With scams on the rise, and billions of dollars being stolen you need to protect yourself. Don’t become a victim, learn our Top 5 Ways To Avoid A Scam.
- Be aware, be alert.
Scammers are always on the lookout for ways to get money from people or businesses. When dealing with people or businesses who contact you over the phone, email, or on social networking sites, always be aware of the possibility that it might be a scam. To keep yourself safe on social media, review your security and privacy settings. If you use sites such as Facebook, make sure that you’re careful who you connect with. If you see suspicious activity or have been a victim of fraud, report it immediately.
- Confirm the identity of whoever you are talking to.
Before you start dealing with a person or business, make sure that you thoroughly research the legitimacy of the company or organization you’re dealing with. Doing so can help you identify if the person or organization you’re dealing with is legitimate. If an email or message from a friend seems out of character or unusual, you should contact them directly to confirm that it really came from them.
- Be careful what you click.
Follow these steps to avoid getting a scam: Never open suspicious attachments or text messages, and do not click on links or open pop-up windows in emails. If you’re unsure about the identity of the person or organization you’re dealing with, try conducting a search online or through a phone book.
Never provide your personal information or send money or credit card details to anyone you don’t trust. Also, don’t send money or provide your personal documents to anyone over the phone or through email. Doing so can allow money laundering.
Never give in to a scam when it comes to making a payment request, especially when it comes to unusual methods of payment. Scammers often ask you to use gift cards, iTunes cards, or virtual currencies such as Bitcoin.
When it comes to shopping online, always be careful of offers that seem too enticing to be true. Also, be aware that virtual currencies, such as Bitcoin, have very different protections from other methods of payment. These virtual currencies can’t be used to get your money back.
- Don’t allow remote access to your computer or device.
Never respond to a phone call that asks for remote access to your computer, even if it’s from a company that’s well-known such as Australia’s telecommunications company, TELSTRA. Scammers often ask you to install a virus or fix a problem in order to get your personal information. Never share your mobile devices or computers with other people.
- Change passwords regularly.
Keep your personal information secure by storing it in a secure place, such as a lock on your mailbox. Also, make sure that you keep all of your social media accounts and passwords in a safe place. Scammers can use your photos and information to create fake identities or trick you into giving them money. Make sure that you have a strong password that is difficult to guess and is used for multiple accounts. Also, don’t use the same password for all of your accounts, as sharing it with anyone could allow unauthorized access. Make sure that you have a strong password for your WiFi network. This will prevent unauthorized access to your online banking or other sensitive information.
Down Under Investigations operate Australia-wide, with a network of agents to ensure your matter is handled professionally, quickly and at a very reasonable rate. Please contact us for more information.