We all like to think that we know how to spot a scam, and while sometimes it’s obvious, there are some lesser-known strategies cybercriminals may use to catch you out. Particularly with AI and other technologies constantly evolving, scams are also becoming more elaborate. If you have a disability, you may be more vulnerable to scams if you rely on online platforms for your everyday tasks, such as banking, supermarket shopping, and other digital services.
To help you recognise the signs and stay protected, here are three lesser-known scams to watch out for.
Remittance scams
A remittance scam, or money transfer scam, usually involves money being fraudulently sent across borders. They are often linked to organized crime, whereby cybercriminals target unsuspecting members of the public to launder money for them. Rather than asking for your bank details (although they can do that too), they’ll usually trick you into thinking you’re paying for a service or distributing money as part of a job role, leaving you at fault for making the fraudulent transaction from your own account.
You can never be too careful when it comes to making transfers online. Always keep your personal information secret and use legitimate remittance providers if you need to send money abroad.
Benefit assistance scams
Benefit assistance scams can be tricky to identify, as they involve criminals adopting the guise of a legitimate government body. If you receive benefits or other financial aid or assistance from the government, you may not immediately assume that these communications are fraudulent. However, even expected letters or emails should be scanned for potential fraud before you open or respond to them.
To protect your money and your identity, it’s best to always contact the relevant authority first – for example, even if you’ve received an email, it’s best to seek out their information separately to confirm it’s legitimate before replying. If in doubt, it’s always best to go straight to the source.
Romance scams
Romance scams involve an individual attempting to build a romantic relationship with you in order to gain your trust so they can then scam you. They’re not always easy to spot – cybercriminals may try to contact you over many months or even years with a false identity. They may eventually ask for money as a favour to help them get out of a sticky situation, or perhaps to fund their travels to meet you in person.
No matter how close you feel to someone or how much you trust them, you should never give away more money than you can afford. Never having met someone in person is a clear indication that you may be being scammed – but it’s important to be wary of people you’ve had face-to-face contact with too.
Keep yourself safe from lesser-known scams
Being scammed can be really scary, and if you’ve been a victim of one, it’s important to remember that it’s not your fault. Cybercriminals are always evolving their tactics, and their technologies are getting more and more sophisticated – so it takes a particularly cautious approach to keep yourself safe.
If you’re ever in doubt or think you’ve been scammed, the first step is to contact your bank so they can freeze your account and look into the transaction. You should also contact the relevant government authorities to report the crime. If you’re worried about being scammed, or think you may have already been scammed, support is available, so don’t be afraid to reach out and tell your story.
Guest author: Gwyneth Tyler.
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