As years go by, online scams only get more and more sophisticated. As people become more tech-savvy, cybercriminals have to work harder to manipulate your money or personal data from you. Therefore, it’s important to stay vigilant and keep yourself educated on the way scams evolve through time. Keeping up-to-date with scam trends and the ways you can stay protected online is the smartest way to keep yourself safe. Here are all the things you should be looking out for in 2023, alongside the changes you should make to keep yourself from online scams.
Use Multiple Passwords
A few years ago, one really intricate password might have kept you safe. Now, that is not the case. Scammers have software which can crack passwords, and once they have cracked your password they will be to access all of your online accounts if you use the same password for everything. Making sure your passwords are different for each of your accounts will protect you in the event one of your accounts is compromised. This is important to mitigate the amount of damage done in case you are a victim of a cyber attack.
Be Vigilant About Protecting Your Identity
Masking your identity and making sure that your information can’t be exploited is a key part of cyber security. Using computer programmes like a VPN (virtual private network) is a really good way to make sure that you’re location and private information can’t be seen when you’re using the internet. This is especially important if you’re using a lot of public wifi, such as in cafes or on public transport. This stops hackers from being able to use your information for their scams.
Use Two-Factor Authentication Where Possible
If a business you’re using offers 2-Factor Authentication, it’s always a good idea to take them up on the offer. 2-Factor Authentication means that you will need two separate ways to log into one of your online accounts, such as both your password and a code that will be sent to your phone every time you want to log in. Although it can be somewhat time-consuming to prove your identity, it can stop a hacker from accessing your accounts. It’s one of the best methods for preventing scam attacks in 2023.
Phone Scams
A major trend in scams from the past few years has been mobile phone scams. People are often called by a scammer pretending to be a business, often claiming that something has gone wrong with their bank account or something similar. The person will then be tricked into transferring money ‘for safety’ that they won’t see again. Sometimes there doesn’t need to be another person at the end of the line- robocalls and text scams have gotten way more popular recently. Always being vigilant with the communications to your phone is paramount when it comes to avoiding these scams.
Cryptocurrency Scams
Many people are now investing in cryptocurrency– it has been one of the most revolutionary concepts in the online world. However, many people are getting scammed because of a lack of awareness surrounding cryptocurrency. Crypto scams often include fake prizes, contests, giveaways and false opportunities. Bots then drain a person’s crypto wallet, meaning they lose out on a lot of money. Being aware of these scams if you’re considering investing in crypto is one of the best ways you can keep yourself safe. This is incredibly important when you’re looking at investing your time and money in cryptocurrency.
Scrutinise Your Outgoings
One of the best ways to make sure that you’re not being scammed without your knowledge is to make sure that you’re checking your bank outgoings carefully. Sometimes scammers get away with your money by only scamming you for small amounts that go unnoticed over a large amount of time. By making sure you’re checking your bank statements and online banking carefully, you will be able to scrutinise what’s coming out of your account much more closely. This way you can stay on top of your bank accounts and make sure that you aren’t being scammed unknowingly.
Know Who You’re Talking To
One of the worst and most prevalent types of scams in recent years has been scams where someone has pretended to be someone they aren’t, for example, romance scams have become incredibly widespread. Romance scams are where someone will pretend to enter a long-distance relationship over the internet and slowly extort money from a person who is especially vulnerable to this sort of scam. Apparently, in 2021, over 500 million dollars was stolen because of romance scams. Sometimes, text scams where a text claims to be from a child or spouse who has lost a phone. Before sending money to someone, make sure you actually verify their identity. This way you will prevent scammers pretending to be someone close to you from taking your money.
Backup Your Data
Businesses have been backing up their vital data for years now, and it’s time you do too. This way if you fall victim to a phishing attack, your important documents aren’t lost. Things such as your personal financial plans, taxes, and any other important documents that you keep on your personal computer could be at risk from ransomware and other viruses. If you accidentally download a virus onto your computer, it could delete or hold your data for ransom. Backing it up to a digital cloud or pen drive can protect you in case the worst happens.
Be Aware Of Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks have been carried out against people and businesses for many years now, however, they are only getting more sophisticated. Phishing is often done through emails, phone calls, or texts and they involve trying to get someone to click on a bad hyperlink which will lead to them downloading malware or having their details stolen. There are many ways you can spot a phishing attempt, such as looking carefully at the logo, email address, and website the correspondence has come from- there will probably be minor errors that allow you to know whether the source is legitimate. Furthermore, some people are more likely to experience phishing attempts because of their cyber security plan- however, conducting a vulnerability assessment can make you know where you need to improve to prevent these attacks.
To keep yourself safe from scams in 2023 you will need to become more vigilant and educated about the ways scammers are improving their schemes. By keeping on top of this, you will be able to protect yourself or your business much better when using the internet.