Scammers are nothing new, but, unfortunately, they’re here to stay. By constantly developing new and improved ways to trick people into giving away their money and personal information, scammers are able to stay relevant in the ever-changing digital world. Whether impersonating a new love interest, a government agency, or using a family crisis, scammers will try just about anything to get to you. According to the Federal Trade Commission, in 2020, there were over 2 million reports of fraud, and victims lost a total of $3.3 billion. Scamming people out of their money and stealing their personal information is how scammers profit, and this will often cause incredible financial losses for their victims.
The best way to protect yourself from becoming a scam victim is by staying up to date on scamming trends. The more you know about how a scammer will try to steal from you, the better prepared you are to protect yourself. Keep reading to learn about some of the most common scams of 2022, including Tech Support Scams, Fake Government Agencies Scams, Online Dating Scams, and how to avoid becoming a victim of one of these cyber attacks.
Tech support scams have become increasingly popular in the last few years. As technology is becoming a larger part of our daily lives, scammers are able to have more and more chances to steal information. The goal of Tech Support Scams is to trick you into paying for unnecessary technical services. For example, a scammer may call you claiming to be a computer technician from a reputable company such as Microsoft. They may claim that your computer has been infected with malware, and it needs to be updated immediately. Then, they’ll try to convince you to purchase new software, repairs, and other products and services you don’t need. Here are a few ways you can prevent this scam:
If you receive a message from any local or federal government agency such as the IRS, Social Security, or law enforcement, investigate it before responding to the message. Scammers impersonate these agencies to request money or your personal information. For example, they may send a letter, email, text, or phone call demanding that you make a payment for taxes owed to avoid legal action or prevent arrest. They may also demand that you enter your personal information on a link that contains malware, or they may “spoof” official government numbers such as local Social Security offices, Social Security Fraud Hotline, or local police numbers to make them appear legitimate.
Scammers don’t discriminate against anyone. They will seek any opportunity to take advantage of any person, especially seniors. Scammers are likely to target seniors because they can be more trusting and vulnerable. Scammers use fear tactics and pressure to convince seniors to send money or give out their personal information. Scammers have also made up fake stories claiming a loved one is in serious trouble and needs help immediately. For example, they may claim their loved one urgently needs bail money or funds wired to them to get back into the country. Without investigating the situation further, the senior may be tempted to respond immediately to the scammer’s request. Scammers may also target seniors with many other scams, which can include but are not limited to romance scams, government agency scams, or sweepstakes/lottery scams.
Online dating has become an increasingly popular way to develop friendships and find love. Scammers are fully aware of this. They create fake online dating profiles to entice victims and build trust so they can steal their money. As the online relationship develops, the scammer may claim they need money for an emergency, bills, or traveling out of the country on business. If you’re not careful and aware of their schemes, online dating could leave you with a broken heart and empty pockets. Here are a few tips to prevent you from falling victim to online dating scams.
For most people, winning the lottery would be a dream come true. Unfortunately, scammers are aware of this, and they will use it to their advantage to profit from you. Scammers lure their victims in by claiming they won the lottery or a sweepstake prize. They may send a fake check and award letter in the mail or a very convincing text message. Suspicious email prizes with a link and instructions on how to redeem your prize winnings typically are a scam. In most scams, the victim must pay taxes and fees before redeeming their winnings. Once the funds have been wired, the victim never hears from the scammer again.