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Knowledge is Power
You do not have to be gullible or lack common sense to fall for a scam.
The criminals dedicating their lives to scamming are not sending emails filled with spelling mistakes. They are highly skilled at targeting vulnerable people and use common persuasion techniques to convince them to comply.
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
People Most at Risk
SingleDivorcedWidowed
Respondents were more likely to be victimised if they did not have anyone to discuss the offer with.
HeightenedEmotional State
Individuals engaging with scammers are likely to be in a heightened emotional state that impairs their ability to respond appropriately to misleading information.
FinancialInsecurity
Individuals under financial strain might be more susceptible to scams, especially scams that promise financial rewards or an opportunity to get out of debt.
Did you know that you are far more likely to be scammed buying pet products and clothing than digital devices online?
During five years of collecting data via BBB Scam Tracker, 25.2% of all reported online purchase scams were related to pets and pet supplies
Never pay strangers before getting your goods.
Register your free Truzo account today and enjoy safe, protected payments when dealing with strangers, or friends, you know.
Prevention Tips for Online Scams
... and offline scams too.
Do Your Homework
A quick Google search can save a lot of headache and heartache. Research the business/website/person before buying. Ask friends and family or on forum websites for opinions.
Double Check "Sales"
Black Friday is especially dangerous because no deal is seen as too good to be true. Price is the top motivating factor for people who made a purchase and then lost money.
Hard to Find Items
If you're shopping for a gift that's either really expensive or hard to find, be very careful of the ones you find online, especially with discounts. These are favourites for scammers.
Knowing about specific types of scams and understanding the general tactics that scammers use can help a scam target avoid becoming a victim.
Seeing isn't Believing
Just because a website looks legitimate with all the right badges, links and information, doesn't mean it's not a scam. Scammers are great at cloning professional websites.
Buying Under Pressure
When the item you've been searching for is suddenly available at a discount for a very limited time, stop and think. Scammers also know your shopping habits, just like legitimate marketers.
Payment Options
Insisting on a deposit or payment in full using a direct payment method like cash deposit, EFT, e-wallet or other payment that offers you no protection is an immediate red flag.
Avoiding Fake Websites
Check the URL
Never enter sensitive information on a website that has http instead of https in the address bar. The added "s" is for "secure".
Check the Grammar
If you're lucky you can probably spot a scam website by picking up spelling mistakes, bad grammar and broken links.
Check Domain Age
Scammers must create & remove websites quickly. There are various online tools to check how old websites are. Young = Careful.
Check Contact Info
Look for easily accessible contact information and then use it to call, email and verify their address. Be wary if there isn't much info.
Images are Deceptive
Just because the pictures look professional doesn't mean the product or company is. Photo Stock libraries are a dime a dozen.
Check for Complaints
Check the company for online reviews & complaints. In May 2020, even Google was topped by a suspected scam store.
Don't pay strangers using platforms you're not comfortable with.
Register your free Truzo account today and enjoy safe, protected payments when dealing with strangers, or friends, you know.
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