Avoiding Scams
MY DIGITAL WORLD PROGRAMME
Presenter: —————-
Date: –/–/2023
Avoiding Scams
Avoiding Scams: agenda
01 Introduction to avoiding scams
02 Strategies for avoiding scams
03 Reporting cybercrimes and scams
01 Introduction to avoiding scams
Learning objective: You will learn how to spot common scams and fraud, including the warning signs of internet fraud, phishing, and other online scams.
01 Introduction to avoiding scams (cont.)
Scams are fraudulent actions that can be used to cheat someone out of money or confidential information. Scams can happen in a variety of ways, including through online dating apps, email, social media sites, phone calls, text messages and even traditional letters or other documents.
01 Introduction to avoiding scams (cont.)
Common online scams
- Phishing
- Financial scams that can include charity, lottery, employment scams and other payment scams
- Romance scams that can include catfishing and online dating scams
01 Introduction to avoiding scams (cont.)
Phishing
- Catfishing is when a scammer creates a fake account or identity to trick people into believing they are talking to a real person.
Phishing is a type of scam that tricks people into sharing their login or personal information. Phishing can come in the form of emails, text messages, phone calls and social media posts, to name a few. The messages or emails might look like they are from a real company that you know or trust, like a bank, online store, social networking site, parcel delivery firm or government department. Phishing perpetrated by text is commonly known as ‘smishing’, and by a phone call as ‘vishing.’
Example:- someone tells you that you are eligible for a prize or payment
01 Introduction to avoiding scams (cont.)
How can you detect phishing?
- A sense of urgency
- Anyone asking you to pay a fee to apply for a job
- Messages or posts with poor spelling and grammatical mistakes
- People asking you to move your conversation off Facebook or any other platform to a less public or less secure setting, such as a separate email
- People asking you to send them money to receive a loan, prize, or other winnings
- People or accounts directing you to a separate webpage to claim a prize
- People who misrepresent where they are located. If someone signs up for a social media platform using their phone number, you may be able to check which country their phone number is from.
Subject: Your system has been infected with (28) viruses
From: teamsupport-Webefish-508245819073788@questionprov505659.com
01 Introduction to avoiding scams (cont.)
Financial scams
In many financial scams, someone claiming to be from a financial institution or government organization will contact you via phone, text, or email or leave you a message saying that you owe taxes or other money. They may say that if you don’t pay the outstanding balance immediately, legal action will be taken against you.
01 Introduction to avoiding scams (cont.)
Lottery scams
Lottery scams are often carried out from accounts impersonating someone you know or fake profiles pretending to represent an organization. The messages may claim that you’re a winner of a lottery and that you can receive your money for a small advance fee. The scammer may ask you to provide personal information, such as your physical address or bank details.
Donation scams
These scams are done by accounts impersonating famous religious figures or by accounts pretending to be representatives from various charities or orphanages. The scammers will ask for donations.
01 Introduction to avoiding scams (cont.)
Online dating and romance scams
The internet is a great place to meet other people who share same interests. Via online dating people make friend, romantic partners and sometimes marriage. However, remember that anyone online could be saying they are someone who they are not. Watchout for the following signs:
Their photos are stock or professional photos. These types of photos are often used by “catfish” and could be photos of someone else.
They make you uncomfortable by immediately professing their love using strong language.
They make you uncomfortable by pressuring you to leave the dating site and communicate with them through email or text.
01 Introduction to avoiding scams (cont.)
Staying safe while online dating
- On dating sites, keep your identifying information private. Full name, email, home address, phone number, work address, financial information
- Conduct a reverse image search
- For Facebook Dating: Report and block anyone who you feel is suspicious.
- Scammers may try to use fake or compromised accounts to trick you into giving them money or personal information. Report don’t reply
- Remember that any online love interest that asks for money is likely a scammer.
02 Strategies for avoiding scams
Learning objective: You will learn how to spot common scams and fraud, including the warning signs of internet fraud, phishing and other online scams.
02 Strategies for avoiding scams (cont.)
Marketplace scams
Although eligible items purchased on Marketplace from sellers and stores using checkout on Facebook are covered by Purchase Protection, local pickup items using person-to-person payment methods are not covered. Read about how to buy and sell responsibly on Marketplace.
Facebook does not offer refunds for any person-to-person transactions. Always be cautious when using person-to-person transactions to purchase Marketplace items, especially if shipment is involved.
Tips for buying and selling on Facebook:
- Consider delivery options for Marketplace items
- Learn which items are not allowed on Facebook
- Meet in-person
- Protect your privacy
- Avoid paying by bank transfer, especially before delivery
- Verify the item
- Watch out for counterfeit items
02 Strategies for avoiding scams (cont.)
Additional strategies for avoiding scams
- If an offer looks too good to be true, it probably is
- If a contest, job, or scholarship asks you to pay money upfront, don’t do it
- Be cautious about giving out personal information to individuals or organizations that you don’t know and trust
- Reach out to the person, organization or charity offline directly to verify authenticity using the phone number you know to be authentic
- Watch out for pages representing large companies, organizations, or public figures that are not verified
02 Strategies for avoiding scams (cont.)
Report on Facebook
You can report a post or profile for:
- Spam
- Nudity or sexual activity
- Hate speech or symbols
- Racist language or activity
- Violence or dangerous organizations
- Bullying or harassment
- Selling illegal or regulated goods
- Intellectual property violations
- Suicide or self-injury
- Pretending to be someone else or if under 13
Report on Instagram
02 Strategies for avoiding scams (cont.)
ONLINE SCAMS: recap
Discussion/Self-Reflection
01. Have you encountered any online scams in the past? How did you react?
02. How would you react now?
02 Strategies for avoiding scams (cont.)
What if I experience a scam?
- If you gave a scammer your login information, change your password right away
- If you use the same password for multiple accounts or websites, change them all
- Create new passwords that are strong and unique.
- If you believe your bank account or digital payment method is targeted by a scammer, contact the bank or service provider right away. Report the scam and ask what steps you may be able to take to reverse the charges.
02 Strategies for avoiding scams (cont.)
Additional resources to learn more
- The Senior’s Guide to Online Safety by ConnectSafely
- BBB Scam Tips by Better Business Bureau
- Fraud.org by the National Consumers League
- Do we have similar institutional mechanisms to avoid fraud? Are you up for becoming one? Do you need a partner?
02 Strategies for avoiding scams (cont.)
ONLINE SCAMS: recap
Let’s go phishing: Spot the scam account
Examples
1. You receive a post advertising a job opportunity that promises very high pay in a short amount of time. If interested, it requests you to reply.
2. Samson is messaging with a girl he likes online. He receives a message from her that says her mother has been in an accident and needs money for her hospital bill.
Is this a phishing scam? How do you know?
How should you react or respond to this message or post?
03 Reporting cyber crimes and scams
Learning objective: You will know how to safely report a scam or other suspected cyber crimes.
03 Reporting cyber crimes and scams
Fighting fraud
Protect yourself and be proactive by protecting your device:
- Install anti-malware and antivirus software or app and run regular scans
- Install any updates to apps, plug-ins and software. These updates often include important security updates and new security features.
- When available, set up multi-factor or two-factor authentication for personal accounts.
- Back up important files and personal information using a secure method
03 Reporting cyber crimes and scams
What if I think I have a computer virus?
- Run a system scan using trusted anti-malware and antivirus software
- If your software recommends taking action, follow the recommended steps. Don’t click an unsolicited pop-up asking to scan your computer. Those pop-ups are often scams and should be avoided.
- For more information on what to do if your computer gets a virus, visit GCFGlobal: Internet Safety: What To Do if Your Computer Gets a Virus.
03 Reporting cyber crimes and scams
Additional resources to learn more
How To Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams | FTC Consumer Information
03 Reporting cyber crimes and scams
SECTION THREE: recap
Check for understanding
THANK YOU !