Scammers may be “innovative” in their methods and employ a wide variety of techniques to gain access to victims’ minds and devices, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself. I won’t encourage you to give up on-line dating or even interacting with strangers online, but I will explain how to recognize and steer clear of potential danger zones. This article focuses on online frauds, particularly phone scams in the year 2023.
Common Threats in 2023 via Internet and Phone
While online dating and cryptocurrency scams attract the most attention, there are many other forms of online trust breaching as well. Phishing, online shopping frauds, and social engineering are just a few examples of these techniques. Typical procedures and warning indications for each are outlined below.
1. Crypto-based fraud
Since 2020, this has been one of the most widespread scams, and it shows no signs of stopping by 2023. While it’s true that crypto in its current form isn’t a hoax, it’s also common knowledge that not even the Wright Brothers intended their airplanes to be used for malignant purposes. These cons are tough because they only benefit some customers while leaving the rest of them abandoned.
Cryptocurrency-related phishing schemes
The “pump and dump” schemes are the first and most popular type of crypto fraud, especially for new coins. In this case, a new coin will attract many individuals by rewarding a small group of people (often marketers) and allowing them to demonstrate their impressive financial gains. They would wait until they had enough individuals to acquire the coin, then dump a lot of their shares on the market.
When this happens, the coin becomes worthless to anyone who purchased it. Cons spread (through marketers) false information and make coordinated buys to drive up the value of obscure cryptocurrencies. Because of this, the price goes up, bringing in more naive buyers. Those that bought in during the “pump” will suffer big losses when the scam artists begin selling their assets at a much lower price.
Fake Initial Coin Offerings
Like the pump and dump scheme, phony Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) are rampant in the crypto fraud industry. Fraudsters promote investment opportunities in new cryptocurrencies by promoting ICOs that do not exist. Con artists convince victims to part with their money, but they have no intention of fulfilling their promises. The phony ICO disappears after collecting a sizable amount of money, taking with it the investors’ funds.
Stealing cryptocurrency via spam
Cryptocurrency phishing tactics seem quite like those of legitimate cryptocurrency services, such as wallet providers or exchanges. Scammers attempt to get unauthorized access to victims’ cryptocurrency funds by convincing them to reveal their private keys or login credentials.
Customers may be fooled because fraud sites usually utilize similar branding, design, and language to those of legitimate ones. Credible-looking phishing websites are used by con artists to deceive victims into giving up personal information like passwords and secret keys.
Sophisticated con artists may install malware on their victims’ computers, such as trojans or keyloggers, to steal sensitive information. By using this information, con artists can steal from their victims by accessing their Bitcoin wallets and transferring the funds to their own accounts.
2. Conspiracy Theories Concerning Phishing
Criminals utilize deceptive techniques called “phishing schemes” to get personal information from unsuspecting victims.
Con artists using this tactic typically pose as legitimate companies or financial organizations to attempt to trick their targets into giving over sensitive information by email or text message. To get their targets to respond quickly and disclose private information, they instill in them a false sense of urgency or significance.
Once victims fall for deception and reveal their private details, the perpetrators can carry out a wide range of malicious actions. They could utilize the data for identity theft, account takeovers, illegal dealings, or other fraudulent activities that cause distress and financial losses.
3. Infidelity Scams
Almost everyone has talked to a con artist before, and if they are obvious about it, you will recognize the conversation immediately as a fraud. On the other hand, some construct arguments and convincing mental pictures that could convince a human being.
Con artists target their victims through online dating services like Tinder and Scruff, where they slowly cultivate romantic feelings. They use emotional manipulation and play on the victims’ weaknesses to get them to make donations or reveal sensitive financial information.
Con artists set the stage for their scam by creating believable accounts using stolen photos and false details. They present themselves as charismatic heroes with fascinating back stories. Sometimes the scam artist will claim to be experiencing financial hardships or an emergency. They can fabricate a legal problem, a job loss, or a medical emergency. They generate compassion and a desire to help the victims by creating an atmosphere of urgency and hopelessness. At this point, they begin requesting financial information or money from their victims.
4. Inducement of Conformity
Scammers use social engineering or psychology to achieve their false ends. Cons via the phone or the internet. Psychological manipulation and playing on victims’ sense of trust are central to many scams.
Social engineering typically takes the form of con artists pretending to be well-meaning friends or family members in need of assistance. They might get in touch with you or send you a message saying they need money quickly for an emergency. Social engineering scams are effective because they build up a victim’s trust and play on their emotions. Scammers may research their victims on social media or other internet platforms to give the impression that they are actually them. The victim is unable to think clearly or verify the veracity of the incident because of this.
5. Fake Online Stores
Fake online marketplaces that trick customers into paying for fake goods are another common tactic used by con artists. Customers may have difficulty spotting scammers on these websites since they look and function similarly to legitimate ones.
They lure in clients with seemingly irresistible deals or products that are quite hard to come by. The buyer pays for an item but never receives it, and the con artist disappears with the cash.
They make up profiles, complete with high review scores and positive comments, to gain a following and reputation. Con artists prey on unsuspecting customers who do business with them because they appear to be dealing with a legitimate business.
Reasons Why Some Victims Don’t Recognize a Scam
The victims of scams are not stupid, and neither are the con artists who target them. Someone who could typically recognize con artists was recently fooled by one with more savvy. It’s important to be less emotional and desperate around online people and when listening to “motivational” speakers in the “get rich quick” section of the internet because no one is flawless.
They’re experts at gaslighting you into thinking that you can’t get rich unless you join their “telegram channel” of already-wealthy individuals. Being pessimistic helps in this situation because it forces you to lay out the worst-case possibilities, no matter how outlandish they may seem.
Although there is no way to become an expert on everything, we can learn from past mistakes and identify the most common reasons why people fall for internet frauds. Emotional manipulations, ignorance, cognitive bias, pressure, easy trust, and a lack of financial literacy are the most common.
Manipulation of Emotions
Scammers usually target persons who are emotionally vulnerable due to factors such as isolation, hopelessness, or fear. Cons exploit victims’ vulnerabilities by appealing to their sense of urgency or their desire to feel loved or safe. When people’s emotions are running high, they may be easier to manipulate.
Economic ignorance
Complex investment schemes or financial transactions are frequent elements of fraud. Telegram is widely used in Bitcoin and Ponzi scams, and unsuspecting victims can fall for this trap if they aren’t careful.
People who aren’t financially savvy or well-informed may be easy prey for scammers. Scammers take advantage of people’s lack of financial knowledge by using vague language, promising impossible returns, or presenting fraudulent investment options that appear legitimate.
Simple Confidence
Two or three people telling you something and getting rich off of it doesn’t make it true. They’ll even show you transaction records as proof that they withdrew the money. Take note of this. They’re just salespeople being effective at what they do.
Is this a real deal, or not? That story is still a scam, right? And yes, too. In an effort to get more supporters, some people may even opt to get paid for doing nothing. It’s not an investment if you don’t get your money back a few days after making the initial deposit.
They can make their scams look legitimate by using well-known brands, posing as authorities, or mimicking well-established organizations. When victims have faith in the con artist or the information presented, they are more likely to disregard red flags and fall for the scam unwittingly.
Mental Fallacies
Cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias and optimism bias, cloud people’s judgment and lead them to make decisions that reinforce their existing worldviews and objectives. Con artists play on people’s biases by providing information or promises that confirm their existing beliefs or help them achieve their desired outcomes. Because of their biases, people have a harder time evaluating whether or not a scenario is authentic, making them more susceptible to deception.
Pressure
Con artists use trickery to make their victims feel pressured into making a choice before they have fully considered all of their options. They create a feeling of immediacy or provide an irresistible offer that is only available for a limited time. Using gaslighting techniques, they will attempt to make you feel awful and convince you how “poor” you might be if you don’t join them. perfect response? Stop them in their tracks before they can say anything else to make you pause and consider.
Here Are 5 Tips for Staying Safe From Con Artists in 2023
Multiple forms of online and telephone fraud have numerous exit routes. You can either do the polar opposite of the advice given in the preceding section, or you can use the five strategies below to figure out what to do.
1. Think the worst
You should always be suspicious of unknown callers, emails, or messages. You should doubt the veracity of any offers, requests for private information, or urgent demands. Remember that anything that seems questionable or too good to be true probably is. Does investing seem like too much of a risk? Avoid.
You weren’t asked to do much effort but were assured of tremendous payoff. Avoid! If someone gives you their name or identity on a dating app, you should look them up on other platforms, find common friends, and potentially even run a background check. If they start questioning you, ask them why, but if they offer you money, go along with it.
2. Preventing unauthorized access to private information
Take caution before sharing personal information online. Don’t give out sensitive information like bank account details, social security numbers, or passwords on unsecure platforms. No reputable company would ever ask for something like this via junk mail.
The bank will never ask for this information over the phone or Internet. No complete stranger will ever ask you for it online, but if you connect your accounts to sensitive personal data, then it could get into the wrong hands.
3. Using Safe Methods and Programs
Protect Your Devices and Online Accounts with Secure Connections and Tools Avoiding fraud requires users to take precautions. Start by creating robust, one-of-a-kind passwords for each of your accounts, and consider using a password manager to keep them secure. Use two-factor authentication, which asks for a verification code in addition to a password, whenever you can.
When accessing sensitive information online, such as a bank account or password, it’s important to do it via a secure connection. The “https://” prefix in the URL of a website indicates a secure connection. Don’t conduct any financially significant transactions when connected to a public Wi-Fi network. Choose secure connections instead, or add an extra degree of protection with a VPN.
4. Learn the newest methods con artists are using.
Scammers adapt too, learning new techniques from their failed attempts at deceiving others. Online and telephone cons are constantly changing, so you must be flexible. As dating app scams and cryptocurrency scams both update their formats, there are people keeping an eye on the developments. Always be aware of common fraud schemes and contemporary scam techniques. Read up on the latest warnings and information from reputable organizations including government agencies and consumer watchdog groups. Awareness is key in the fight against and detection of fraud.
5. Assurances of Authenticity
Before replying, be sure you can verify the sender’s identity and legitimacy independently. Consult a phone book, the company’s website, or a reliable customer service hotline to get the appropriate contact information. Avoid responding to suspicious communications by clicking on links or calling back numbers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, scammers on the Internet and over the phone remain a danger, but you may protect yourself from them by remaining vigilant and knowledgeable. Maintain a healthy dose of skepticism, confirm the veracity of any potential contacts, guard sensitive data, only use secure connections and software, and keep up with the latest scamming methods. Using these methods, you can feel more secure when exploring the internet and less likely to become a victim of online fraud. Be aware, take precautions, and watch out for your own safety online.
