A lot of people have been duped in the past as a result of internet fraud. Internet Fraud is usually carried out on people who are less vigilant and might be vulnerable.
Scammers usually go for three categories of people which are:
#1. The weak minded Teens
Teenagers are very vulnerable to scammers as they spend alot of time on the internet daily so they are most likely to come across them. Although teenagers might be more internet literate than your average adult, it doesn't make them any less vulnerable.
#2. Middle Aged Adults
Scamming is a little bit harder when you're talking about adults, especially those who are very familiar with the internet and understand fully how it works. But when it comes to adults who are not so good, well they are just as vulnerable as a newly born baby. My advice for adults who are not very familiar with the internet is that they should ask internet literate youths before going ahead and clicking on foreign links.
#3. The Elderly
Obviously alot of elders are not that good when it comes to things that has to do with technology, most elders rely on the help on their kids and grandkids when it comes to do with the internet. Elderly are potential targets when it comes to scamming as they get afraid easily and click on links quickly.
METHODS SCAMMERS USE
Scammers use alot of methods to get to what they want, most of which are prohibited so they use stealth modes while doing it.
#1.Phantom Goods
Fraudsters dupe people into paying for items which do not exist or are not in their custody. They do this by creating an account on social medias such as Facebook, etc and advertise the items which they claim to sell. They may also send people messages and try to become friends with them so as to gain their trust. This works by them creating professional looking websites which they post fake reviews so it appears like the item is from a reputable trader. The buyer purchases the items which then fails to materialise.
#2. Fake Services
This is another way Scammers work. They pretend to offer services or send people an invoice which they think they are obliged to pay such as tax. One of the most common is fake services reported to citizens was Computer virus repairs.
This works when the Scammer contacts you usually on the phone, offering a sham service. In added sting they'll try to obtain your bank details while carrying out the service or payment arrangements.
When it comes to computer virus scams, fraudsters remotely gain access to your bank details.
#3. Through Phishing Sites
Cold-calling cheats who try to obtain your personal details. They most likely pretend to be from a phone blocking, debt management company or a bank.
They impersonate someone from the police, government body or bank. After that they send messages to you saying that you have to confirm your identity, make a payment, etc during this process you'll have to share your credit card details with them, which they require to help themselves to your money.
#4. Internet Dating
Fraudsters usually go on dating sites to perform this act. Fraudsters go on dating sites to create a fake account which they use to make users fall in love with them. Fraudsters tend to tell lies and deceive users, basically they'll do whatever it takes to get them to love them after which they'll start requesting for money which they need to pay bills, etc. This is the most common type of scam.
WHAT TO LOOK OUT
Internet scamming has become trending here in Africa and is even a means of survival for some, we must not be duped of our hard earned money. Here are some things to watch out for
#1. Unexpected phone calls, sales people offering time limit deals with amazing discounts, being offered a service immediately or being put under pressure to pay now.
#2. Being asked to pay via bank transfer, or sent a link to a payment page which can easily be faked. Keep an eye out for websites with no full postal address and phone numbers when you do a domain checker.
#3. Being cold-called and asked for your personal details such as account number, credit details, pins and password as a legitimate organization will never ask for these.
#4. Avoid internet dating and even if you must be cautious of who you're talking to. And don't be afraid to ask alot a scammer can only provide so much. You can also go ahead and do voice calls with him/her.