5 ways to protect yourself from New Year scams: 2024 is just about to come and with it scammers and fraudsters are also busy in new preparations to steal the hard-earned money and personal information of common internet users.
From fake holiday gift vouchers to discount coupons of popular e-commerce websites, cybercriminals are getting smarter every year. Today we are telling you about the ways in which online scammers are preparing to trap people in their net on the occasion of New Year, know how to avoid them…
Check website reviews
On the occasion of New Year, everyone is busy celebrating and fraudsters are ready to divert the attention of the users and trap them in online scams. If you often wait for a good deal online, then this can also be a way of online fraud.
Many times these fraudsters try to lure people by offering travel offers and discount deals on electronics like smartphones . So always ensure that the website from which you are buying goods is legitimate and not fake. To check the authenticity of an e-commerce platform, go to Google and write a review with the name of the website or use third-party services like Trustpilot.
Avoid clicking on any links
If you receive a link to a website in a message from your friend or family, think several times before clicking on it because one click of yours can cost you all your hard earned money. Apart from this, you can become a victim of ‘Digital Arrest’ just because of a link. These fraudsters also send links to fake websites in emails to users on the occasion of New Year. Avoid clicking on any link received from unknown users, especially if the email is sent by an unknown person.
If you see a product on social media websites like Instagram and Facebook, check its authenticity before clicking. If you get a message or link from your friend offering a product at a discount, it is better to first check whether it is true or not and it is better to call them and ask about it.
Enable two-factor authentication on your accounts
Most social media platforms, email services, and banks now offer two-factor authentication for added security. But there are some services that do not offer this kind of security feature.
If you are logging in to an unknown and new website or entering confidential information like password or card information, then check it not once but twice that the website is not fake. Avoid entering passwords on third-party services and websites whose names you have not heard. It is possible that scammers may steal your login details through these fake websites.
Fraud in the name of call from bank
Scammers are now using artificial and human intelligence together and are trapping people by using phone numbers and posing as representatives of well-known banks. Be extremely cautious while sharing your personal information with any bank representative or any other person online or on a phone call.
Indian banks repeatedly inform their customers that bank representatives never ask for sensitive information like card number or PIN. And if they receive a call from an unknown or official looking number, then understand that some scammers are plotting to loot your money.
The lure of getting free stuff
One of the most common ways scammers trap people is by luring them into participating in contests that offer free stuff. Keep in mind that if you have received such an offer that you or people close to you do not know about, then it is definitely a scam.
It is worth noting that in every scam it is not necessary that your money is the target, many times fake giveaway offers are made to obtain sensitive information of the users such as email address, phone number and date of birth. And this private information is bought and sold by scammers on the dark web.
Many times these scammers also ask the user for important details like credit or debit card details by luring them with free cash prize or gifts. If you ever get stuck in such a situation, disconnect the call immediately or stop the text messages.
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