Beware Old Scams with a New Twist
The internet may have been a boon for billions of online businesses and users looking for information, but it does prove to be a bane as well. The virtual anonymity that it offers is often misused by swindlers who are on the prowl for innocent web users. Needless to say, online scams are rampant on the World Wide Web! These days even banks warn their customers about digital malpractices and identity thefts and how they can avoid phishing, vishing and smishing attacks. However, while users get smarter and more informed, swindlers and nefarious entities out to make a quick buck keep pulling off new scams on the online space to befool them. Often, these scams are just a new twist to their old tricks, often carried out with so much finesse that even a cautious user may risk falling into their trap. So, how does one beware of scam company?
There can possibly be just one answer to this question – to be proactive in checking the credentials of such scam offers. The first essential step that any online user must take to protect him from identity theft is never to divulge his personal details to any online entity. For example, if you receive an email from your bank asking you to confirm your account details, do not respond immediately. You can always call up your banks’ customer care and enquire why you are being sent such an email. When you have the slightest suspicion, go with your gut feeling and cross-check the origin of such mailers and offers. Selling user databases, replete with contact numbers and email id is not uncommon on the online space. No wonder you receive random calls and emails selling some product or service persistently. However, these are most vulnerable to misuse. So, before you give out your personal information, always ask about the caller and where he/she procured your personal details from. Random emails, on the other hand should always be ignored, blocked and/or marked as Spam.
Do not fall for promotional offers that sound too good to be true. Always be on your guard when it comes to using the digital space. Use the internet sensibly and responsibly and you can surely beware of scam company.
Ways used by a scam company to entice naïve online users
The internet might have a host of tools and resources for a user, but it also comes with its own set of drawbacks. One of the major problems faced by online users is the anonymity of entities they are dealing with, on a regular basis. From random friend requests to ‘claim your prize’ emails, a user is always vulnerable to online scams and nefarious activities that can misuse his or her personal information and even identity. Here are a few ways used by a scam company or business entity to entice naïve internet users:
- Job offers: Believe it or not but there are a good number of fake job portals shooting emails to hundreds of online users daily, promising them of better career opportunities and asking them to subscribe to their services. Users who register themselves at such job portals often divulge their personal information and in most cases, end up paying a good amount of money towards subscription. No brownie points for guessing that the money goes to swindlers and middlemen who are simply on the prowl for such naïve users who fall for their lofty claims.
- Online discounts: There are dozens of companies that send us daily emails about discount offers and sales that will help us save lots of money. Such mails should be taken with a pinch of salt. Their sole motive is to increase their customer database and more often than not, users end up registering themselves on their websites and thus divulging their personal information.
- Surprise money transfers: Think about it logically – why would someone taking his/her last breaths in another corner of the world ‘choose’ you to be the heir of his/her legacy? Obviously, it is a scam mail sent out by hackers and a single reply can cost you your identity – online and offline!
- Add requests of social media platforms: Beware of scam company sending random add requests on FB, LinkedIn and other social media websites, especially if they have nothing to do with your business, interest or professional specialization. You never know how they can intrude your online privacy and misuse your personal details!
Here’s hoping that these tips will keep you away from scam entities on the internet. Do not fall for offers that sound too good to be true, because more often than not, they are just that.
Tips to beware of scam company
The internet is a highly competitive battleground with millions of businesses competing with each other. There are hundreds of others that are just out there to make a quick buck by robbing online users. They can contact you as agents, service providers or even first-hand dealers. But the anonymity of the web makes it impossible to verify their genuine nature with the result that naïve online users often get swindled by these nefarious entities. So how do you steer clear of such fake entities? Here are a few tips that will help you beware of a scam company:
- Cross-check the company’s credentials: before making a transaction, do a little research to find out if the company you are about to deal with is genuine. Look up on Google and other search engines to see its rankings, past clients and business standing.
- Talk to a customer support: it is always a good idea to know about a company by talking to its customer support (if it has one!) and getting all your queries resolved. This will give you a better idea about whether or not you should invest in that company. Any online entity that does not have a robust customer support should raise your doubts.
- Ask other users: if the online company or business entity that you are dealing with has a website, do spare some time to go through its client reviews. You can also visit trade forums and ask whether anybody knows about the company or has dealt with it in the past. First-hand experiences always come handy in determining the authenticity of a business and the quality of its services.
- Do not divulge personal information: if providing a simple email id, your contact information or bank account details will entitle you to win an awesome reward or a great bounty, it is always advisable to stay away from such tempting offers. Do not divulge your personal details at random places.
- Do read the terms and conditions carefully: always read the terms and conditions of an online company so that if things do not work out the way you’d imagined, you are well acquainted with the repercussions. This is just a great way to be self-aware of your rights as a customer and if needed it can be furnished to sue a scam company or to get a refund of your money.
Here’s hoping that these tips will help you beware of scam company and make the most of the many tools and resources that the internet has to offer.
Beware of Scam Company - smartData Enterprises 