4 Ways To Avoid Being Scammed
4 Ways To Avoid Being Scammed
It’s more pleasant to think that everyone is as honest as you are, but sadly it’s not the case. People are being scammed all the time, both online and offline and the consequences can be dire. Even if you don’t lose much, knowing you have been scammed is a horrible thought. Being scammed is something you want to avoid at all cost. Here are 4 ways to avoid being scammed. Remember, most people you meet are genuine and honest, and the world is a good place overall, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
1. Always Meet Face To Face
Buying online is easy and something that most people are happy to do. Buying from legitimate sites, ordering goods and paying and then waiting for it to arrive, is completely normal and simple to do.
Buying from other sites such as Gumtree or Craigslist can have its pitfalls. There are fewer regulations, and many scammers use these sites as a way to get money. They will pretend to be selling something, ask for the money upfront, and then disappear.
The key is when dealing with people on these sites to meet face to face. Check the item over before parting with any money and only when you are happy should you pay. A genuine seller won’t have any problems with this.
2. Use An RFID Blocking Wallet
Credit and debit cards in your wallet are vulnerable to attack from scammers and thieves. Using special scanners, they can access your information and thereby clone your card. You won’t even realise anything has happened until you see money leaving your account.
You can buy special RFID blocking wallets which will prevent this from happening. RFID stands for radio frequency identification, and it is actually a useful way to shop for items – in the future it is probably the only way we will be able to buy anything. However, it is also a good way for others to access your money. Buy an RFID wallet and keep your peace of mind.
3. Delete Unsolicited Emails
Scammers are everywhere, and they could even be in your email inbox. If you have received any suspicious looking emails or emails with attachments or links from people you don’t know, delete them straight away. These attachments and links can contain malware which attaches itself to your hard drive and either destroys it or sends information (such as your banking details) back to the originator.
By deleting and ignoring these emails, you can stay safe.
It is always worth having a virus programme on your computer too, to make sure. You can run it at regular intervals and check that nothing untoward has happened with your computer.
4. Only Use Secure Sites
If you are buying online, you need to ensure that the site you are using is secure. Check the beginning of the website address to make sure. You will want to see ‘HTTPS’ rather than ‘HTTP’ right at the start. The ‘s’ stands for secure, and it means that your details will be kept safe.
If there is no ‘S’ present, it doesn’t automatically mean that the site is going to be a threat, but it should give you a reason to pause and think, and consider your options before inputting all your data into the online forms.
