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- Scammers prey on those searching for love connections, frequently through dating websites, apps, or social media, by posing as potential mates. They use emotional cues to persuade you to donate money, gifts, or personal information.
- Scammers generally build bogus internet personas to entice you. They may use a fictitious identity or impersonate actual, trustworthy individuals such as military officers, relief workers, or professionals operating overseas.
- Scammers will occasionally inform you about a significant sum of money or gold that they need to transport out of their nation and give you a portion of it.

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-       Scammers generally contact victims over the phone to gain access to their computers and take their money in remote access scams (also known as technical support scams). ( According to ACSC)

-       In a remote access scam, a con artist tries to persuade you to grant them remote control over your computer, allowing them to defraud you of money and steal your personal information.

-       Remote access scam : + Phishing Scam/ Impersonation scam (a type of social engineering intended to persuade customers to submit sensitive information such as login credentials or credit card numbers. It can also be sent via SMS (smishing) and voice phone calls (vishing)

-       + Online Dating ( Scammers prey on those looking for love connections, frequently through dating websites, apps, or social media, by posing as potential partners )

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- Detect a fake profile by picking up signs such as: The profile is incomplete or only have one perfect photo. (Faze Staff, 2021)

- Use supporting tools as a way to detect and avoid fake online profiles.

- Stay alert and watch for such online scammers' approach, as they could attempt to gain trust or ask for your personal information. (Gerencer, 2021)

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Remote access scam:

- Turn off "auto-opening when the computers are on" mode of remote access applications.
- Do not give personal information like passwords, OTP..., especially related to banking information to strangers.
- Check the credibility of remote access software before use.
- When withdrawing money at the ATM, be alert to fake screen or keyboard.

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Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

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Remote access scams try to convince you that you have a computer or internet problem and that you need to buy new software to fix the problem.

How this scam works

The scammer will phone you and pretend to be a staff member from a large telecommunications or computer company, such as Telstra, the NBN or Microsoft. Alternatively they may claim to be from a technical support service provider.

They will tell you that your computer has been sending error messages or that it has a virus. They may mention problems with your internet connection or your phone line and say this has affected your computer's recent performance. They may claim that your broadband connection has been hacked.

The caller will request remote access to your computer to 'find out what the problem is'.

The scammer may try to talk you into buying unnecessary software or a service to 'fix' the computer, or they may ask you for your personal details and your bank or credit card details.

The scammer may initially sound professional and knowledgeable-however they will be very persistent and may become abusive if you don't do what they ask.

You don't have to be a Telstra or Microsoft customer to be called by these scammers. You don't even have to own a computer!

Warning signs

You receive a phone call out of the blue and the caller claims to be from a large telecommunications or computer company, or a technical support service provider.

They tell you that your computer is experiencing technical problems and they need remote access to sort out the problem.

They ask you to buy software or sign up to a service to fix the computer.

They ask for your personal details and your bank or credit card details.

The caller is very persistent and may become abusive.

Protect yourself

Never give an unsolicited caller remote access to your computer.

Never give your personal, credit card or online account details over the phone unless you made the call and the phone number came from a trusted source.

If you receive a phone call out of the blue about your computer and remote access is requested - hang up - even if they mention a well-known company such as Telstra. Telstra does not request credit card details over the phone to fix computer or telephone problems, and is not affiliated with any companies that do.
See:Is it really Telstra contacting you?

Remember that you can still receive scam calls even if you have a private number or have listed your number on the Australian Government's Do Not Call Register. Scammers can obtain your number fraudulently.

Make sure your computer is protected with regularly updated anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a good firewall. Research first and only purchase software from a source that you know and trust.

If you have fallen victim to a scam or you receive a lot of unsolicited emails and phone calls consider changing your email address and phone numbers.

Have you been scammed?

If you have given remote access to your computer, or you fear that your computer has been hacked, seek help or advice from a qualified and reputable computer technician.

If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.

We encourage you to report scams to the ACCC via the report a scam page. This helps us to warn people about current scams, monitor trends and disrupt scams where possible.

We also provide guidance on protecting yourself from scams and where to get help.

Spread the word to your friends and family to protect them.

More information

Identity theft is a type of fraud that involves using someone else's identity to steal money or gain other benefits.

Scammers create SMS competitions or trivia scams to trick you into paying extremely high call or text rates when replying to an unsolicited text message on your mobile or smart phone.

Malware tricks you into installing software that allows scammers to access your files and track what you are doing, while ransomware demands payment to 'unlock' your computer or files.

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Remote access scams try to convince you that you have a computer or internet problem and that you need to buy new software to fix the problem. The scammer will phone you and pretend to be a staff member from a large telecommunications or computer company, such as Telstra, the NBN or Microsoft.

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https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/tech-takes/how-to-tell-if-someone-is-scamming-you-online

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Online scams affect 1 in 10 U.S. adults per year. The money lost to cyber scams is also rising drastically as scammers get more inventive, coming up with new and more effective ways to trick you into giving them your money. Arming yourself with knowledge of their current tactics is the best way to make sure you don't get scammed.

In this article, you'll learn how to tell if someone is scamming you online, including tips for spotting online shopping scams, overpayment, phishing, ecommerce, online retail, and romance scams. We'll start with a quick list of the most common internet scams and how to identify them. After the list, you'll get solid info on how to avoid falling for a scam.

The good news is, if you take a few simple steps to recognize new scams and protect yourself, it's easy to stay safe. Here's how to defend yourself against this exponentially increasing internet crime wave.

Common online scam signs

You can learn to recognize an online scam much faster if you can spot its key features. Every scam we looked at has a few standout characteristics in common.

1. Tries to gain trust

An online scam will often try to gain your trust in some way. It may pretend to be from a respected source such as the government, a business you like, your employer, or a family member. When you receive an email from your bank, Amazon, PayPal, a family member, or another trusted source, take some time to verify the identity before you reply.

Often, it's better to do a Google search for the company or entity's contact info than it is to click a link or call a number in a text or email. This simple step will protect you from most online phishing or catfish scams.

2. Emotional

Act now or the IRS will place a lien against your home. Or the water company will shut your water off. Or your Amazon account was hacked and you need to log in right away or risk massive problems. These are all common online scam examples, as is an email from your bank saying someone logged in using your credentials.

You log in to fix the problem - but to a fraud site that skims your password. Now you really are hacked. Since strong emotion causes fast action, online scams will often try to create fear, anger, or excitement. "Your PayPal account has been suspended" is a powerful message that can make scam victims look before they leap.

If you receive a text or email saying your account is suspended, you're wanted in connection with a crime, or your phone is about to be disconnected, close the text or email, find the correct contact info online, and reach out to verify the claim before you act.

3. Asks for action

Online scammers frequently ask you to call a number, click a link, or log in to an account. The trouble is, you're not logging into a legitimate portal, but instead, you're sharing your login info with the scammer through a counterfeit web page or form.

Never take action requested through an email or text message. Take your own action instead. Most often, this means exiting the text or email and finding the appropriate website and contact info online.

4. Unexpected contact

When someone contacts you unexpectedly, it's often a sign you're being scammed. If you receive an SMS, email, phone call, or even a paper letter that you didn't expect, proceed with caution, even if the message seems innocent.

5. Asks for personal info

If you receive a request for personal info on the phone, by email, or by text, treat it with caution. One simple rule of thumb is: did you initiate the contact or did they?

Never share personal information like your social security number, password, or PIN with anyone who contacts you (vs you contacting them first). Social security scams are rampant in the U.S., costing taxpayers billions per year.

6. Overpays you

One of the most common scams online involves overpaying for something, then asking for money back. For example, in one overpayment scam, you win a cash prize or get paid in advance for a project for your business.

But whoops - the customer or business made a mistake and paid you too much. They ask for the balance back (maybe they paid you $2,200 and meant to pay only $2,000). Would you please send the extra $200 back? The trouble is, the check they sent was bogus. Now you've sent $200 in real money and you're left holding $2,200 in fake money.

7. Promises something

If someone promises something that sounds too good to be true, and you don't know them, it's most likely bogus. For instance, they buy something you're selling on Facebook Marketplace at twice the asking price, or they offer something you really want.

It's a dream come true, but of the nightmare variety. Once they get you to take action, like giving away personal information such as an email address or refunding fake money they paid you, you're out of luck.

8. Wire transfer request

Any time someone asks you to transfer money by wire, watch out. Wire transfers are untraceable, and once they pick up the money on the other end, it's gone.

With a credit card payment, you have 60 days to dispute a fraudulent charge, and you can still get your money back. (That's per the Federal Trade Commission's Fair Credit Billing Act.) Many credit card companies extend this by another month for a total of 90 days.

In short: avoid wire transfers whenever possible.

9. Pretends to be a family member

But cousin Pete is in trouble! Pretending to be a family member in danger is one of the oldest tricks in the online book. You may get a Facebook message from an aunt, saying she's trapped in Costa Rica because she was robbed and needs you to wire money right away.

But after you wire the money, you learn she's at home watching The Handmaid's Tale, and someone swiped her photos, set up a fake Facebook profile, and potentially swindled you.

10. Offers something you want

Cheap silver, stock in Tesla at 50% below book value, or a pontoon boat in great condition selling for thousands less than it should? These all sound like you should act fast, but that "act fast" element should make you pump the brakes.

Con artists online often dangle shiny bait, then get you to send money. But sometimes it's not money they're after. They may just want your phone number or other personal info, so they can sell it to interested parties.

11. Pretends to be a business or the government

AT&T free message: your bill is paid. Thank you. Here's a gift - click this link! Then you click the link, log in, and the online scammers have your login info. If you receive a message about online shopping, account status, investments, failed package delivery, or a prize you won, slow down, verify it independently, and save yourself a lot of trouble and expense.

12. Masquerades as your employer

Some online scams don't attack you, but your employer. Those scammers may pretend to be your boss, IT department, or other professional authority. The scammer's goal is to get you to send sensitive info they can use to access business systems or introduce a virus. One method of scamming money online is to post fake job listings by posing as an employer.

13. Romance scams

Romance scams start with a fake social media or dating site account. The victim chats with the scammer and develops strong feelings. Then the scammer asks for money and, once they get it, quickly vanishes.

According to the FTC, more than 25,000 romance scams were reported in 2020 and victims lost a staggering $304 million.

Romance scammers will often say they're in the military, working on an oil rig, or working internationally. They'll ask for money for travel, surgery, customs fees, or financial help in times of trouble. To protect yourself, conduct a reverse image search to see if your new love's photo was skimmed from another account.

How to protect yourself against scams

As tricky and brilliant as online scams are, it's easy to protect yourself. Take the steps below to thwart most email, text, or phone scams.

Look for signs of fakery like misspelled words or poor grammar. Legitimate organizations pay attention to these details.

Don't click links in emails or texts.

Don't log into an account from an email or text.

Don't call a number from an email. Look it up instead.

Secure your online accounts using two-factor authentication and a secure connection.

Pay by credit or debit card. They have protections built-in to get your money back.

Summary

As online scammers get smarter, they cheat innocent internet users out of an ever larger slice of the financial pie. But it's not hard to defend yourself against online scams. The trick is to be cautious with anyone who approaches you. Don't ever give out information or pay money - even as a refund - unless you can independently verify the source.
About the Author: Tom Gerencer is a contributing writer for HP Tech Takes. Tom is an ASJA journalist, career expert at Zety.com, and a regular contributor to Boys' Life and Scouting magazines. His work is featured in Costco Connection, FastCompany, and many more.

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How To Tell If Someone Is Scamming You Online | HP® Tech Takes

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Online scams affect 1 in 10 U.S. adults per year. The money lost to cyber scams is also rising drastically as scammers get more inventive, coming up with new and more effective ways to trick you into giving them your money.

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https://faze.ca/tips-to-avoid-fake-profiles-on-dating-websites/

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Online dating platforms have eased the way people looking to get partners without going out there to search. Also, it has enabled millions of people to find meaningful and long-lasting relationships. Unfortunately, online dating scammers join these platforms to deceive other people. Luckily, this write-up will show you how to avoid fake profiles on online dating platforms.

1. Use Of Profile Power Words

When it comes to online dating, the keywords to avoid are Catholic, Ph.D., windowed, Nigeria, royalty, and self-employed since they are found on most fake online profiles. Online dating scammers want to catch your attention, so they use photos or words that will spark your interest. They create profiles having specific people in mind that they are targeting to get better results.

Therefore, if you come across a profile emphasizing these words, it most probably belongs to a scammer. Although you can find genuine profiles using these keywords, consider it a red flag. So, rather than disregarding the profile immediately, do some research to see whether any other signs show it is a fake profile.

Even though there are scammers on dating sites, do not allow the fear of the unknown to prevent you from finding your soul mate. So, research more about the dating site you wish to join before registering with them. If you like dating black people, then search for dating apps for local black singles on the web and read reviews. These dating experts have researched and tested various dating apps and sites on your behalf. Their review will help you choose a dating platform to fulfill your relationship goals.

2. Incomplete Profiles And One Perfect Photo

A lot of fake profiles are poorly prepared. Although some scammers may have multiple photos, many have one or two pictures. Their profile has minimal information about them. In some cases, they forgo pictures of people and go for animal images.

However, it does not imply that all people with such pictures are scammers. Some value their privacy, and so they share minimal information. However, the scammers purposely share minimal information because they have fabricated their profiles

3. Try Hard Profile Photos

Most online dating scammers upload stolen photos on their online dating profiles. Some even steal multiple images from an individual profile to have pictures to share for different occasions. It also enables them to have options when a victim asks for a photo.

This might fool you, especially if you do not have any idea about online dating. However, you can use Google's reverse image search feature to know whether you are being fooled. This feature can enable you to view every site with the picture on its database. This way, it makes it easy to know whether the image is connected to more than one name or not. Moreover, if it is, chances are it might be stolen.

4. Keep Postponing In-Person Meeting

The main goal of online dating is to get someone you like and get offline as soon as possible. If you meet a partner and they always have an excuse for why you cannot meet, you need to be wary. Either they are not into you, or they are not whom they claim to be, so they want to scam you.

Many scammers try to involve someone who is in a different country. This way, it makes sense since it will take time before you can go for an actual date. After all, it does not make sense why they would be looking for someone outside their country when they cannot afford to get there in the first place.

5. They Send Generic Messages

When it comes to online dating, time is a common denominator. Most scammers avoid spending their time on their messages or profiles. Therefore, most of the time, you will end up receiving a copy-pasted message and only replace the name of the last person they communicated with.

Did the message mention something from your photo or profile? Like a job, interest, or anything. If they did not, then that is a red flag. Also, take note of what happens when you enquire about their life. If they always come up with general things like spending time with friends or movies, then be cautious. Most online dating scammers like putting off information that make them unique.

Just because there are scammers on online dating apps and sites, it does not mean you should be scared. Online dating is one of the fantastic ways to meet people, and if you follow the above tips, you can protect yourself from scammers. Stay safe!

Even More Stories You May Like (courtesy of Google)

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5 Tips To Avoid Fake Profiles On Dating Websites - Faze

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Online dating platforms have eased the way people looking to get partners without going out there to search. Also, it has enabled millions of people to find meaningful and long-lasting relationships. Unfortunately, online dating scammers join these platforms to deceive other people.

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https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/dating-romance

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Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

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Scammers use dating or friendship to get your money. They go to great lengths to convince you the relationship is real and manipulate you to give them money. Romance scammers will leave you broke and broken-hearted.

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https://anydesk.com/en/abuse-prevention

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Criminals are constantly adapting the way they use technology to try and steal money. In this blog, we’ll take a look at how remote access software is used in some of the latest scam trends.

The safe account scam

If you receive a call out of the blue, from someone claiming to be from your bank, law enforcement or an internet provider, and advising that you need to move your money out of your bank account because ‘it’s not safe’, hang up immediately! Fraudsters can use this tactic as a way to convince you to download remote access software in order to ‘help you move your money out safely’.

Once downloaded, they’ll be able to see any login details you enter and could remotely control your device to send funds out of your bank account. Be aware that if you have login information stored anywhere on your device (for example, saved as a note), this could be accessed by the scammer.

They can even present false screens onto your device, making it look like money is leaving your account. In reality, if your bank had concerns about the safety of your account, they would take the necessary steps to secure it for you.

So, what is remote access software?

Remote access applications or software can be downloaded onto your computer, or phone, to allow another person to control your device or view your screen. This type of software is often used legitimately, by individuals who wish to work from a location that’s different to where their main computer is, or by an office’s IT team helping a member of staff fix an issue with their device (when turning it off and then on again doesn’t work!).

Unfortunately, criminals have been seen to use this type of software when attempting to steal innocent victims’ money. Another scam trend is outlined below.

The investment scam

Scammers advertise themselves online as trading experts and offer to help you invest your money into a scheme with high returns. Part of their ‘service’ will include assisting you with setting up your trading account by using remote access software. In doing so, you’re opening a legitimate account at a trading platform, but the scammer can see all the information you use to open the account, including your login information.

Once you have deposited a significant amount of money into the trading platform, the scammer may access the account using your login details and move any funds into other accounts they control.

Top tips to help stay safe

If someone calls you out of the blue, always verify who they are. Remember that phone numbers can be spoofed (made to look like they are coming from a genuine organisation), so call a company back on a trusted number you find yourself on their website. Or call 159 to contact your bank directly

Keep calm. Scammers will try to pressure you into making decisions quickly. Speak to a trusted family member or friend first, if someone you don’t know is asking you to move money or download software to your phone or computer

Never share your passwords or login information with other people

Anyone offering financial advice should be FCA regulated - check the FCA register

A genuine organisation will never ask you to download a remote access app or software to assist you with financial matters. In fact, it may go against the terms and conditions of your bank to allow a third party access to your account

Not only are these scams ways of stealing money, they’re also how criminals obtain personal information about an individual. See our blog on identity theft for information on what the scammers can do with your data.

If you think you might have given a criminal access to your device, we recommend the following:

Uninstall the software or app immediately

Change any passwords that may have been seen by the criminal

Contact your bank to advise them that it’s possible your banking information may be compromised

Keep an eye on your credit report to ensure your information isn’t being used to take out any credit in your name. You can also sign up to protective registration from CIFAS as an extra precaution

Report the incident to Action Fraud (or Police Scotland)

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How to avoid remote access scams - Starling Bank

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Fraudsters may try to download applications or software onto your computer, or phone, to control your device. Here's what you can do to help protect yourself.

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If you have doubts about any caller who says they represent a business or organisation, hang up and call the business back using contact details from an independent source. Find their number using the phone book or the official company website. Don’t trust contact details given to you by the caller.

What to look out for

There are several types of this scam but they tend to follow a similar pattern, like these examples:

Someone calls you saying they're from a well known business or organisation. Organisations often used for this type of scam include Microsoft, NBN and Telstra.

The caller says there is something wrong with your computer or internet connection. They may say your computer is infected with malware (software designed to harm your computer or files) or that it has been compromised in some other way.

They will probably use technical language to scare or intimidate you into following their instructions.

The caller convinces you to install an application or give them access (called remote access) to your computer.

Once they have access to your computer, the caller may say they have confirmed the problem and ask you to pay a fee to fix it.

Why are these scams effective?

Scammers play on people’s fears to illegally obtain money by deception. These scams are particularly dangerous because after scammers steal their victim’s money they can continue to access the victim’s computer and cause more harm. They can install malware, such as keyloggers which record and 'log' each key you press. Malware like keyloggers may be used to capture confidential information such as login or banking details.

Variations on this scam

There are different types of this scam, for example:

You are prompted to call the scammer. You may see a pop-up notice on your computer reporting a problem and telling you to contact a 1800 number for technical support. When you call the number, the scammer convinces you to allow them to remotely access your computer. When the scammer has access to your computer, they will usually tell you there’s a serious problem they can fix for a fee.

A scammer will call you about a bank payment or some other problem. In one scam, they'll say they're having problems processing a payment on your credit card. They quote the first six digits of a credit card issued by an Australian bank, then ask you to provide the rest of the number.

Note: The first six digits of a credit card are known as the BIN (Bank Identification Number) and are used to identify the bank or credit union. These numbers are publicly available but can be used by scammers to appear more authentic and convince victims to reveal the rest of their credit card details.

Tips to protect yourself

Take the following steps to avoid becoming a victim:

Remember, everyone can be targeted. Scammers can obtain your phone number fraudulently or from anywhere it has been publicly listed (such as in a phone book). Remember you can still receive scam calls even if you have a private number or have listed your number on the Australian Government’s Do Not Call Register.

Undertake software updates. Always keep your computer up-to-date with the latest software updates, anti-virus software and a good firewall.

Protect your details. Never give your credit card or online account details over the phone unless you made the call and you’re using a phone number from the trusted source like the organisation’s official website. Learn more about protecting your personal information.

Don’t give remote access to a stranger: Never give a stranger remote access to your computer, even if they claim to be from a well known business.

Get help

Go to our Get Help page for steps you can take quickly to protect yourself from further harm, report the scam, or seek assistance if you’ve been the victim of identity theft.

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Remote access scams (also known as technical support scams) usually involve scammers contacting people over the phone to get access to their computers and to steal their money.