One of the most common forms of cybercrime is also one of the most common forms of traditional crime: scams. There is always someone looking to make a quick buck by tricking someone else into giving it to them, whether face to face, over the phone, or over the internet. In order to protect yourself from falling for these scams, it is necessary to know what to look out for. So, what kinds of scams are we likely to see used against us?
Accidental Deposit Scams
Bank scams are nothing new, but the rise of digital payment and money transfer apps such as PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle has also enabled this new type of scam where a scammer "accidentally" sends money to your account and requests that you send it back. The trick that makes it a scam is that the money that was initially sent to you came from a fake or stolen account that the service provider will sort out, while the money you send is stolen by the scammer.
Delivery Text Scams
This type of scam is a specific type of phishing where a scammer sends a text or email impersonating a delivery company such as FedEx or the Postal Service. The message will typically claim that there is an issue with a package you ordered and that you need to resolve it, then provide a link for you to follow to a phishing site to trick you into entering your data and possibly installing malware on your device.
Grandparent Scams
As its namesake suggests, this scam targets grandparents. Scammers attempt to impersonate a friend or relative and then claim to be in some sort of trouble or emergency and urgently need money. The scammer frequently requests that the money be sent to them through methods that are untraceable, such as wire transfers or gift cards. While the primary targets of this scam are grandparents, it can theoretically target anyone so long as the scammer believes they will be able to trick them.
Pig Butchering
Pig butchering scams have been growing in usage significantly. This type of scam usually starts with the scammer "accidentally" contacting their target and then working to establish a relationship of trust with the intended victim. Once the scammer is able to establish a relationship with the target, they then try to convince them to invest in a fake opportunity, such as a cryptocurrency, gold trading, foreign exchange market, or some other get-rich-quick scheme. Of course, there is no real opportunity to invest in, and the scammer simply pockets all the money while continuing to goad the victim into giving them more. When the victim finally catches on and stops giving more money, the scammer ends all contact and disappears.
Romance Scams
Perhaps one of the oldest types of scams in history is a romance scam, in which a scammer attempts to build a disingenuous emotional connection with someone that they can exploit for money. The rise of online dating and catfishing has made this scam much easier to perform and, as a result, much more common.
Tech Support Scams
A classic computer scam, tech support scams are when a scammer reaches out to you claiming your device has some sort of issue, and you will have to work with them to get it fixed. Of course, for the scammer to "help" you, they will need you to grant them access to your device, from which they will steal all of your data and possibly install actual malware. They may even then ask for payment for their work.
How to Protect Yourself From Scams
While scams, like malware, can come from different sources and try to deceive you in different ways, there are many shared practices you can follow to keep yourself safe. Obviously, the best way to avoid getting scammed is to not engage with them. If you receive an unexpected text, email, or phone call that seems suspicious, just ignore it. Alternatively, you can attempt to establish connections through known safe channels; for example, if you get a call claiming to be from someone you know, hang up and call them back yourself to ensure that it was actually them and not someone spoofing their number. Another great way to avoid being scammed is to never make any payments or money transfers through suspicious methods such as wire transfers, cryptocurrencies, or gift cards. And, of course, you should always be suspicious of anyone you meet online, especially through social media or dating apps, which scammers commonly frequent to find new targets.
If you are ever targeted by or the victim of a scam, you can help stop it by reporting the scam. Gather any evidence you have of the scam, pictures of texts, emails, other messaging, recordings of phone calls, or anything that could help identify a scammer and their methods. Of course, if any money was stolen from you, you should report it to your financial institution and see if they can help you get it back. You can also report scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) on their official website: https://www.ic3.gov/. Finally, you can also file a report with your local police department.