fraud:

• Phishing: In a phishing scheme, the scammer attempts to obtain private information from a victim by posing as a reputable entity in an email or other electronic communication. For example, the scammer may send you an email posing as a bank representative and claiming that your account requires verification. The email would then direct you to a fake banking site where you would be asked to provide sensitive information like your account number, username, password, and more. With the information, the scammer would then have access to your account.
• Work at Home: You’ve probably seen ads online for jobs that seem too good to be true. Unfortunately, most of them are. Many work-at-home schemes require you to purchase expensive materials or pay upfront fees without providing you with the means to earn a living. Others are Ponzi schemes, requiring you to recruit others in exchange for a cut of the fees.
• Fake Apartment Rentals: Like work-at-home opportunities, rental ads are sometimes too good to be true. In a rental scam, the perpetrator places an ad on Craigslist or another classifieds site advertising a rental unit for a good price. The photos and other information are often stolen from legitimate listings. When potential renters show interest, the scammer claims to be out of town and asks them to wire first-month’s rent or other fees to an out-of-state location.
• “Catfish” Scams: A “catfish” is someone who creates a fake social media account in order to pursue an online romance. Sometimes, catfish convince their victims to send money or gifts, or to pay for their travel or other expenses.
• Unexpected Prizes: The Internet is littered with pop-up ads telling you that you’ve won an iPod or qualified for a free vacation. Are they telling the truth? Probably not. These “contests” often require you to pay certain fees or shipping costs in order to receive your “prize.” Of course, most of the time there is no prize and the perpetrators pocket the fees.

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