10 Steps to Protect Yourself from Fraud on the Internet
Apr 27, 2022
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The Internet is a powerful tool that can help you find a variety of legitimate business opportunities. However, in today’s world of cyber criminals, it is essential for users to take the necessary precautions in order to avoid being a victim of fraudulent activity. If you have ever shopped online, you are already part of the massive online community. This is where fraudsters come in and try to take advantage of you as well. The more time you spend online, the more likely it is that you will eventually encounter fraud. The more time you spend online looking for legitimate business opportunities, the more likely you are to be targeted by fraudsters. This article was written by depositphotos.com to keep you safe from online scams.Create a List of Scammers
Before you start searching for legitimate business opportunities, it’s important to create a list of the areas where you are most likely being targeted. Using services like Google Alerts or social media can help you identify the online marketplaces that are commonly full of scammers. The more time you spend on these sites, the more likely that a scammer will come in and attempt to take advantage of you. Be careful when searching for opportunities on discussion boards and chat rooms. Many people are looking for work on these sites. This makes it easier for scammers to find potential victims. Be sure not to share personal information with anyone who you don’t know personally, or at least feel comfortable enough knowing them well enough to trust them with your personal information.
Always Check the URL of a Website
If you are visiting a website, make sure you check the URL. This is probably one of the most important steps in preventing scams. Check the URL of any website to make sure it is legitimate and not an impostor website. In order for a site to be considered legitimate, it must have a “www” at the beginning and end of its address. For example, if you go to www.yournamehere.com, that would be considered a legitimate website whereas if you went to namehere.com, that would not be considered legitimate because there is no “www” at the beginning of the domain name and therefore it is an impostor website. If you are unsure about whether or not a site is fraudulent, just visit Google and search for their URL to verify that it is indeed legitimate before proceeding with any type of online transaction.
Use HTTPS When Available
Always use HTTPS when available. If your website is not secure and you are on a public computer, your personal information will be vulnerable to hackers. Simply using HTTPS is the first step in protecting yourself from fraud. A lot of websites mistakenly believe that HTTPS is too expensive or not worth their time. However, using HTTPS does NOT come with a hefty price tag. In fact, it pays for itself because of how much more traffic your website gets with an SSL certificate. You only need to pay for this service if you have 250 or more visitors per day. Another reason why it pays for itself is because users are less likely to click on links without an SSL certificate. This can reduce your cost per conversion from $0.70 to as low as $0.25!
Always Check the Company’s BBB Rating
Every company has a Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating. You can find this information by simply searching for the company’s name on Google or through their website. This quick check will give you an idea of how the company is doing and whether they are legitimate. If a company doesn’t have a BBB rating, that is a red flag and should raise your suspicion level. There may be other reasons why the company doesn’t have a BBB rating but it might be something like fraud. It is important to remember that there are many factors in determining whether a business is legitimate or not. For example, if you do research on the company and find out about its success, it might make them seem more legit than someone with no success at all.
Use a VPN When Possible
Undoubtedly, the biggest step you can take is to use a VPN. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates an encrypted tunnel between your computer and the website you are visiting so that any information exchanged is secure. This means that if your information is intercepted in transit it will be useless to anyone who intercepts it. Additionally, a VPN will help mask your true location and provide adequate protection against network surveillance. With all of these benefits, it is easy to see why this is a top step to protect yourself from fraud on the internet.
Don’t Respond to Spam Emails
To begin, it is important to be careful of any emails that appear to come from reputable companies or individuals. If you are not sure who the email is coming from, don’t reply to it. It could be a scammer looking to steal your personal information. If you are unsure, err on the side of caution and delete the email rather than risk being tricked into giving away a piece of sensitive information.
Conclusion
1. Never give personal information over the phone 2. Never trust unsolicited requests for money or information 3. Never reply to unsolicited emails 4. Don’t shop online without verifying the name of the website, company, and person 5. Use a VPN when shopping online 6. Don’t give personal information to a suspicious website
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