Spam and scam emails are abundant these days, to the point where most of us don’t even notice them anymore. Don’t let these digital scams fool you; they can cost you time, money, and sometimes even your identity! Spotting and avoiding digital scams is essential if you want to keep your computer, bank account, and reputation safe from harm. Here are three ways shared by Faisal Abidi of RNF Technologies to spot digital scams that you should never fall victim to again!
1) Is it spam?
If it’s hard to unsubscribe from an email, or if it just doesn’t make sense that they would contact you in any way, shape or form then you can bet your bottom dollar that it’s spam. Spammers are constantly changing their tricks, so often it takes some trial and error to learn what works and what doesn’t.
2) Does it look too good to be true?
If an email sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you’re being offered millions of dollars with little more than a few mouse clicks, chances are there’s something fishy going on. At best, you may find yourself on some sort of probationary list that charges you for access to information or opportunities that will never materialize; at worst, your identity could be stolen or worse.
3) Do your research
Most often, digital scams are simply an attempt to collect personal information—your credit card numbers, your Social Security number. Don’t fall for it. If you get an email that says you’ve won something, and all you have to do is send them some money via Western Union or MoneyGram, don’t open that email! It’s probably spam and a fraud
