What to know about online Scammers and how to stay safe

With the use of the internet on the increase, so too internet fraud is increasing. Many have fallen victim to fraudsters online. Anyone can be a victim but everyone cannot be a victim. You can protect yourself from internet scams.

Online scammers can hit their victims in different subtle ways. With the use of social networking and dating sites, many have fallen prey to scammers. An Australia woman, age 56, started an online romance with a man whom she thought was a British engineer. She later realized he was a 27-year old Nigerian after she has paid out $47,000.

The above case is only the few among the numerous cases of how people fall victim to scammers online.

There are ways criminals carry their acts online. They use email to contact people. This kind of email is referred to as phishing email. When you respond to such email, you may unknowingly be granting the criminal access to your personal details such as credit cards, password or bank information. Some of these phishing emails can contain spy software which record your computer activity.

Apart from emails, clicking on some links on social networking sites can compromise your internet security. Scammers used adult content as bait, they may tell you to click on a link to view such content. When you do, they get access to your password or computer. If they gain access, they can commit so many havoc.

How Can You Protect Yourself?

Beware of messages or emails that offer incentives to click on links, they can contain trojan horse (a program designed to breach the security of computer while seemingly performing some harmless function).

Many sites, for example, dating and pornographic sites are created by criminals with the intention of stealing vital information from people. Therefore be wise when registering and entering your private details online.

It is common to find pop-ups on your computer with the message: "Your computer is a risk, click here to protect your computer" or "Click here to increase your computer speed". Some of these messages contain spy software.

Therefore always make sure your computer operating system, applications, and antivirus software are regularly updated. Make sure your computer firewall is always turn on.

These days, people do business online without having to meet their clients face-to-face. While some of such business dealings have gone well, others have resulted in scams. You can prevent been a victim by doing business with only people and organization with known good reputation.

Majority of those who fallen victim to con men is because of greed and extreme love for money, while others is as a result of desperation to make quick money online.

Everyone look so innocent online but with caution you can avoid been a victim to online scammers.