Falling victim to scammers is happening daily. Wherever money is involved, scammers will be lurking trying to trick you into giving up your money into their scams and intricate scams. The scams that are circulating at the moment are nothing new, but they are developing every day and becoming harder to spot. If you have been a victim of a money scam, or you are looking to get more clued up on the scams you need to be looking out for, take a look at the following suggestions:
Phishing scams
This is a type of scam where the scammer tries to get your personal information, such as your credit card number, by pretending to be a legitimate company or organisation. They often pretend to be government officials too, stating that there is a missed parking fine for example that needs to be paid immediately to avoid further charges. They might send you an email or text message that looks official, but if you click on the link or provide them with your information, they can use it to steal your identity or make fraudulent charges.
Investment scams
This is when fraudsters promise you a high return on your investment, but then take your money and disappear. Investment scams can range from small investments into a local charity, and even extend to cryptocurrency scams. It would be wise to get in touch with an investment fraud lawyer if you have been subjected to any form of investment scam. They might use high-pressure tactics to convince you to invest quickly, or they might claim to have insider information that they can’t share with anyone else.
Lottery scams
Lottery scams occur when someone tells you that you’ve won a large sum of money in a lottery, but to claim your prize, you need to pay a fee or provide your personal information. This information will allow them to access certain personal accounts such as your banks or other personal platforms, which give them access to find and further information to use against you.
Tech support scams
Tech support scams can occur when the scammer emails you claiming to be from a tech support company and tell you that your computer is infected with a virus that can be dangerous. They’ll offer to fix the problem for a fee, but in reality, they’re just trying to get your money or install malware on your computer.
Bottom line
Overall, money scams will always be lurking when any topic of finance is involved. Our hard-earned money can be quickly taken away if we fall victim to these clever scams. Scammers are everywhere, and it could even be the people closest to you putting your personal information at risk of being sent to fraudulent people who intend to take your money. If anyone at all contacts you out of the blue about your personal information, understand that this will never be done over the phone.
Never give out personal information over the phone even if someone rings you with relevant information from your bank, as it will likely be a chance. There is a chance that you can get your money back from scammers, however, this is hard to do and it’s best to be vigilant and avoid the ordeal regardless.