What is a Scammer?
The first time I had encountered a scam was when I was 12 years old. I had spam in my Gmail account asking for money in exchange for free money. I instantly knew it was a scam, as the statement was too good to be true. Plus, the grammar and spelling were poor. Even I knew how to use punctuation properly by that point.
How did I, a 12 year old, deal with the scammer? I blocked them. Though, it may not be easy for anyone inexperienced with using online platforms.
To everyone new or unfamiliar with the internet, scammers are people who want your information and money for their profit. They will do anything to get their hands on your valuables. Like old-fashioned scammers except behind a screen with no way to tell if the person is even real. Many scammers may not even be from the same country as you. They could be across the World. The scammers could even be bots set up by real people to get info from you. The scariest part is when you give out your information, you are likely in danger of losing your money, credit, and even your identity online.
How to Avoid Scams
Phone Calls
Check the number that called you before you reply. Sometimes it could be a business or a harmless survey by an authentic company. Online websites will be able to deduct whether or not the phone number is spam or a scammer. No voicemail left to hear is also another sign of a scammer, as most non-scammers would at least use their voices to communicate with you, their potential customer/client. However, hearing a voicemail does not guarantee your safety, as some scammers have picked up tricks of their own. For example, using a voice that sounds like your local area to lure you into a false sense of safety.
If you happen to reply, immediately hang up if it's an automated message in a robotic voice. That is a sure sign of a scammer. If a person asks for your credit card information, please block the number and refuse to give them your information. Your credit card information should only be known by you and trustworthy websites that can hide your information.
Social Media
For the love of all things good, please never click on any links! Not in anyone's bio, through direct messaging, and certainly not in any comment section. Those links are either for online petitions or straight-up scams.
If you click on a link, you are at risk of being traced online. Meaning, completely random strangers on the internet know where you live. Which easily leads to dangerous stalking and harassment. The scammers will do what it takes for your information.
These malicious links may also lead you to a spam-filled website, which puts you at even more risk with both your location and information online for all to see. Links to unrecognized websites are a huge red flag!
There might be people asking you for help and clicking the link, which can never be trusted! People have their accounts hacked all the time, and some bots are programmed to seem authentic enough. But if anyone sends a link, you have to block them. Even if they seem real, they're most likely not.
Like with social media, never click on any links. Even if the email tells you you've won two million dollars. You'll be two million dollars in debt if you're not careful. Be sure to mark the email as spam and block anyone trying to get your information.
If an email sounds legitimate with its wording. Perfect grammar, good news, punctuation on point etc., the email could still be a scam. Any email that says you've won points or awards for anything should be reported and blocked. Especially if you have no recollection of signing up for such rewards.
Even job offerings through email could be dangerous to reply to, as many human traffickers use this tactic to get to know you. Make sure you do a through online search when it comes to your employers.
What Can You Do?
Here are some tips to avoid scams:
Scammers/bots have poor grammar skills
Automated voice messages are likely scammers
Make your social's private
NEVER click on links
NEVER interact with bots
Do not answer unknown numbers
Block any recognizable scammers
About the Creator
Lovely Lucia
An archive of my stories I publish every now and then.
To the people who read my poems and short stories; Thank you!
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