Are students too bright to fall for these online scams?
Email scammers prey on the vulnerable, ignorant and uneducated. According to the ONS studying at university ranks you amongst the top 27% best educated in the UK population. Are you bright enough to spot a spam email? Or are online scammers just getting more sophisticated?
Here’s a round up of the most frequently used email scams and what to do about each of them. Make sure you’re bright enough to stay safe online.
Disaster relief scams
How do I know?
By preying on those of us who like to help in a crisis, fake websites instantly spring up and beg for your money after a disaster. The email will contain a link to a website, which may be legitimate, but you simply can’t tell. Once your money transfer has gone, you have no way of knowing if the needy recipients have benefited or just the greedy scammers.
What to do?
Only give to organisations who can prove to you they are genuine. Try not to simply click a link in an email when you receive it – navigate to their website yourself or even give money over the telephone.
Turn your computer into a money making machine
How do I know?
If it sounds too good to be true – invariably it is! Some schemes offer to take advantage of your computers untapped resources to make money. A simple link to your PayPal account, which they promise will be filled with easy-to-earn money.
What to do?
Install Malware on your computer. This scam opens multiple windows on your machine making money through pay-per-click advertising. Once you’ve been suckered these scams are really hard to escape – stay vigilant and remember – if it seems too good to be true it normally is!
Nigerian scams
How do I know?
In exchange for a large cut of a family estate, helping a Nigerian prince out of a sticky spot is an age-old scam. Known originally as the ‘Spanish Prisoner Con’ the complexity of transferring money abroad can suck the vulnerable in above their heads very quickly.
What to do?
Stick to what you know and who you know. The exotic nature of this scam makes it alluring – but save your money for helping out your real friends.
Greeting card scams
How do I know?
We’ve all been there. Forgotten a close friend’s birthday and ‘ping!’ Facebook reminds us of our oversight. A quick browse online and an e-greeting is dispatched. All is forgiven. On the receiving end we trust the dodgy looking email at the mention of a friends name – in truth they’ve been duped into emailing us some spyware. Click the link to see the cheesy greeting and unbeknown to us we are downloading a dodgy app in a rosy, birthday glow. Our friend has gifted us annoying pop-ups from here on in.
What to do?
Most Malware is not hard to remove – but it can be very, very annoying. Avoid downloading it the first place by NEVER clicking the link in anyone’s email – no matter how well we know them – just write a brief thank you note and move on.
Romance scams
How do I know?
Even the brightest of people become vulnerable when it comes to matters of the heart. Male scammers are often located in West Africa, while the female scammers are mostly from the eastern parts of Europe. Trust your spidey-senses if you are getting amorous online. When the tone changes from friendly to frantic, that’s when the sting hits and you are being asked to send over money.
What to do?
True love feels different for everyone. Asking for proof and evidence may feel like you’re putting a dampener on things, but if you really are in it for the long term you need to be sure before you send anything. Try to keep the conversations on the dating site if you can and as a general rule never, never send money to online strangers.
Tech support scams
How do I know?
What looks at first glance like a genuine Microsoft support call, is more likely to be an elaborate scam to get hold of your passwords and use them to get money from you. Quite often these types of scam will want to call you and speak with you. By developing a relationship of trust over the phone, you risk being suckered in to giving away vital info – even if it is just in conversation.
What to do?
If you have a genuine problem with your computer then research a fix for yourself and follow where your research leads you. Don’t rely on the word of a cold caller or unsolicited screen pop-ups.
Auction and personal ad scams
How do I know?
Selling online is an easy way to get rid of things you don’t need and pocket a few extra quid. Beware of anyone who purchases your stuff the minute it comes up for sale – especially if they offer you the full, or even over, the asking price in exchange for a cheque.
What to do?
Wait until you have evidence of the money in your account before releasing any goods. Banking a cheque isn’t enough, it won’t clear for a couple of days and you’ll be left out of pocket if it bounces.
Phishing
How do I know?
The number one email scam. I bet if you looked in your inbox right now you would see at least one phishing email. The scammer fakes an email to look like a legitimate company asking you to verify something on your account. The minute you click the link you are taken to a very realistic fake website and asked to enter your details. Voila! The scammer has now got your ID to use elsewhere.
Make sure any website you enter your details into has https:// before the address. A missing ‘s’ means the site is not secure or a mis-spelling anywhere in the address could also give away the scammer.