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Avoiding and Reporting Scams

Recognizing these common signs of a scam could help you avoid falling for one.

Find out steps you can take if you were scammed.

Your complaint could help the FTC stop the scammers.

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Recognizing these common signs of a scam could help you avoid falling for one. Find out steps you can take if you were scammed. Your complaint could help the FTC stop the scammers.

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How To Tell if Someone Is Scamming You Online (Examples) | Aura, https://www.aura.com/learn/how-to-tell-if-someone-is-scamming-you-online

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How To Tell if Someone Is Scamming You Online (Real Examples)

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How To Tell if Someone Is Scamming You Online (Real Examples)

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How Do You Know If Someone is Scamming You?

Whether you’re looking for love on an online dating site, shopping on Facebook marketplace, or applying for a job on LinkedIn, there’s always a risk that you’re getting scammed.

But just how bad is it?

Imposter scams — where fraudsters pretend to be someone they’re not — were the second most common type of fraud in 2021. Imposters made off with more than $2.3 billion from more than 1,000,000 Americans, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) [*].

That’s almost double the amount of reported scams from the year before.

It’s not always easy to know if who you’re dealing with online is really who they say they are. In this guide, we’ll cover the most common scams to watch out for, how to recognize and outsmart a scammer, and what to do after you’ve been targeted.

5 Common Ways Scammers Target You Online

1. Romance scams

2. Phishing scams

3. Online shopping scams

4. Crypto scams

5. Social engineering attacks

Online scams range from classics — like the Nigerian Prince offering millions if you help him get money out of the country — to the advanced.

Here are some of the most common online scams to beware of:

1. Romance scams and fake online dating profiles

Romance scams are when criminals create fake profiles on online dating sites or dating apps with the hope of starting a relationship with you. Online dating scams prey on your vulnerabilities to create a quick emotional connection they can profit off. For example, in military romance scams, fraudsters pretend to be stationed far away and unable to meet in person. But that won't stop them from quickly building an online relationships and telling you they love you.

Once a scammer has you “hooked” in an online relationship, they’ll start asking you to send them money, gift cards, or expensive gifts. If you catch on, they’ll delete their accounts and vanish.

2. Phishing emails, texts, calls, and websites

Phishing is a type of cyber attack where fraudsters send unsolicited emails, text messages (called “smishing”), or social media messages claiming to be someone you trust.

The scammer might even impersonate your boss and ask you to send them your log-in information for work.

Image Source: NBC News

Any information you send — like account passwords or credit card numbers —  will go directly to the scammer and can be used to steal your identity. If you click a link, you’ll most likely download malware or ransomware onto your devices.

💡 Related: Phishing Email Examples: 20 Emails That Don’t Look Like It →

3. Online shopping scams

Shopping online isn’t inherently dangerous. But even sellers on major platforms like Amazon can engage in online scams. In one example, a seller pretends to sell luxury goods at a steep discount — usually over social media sites like Instagram or Snapchat (and often using hacked accounts to avoid suspicion.)

But even though you receive a confirmation email and payment is withdrawn from your account, nothing shows up. Or if it does, it’s not what you thought you were paying for.

Related: The 10 Worst Walmart Scams & Fraudulent Schemes of 2022 →

4. Cryptocurrency scams

Plenty of people have become overnight millionaires through investing in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. But cryptocurrency is also rife with scams. Crypto scammers took home a record $14 billion in 2021 alone [*].

Cryptocurrency scams can happen when someone tricks you into giving them access to your online wallet and steals your coins.

In other scams, you might get contacted by someone claiming to have insider information about a new Initial Coin Offering (ICO). But after the initial rise in value, the coin's value plummets, with the scammers getting out at the top. Be especially careful if you regularly use Telegram, as crypto scams have been running rampant on the platform in the past years.

5. Social engineering attacks

Nearly every type of online scam relies on a form of social engineering.

Social engineering attacks occur when scammers take advantage of your emotions to manipulate you into giving up money or sensitive information that can be used for identity theft and fraud.

One of the oldest examples is the Nigerian Prince scam. In this fraud, scammers send an unsolicited message with an emotional plea for help.

If you can help the Prince (or a government official) remove vast sums of money from the country, they’ll reward you with a percentage. All you need to do is wire them money to cover the legal costs or to pay for bribes.

Any message like this is a scam and should always end up in the trash.

How To Spot a Scammer: 10 Warning Signs

1. Use authority to build trust — Online scammers use organizations and names you trust to lower your guard. Beware of anyone who messages you out of the blue and claims to be from the IRS, government, or a major company.

2. Prey on your emotions — Online dating scams are especially notorious for preying on your emotions. A scammer will quickly tell you they’re “falling in love” and get you to say it back. The same goes for charity scams (like veterans charity scams) where fraudsters claim to be victims in need.

3. Create a sense of urgency — Online scammers know they need you to act quickly before you realize what they’re up to. They’ll often create a sense of urgency to stop you from first checking their claims.

4. Be threatening and aggressive — Along with love and urgency, threats are another way online scammers convince you to do what they say. Often, a scammer will pretend to be from the police or FBI and claim that a warrant will be put out for your arrest if you don’t comply.

5. Contact you unexpectedly — One of the easiest ways to spot a scammer is if they contact you first. If you receive any message, phone call, or email from someone you don’t know, verify they are who they say by contacting their agency or business directly.

6. Ask for sensitive information — Scammers will pretend to be from your bank and ask for your PIN or online passwords to “secure” your account. But legitimate financial institutions will never do this.

7. Overpay for goods or services — A common aspect of online shopping scams is if someone offers more than you’re asking for a product. In these cases, they’ll send a fake PayPal receipt and ask for you to wire back the overpayment along with their product.

8. Overpromise on what they can deliver — Scammers use our desire to find a good deal against us. If something or someone seems  “too good to be true”, there’s a good chance they’re trying to scam you.

9. Try to be personal but something is off — Online scammers will pretend to be a friend or family member to quickly gain your trust. But they aren’t. Don’t trust a message just because it comes from an account you recognize.

10. Force you to use unusual payment options — Most online payment options protect against scammers. If someone pushes you to pay them through an untraceable or non-reversible option, it could be a scam. This includes wire transfers, gift cards, and cryptocurrency.

These are the most common characteristics of online scammers. But not every scam is the same. Here’s how to identify a fake online dating scam, phishing message, and online seller (or buyer).

How To Identify a Fake Online Dating Account (Catfishing)

Their account is a “perfect match” — Be wary of people with magazine-quality photos or who look like supermodels. Catfishers will use attractive photos to try and snare you in their scam.

They don’t have an online footprint — If you Google their name and don’t find much, you could be dealing with a scammer.

Their social media accounts look suspicious — Sometimes a romance scammer will create fake social media accounts to get you to believe their dating profile is real. Look for anything that feels off, such as a low friend count, no recent posts, or only the same photos as on the dating site. The average Facebook user has 338 friends.

They come on strong and tell you they love you — Dating scammers will try to quickly get you emotionally invested. If they tell you they love you within a week or two and try to get you to message them off the platform, it could be a scam.

They won’t go on video chat with you — A fake online dating account will only message you. If you make plans to video chat, they’ll always have an excuse to fall back on (i.e., they can’t make it or their webcam is broken).

They live far away and are unable to visit — Scammers will often tell you they’re in the military or working with an international organization. But not being able to meet in person is a huge warning sign. This is especially true if you can’t see them on a video call either.

They ask for money or help with family problems — Catfishing often evolves to financial fraud. If someone starts asking for expensive gifts or cash to help with unexpected expenses, they’re probably trying to scam you.

What to do if you think you’re being scammed on a dating site

The easiest way to avoid being scammed with a fake online date is to never send money, gifts, or sensitive information until you meet in person.

If you think you’re dealing with a scammer, stop communicating with them immediately. Go to Google and do a reverse image search of their profile picture. If it’s associated with other names or comes up on a stock image site, it’s a scam.

Once you know they’re fake, report their account to the dating site or app you’re using. If you sent them money or gave them access to your accounts, contact your bank immediately and talk to their fraud department. You might also want to sign up for identity theft and credit monitoring to alert you of any potential fraud.

You can also report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Source: Aura credit monitoring

How To Identify a Phishing Scam

Incorrect spelling or grammar mistakes — Look for strange phrases or misspelled words in emails, texts, and on websites. Scammers often make basic mistakes that an official organization wouldn’t.

Sent from an unofficial email account (like Gmail) — The IRS and other organizations have official email addresses. If the “From” email address is from Gmail, Outlook, or others, it’s a scam.

The “From” name and email address don’t match up — Hover over or click on the “From” name to see their email address. Scammers will often try to mask who they are by using an official name. But they can’t fake their email address or phone number as easily.

They ask for sensitive information over email or text — An official business or organization will never ask for PINs or Passwords over email, text, or on the phone.

Threatens legal action if you don’t comply — Again, legitimate companies won’t threaten you. If legal action is going to happen, they’ll contact you in an official manner (like through the mail).

Contact you out of the blue — Unsolicited messages and calls have a good chance of being a scam. If you’re unsure, ask for a reference and then respond through the company’s official channels to make sure they’re legit.

Asks you to click a link or download an attachment — Beware of any link, file, or QR code in an email or text. Scammers will often disguise malware as fake invoices or other documents. Don’t click on them. Instead, ask for where you can find the required documents on their website.

Isn’t using a “secure” website — Secure websites use “https://” not “http://” and will have a padlock near the URL. If a site is unsecured, that means a scammer could steal your financial information, Social Security number, or any other sensitive data you input. (Be especially cautious with your SSN as it's not always possible to change your Social Security number – even after identity theft.)

Poor website or email design — Bad design or poor functionality isn’t always a sign of a scam, but it should put you on alert.

You can’t find any contact information — Scam web pages won’t have any other way of contacting the company, such as phone numbers or support email addresses.

💡 Related: How To Identify Job Scams: Watch Out for These Red Flags →

What to do if you think you’re being phished

Phishing attacks can be brutal, especially if the scammer manages to get malware or another virus onto your device.

If you think you’ve opened a spam email or engaged with another phishing attack, check your online accounts for warning signs of identity theft.

Then, secure your accounts by changing your passwords, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA), and using a password manager. You might also want to install antivirus software that can scan for malware and protect you from phishing sites.

You can report phishing scams to the FTC. If you get an email, forward it to reportphishing@apwg.org. If you got a phishing text, forward it to SPAM (7726). You can also report the attack at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

How To Identify an Online Shopping Scam

The deal is too good to be true — Items that are posted for significant deals are usually scams. Or at the very least, not actually what’s listed.

There are typos and errors in the product description — Mistakes happen. But multiple errors on a listing can be a sign that it’s a scam.

The site is unsecured — Look for “https://” not “http://” and a padlock near the URL. Secured sites are safe to enter your financial information. If the site is unsecured, a scammer could access your bank account or other information.

They only accept wire transfers and other non-reversible payments — If a seller asks you to wire money or send a gift card, they could be trying to scam you.

Sellers won’t meet in person — When shopping on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, always try to meet in person and view the product. There are tons of scams that rely on shipping products.

They send you low-quality photos — Some scammers will doctor photos to trick you into paying more than you should. One example of this is a car title scam where fraudsters change the documentation for a used vehicle.

Buyers send you prepaid shipping labels — If you’re selling online and a buyer offers to send a prepaid shipping label, it’s a scam. They can change the shipping address after you send it out and then claim they never received it.

A buyer overpays for your product — If someone offers you extra money, they’re most likely trying to scam you. They’ll normally ask you to refund the extra with a gift card or wire transfer and then disappear. Later, you'll find out that the original payment was fraudulent.

Asking for a deposit or prepayment — Sellers who ask you to send them money to “hold” an item could be doing the same to tens or hundreds of other people. Don’t send money until you see the item and are picking it up.

What to do if you think you’re being scammed while shopping online

If you see any warning signs, break off contact with the seller (or buyer). If they’re on a platform like Facebook or Amazon, report them and try to get their account removed.

If you’ve already paid a scammer, you still have a few options.

If you paid with your credit card or debit card, contact the issuer and tell them it was fraud. If you sent a wire, you can contact the wire transfer company and they might be able to reverse the transfer. If you paid them through PayPal, Cash App, Venmo, or a similar app, contact their fraud department.

💡 Related: The 14 Cash App Scams You Didn't Know About (Until Now) →

How To Report Online Scams

The best way to reduce your chances of getting scammed in the future is to report online scams when they happen to you.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers an online complaint assistant you can use to report fraud and different types of identity theft. You can also elevate your complaint to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

If you lost money or gave up sensitive information, you can file a police report and report the identity theft to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov.

Were you a victim of fraud? Follow our fraud victim's checklist for step-by-step instructions on how to recover from fraud.

The Bottom Line: You Can Outsmart Online Scammers

We put our faith in others when we engage with them online. And there’s nothing worse than not knowing if someone is scamming you or not.

But with a bit of due diligence, you can protect yourself, your money, and your online accounts from online scammers. Identify the red flags of a scam and then do everything you can to stay safe. If you want peace of mind, consider Aura’s identity theft and credit monitoring service.

Aura actively monitors your accounts, bank, credit, and devices for signs of online scams and frauds. We’ll let you know of any suspicious activity on your accounts, block malware and phishing sites, and tell you if your identity has been compromised in any way.

And if the worst happens, you’re covered by a $1,000,000 insurance policy for eligible losses due to identity theft.

Ready for iron clad identity theft protection? Try Aura for 14 Days Free.

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How To Tell if Someone Is Scamming You Online (Examples) | Aura

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Americans lost $2.3 billion to scammers last year. Here’s how to tell if someone is scamming you online whether you’re dating, shopping, or working.

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International Internet Scam Hotspots [Infographic] 

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International Internet Scam Hotspots [Infographic] 

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While browsing the web, you should bear in mind that scammers are around too. They may try to contac...

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Spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures, people are spending more time on social media and conducting various activities online, such as banking and investing. The growing volume of e-commerce and online investment activities have given rise to more fraudulent activities as scammers take advantage and are actively looking for ways to con victims. From social media scams, to phishing activities, to soliciting people to invest in bogus get-rich-quick schemes, the risk exposure to online scams are escalating. Although technology is making money management more convenient, it's also important to be aware of the risks when using these online services.

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video tag. "Don't fall prey to online financial scams" TV commercial

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video tag. "Don't fall prey to online financial scams" promotional videos

Stock trading scams on social media

Social media has become a platform for scammers to operate their "pump and dump" schemes in recent years. There are many social media groups operating under the premise of stock investment and learning of stock trading which allow investors to exchange views and information. To lend credibility, fraudsters will claim that their recommendations are based on exclusive tips from experts, or even inside information. Be suspicious when you hear of such investment pitches and question the credibility of the information and its source.

Phishing scam

Phishing is a form of online fraud involving e-mails/ links claiming to be from your bank or other reputable company. Scammers attempt this ruse to set up beneficiaries on your accounts then transfer your money to their account, to hack into trading accounts, or to obtain trading authorizations. Never respond to e-mails that ask you to go to a website and update your details and input personal data. Your bank will never send you an unsolicited e-mail asking for this information.

Sweet-talking tactics on social media

Advice on social media such as WeChat (微信女) from sweet-talking fake female personas and "experts" to entice netizens to get their authorization letter to make online investment. People should be stay vigilant when allowing third party authorization.

Other common online scams
Social Media Cons
Scammers obtain information about you from your social media accounts such as instant messaging apps. With your login name and password they can impersonate you, to try and con your friends and contacts out of their money.
Email Scams
New tricks to be aware:

Scammers learn about your transactions with some companies from stolen emails. They then pretend to be from the company and send you fictitious emails to ask for money.

Hacking into your account and sending emails to your family and friends to ask for money.

Pretending to be a senior management of a company, the scammer sends fictitious emails to the staff asking them to transfer money to designated bank accounts citing reasons such as trading with overseas business partners or making business investments.

Advance Fee Fraud
Scammers can get in touch through social media. After gaining your trust they trick you into paying fake service fees. They may also claim you have won the lottery, but to get the money you have to first pay handling fees. After you have done so, they disappear.

Scammers can also get hold of you by telephone, or in an email, and trick you into paying fake service or handling fees.
Online Business Fraud
These scams usually involve online shopping sites. The conman pretends to be a customer and the seller delivers the goods but does not receive payment. These cases often involve false payment. For example, a fake foreign bank's email is received to confirm payment, or a bad cheque is received by the seller.

In another scam, it's the seller who is the con. After the buyer pays for goods (in an online auction, for example), the seller does not deliver the goods and the buyer can't get back the money.
Cyber Security Tips
To safely surf the internet, pay close attention to suspicious emails, protect your password, and make sure your system is secure. You should also follow the safety guidelines on public wifi networks.

IF you think you have been tricked, report to the Police immediately.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has pages " Demystify phishing emails" and " Fraudulent bank websites, phishing e-mails and similar scams " to educate consumers the common characteristics of phishing emails and how to handle suspicious emails, and update the latest email scams.

The video footage in this section comes from the Fight Scams Together campaign provided by the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre (ADCC) of Hong Kong Police Force to prevent fraud. Go to the website for the latest scam information.
ADCC - Fight Scams Together
9 March 2021

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Spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures, people are spending more time on social media and conducting various activities online, such as banking and investing.

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The internet makes it easy for scammers to trick people into giving away their money and personal information. These are the scams to watch out for now.

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A Critical Analysis of Fraud Cases on the Internet

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A Critical Analysis of Fraud Cases on the Internet

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survey on scams and fraud experienced by consumers - final report, https://padlet.com/lwtanthony/58sfh642rf4qtw84/wish/2240326248

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SURVEY ON “SCAMS ANDFRAUD EXPERIENCED BYCONSUMERS”

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SURVEY ON “SCAMS ANDFRAUD EXPERIENCED BYCONSUMERS”

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Security Centre

Online Scams

How to Avoid Online Scams

What Are Internet Scams?

Internet scams are different methodologies of Fraud, facilitated by cybercriminals on the Internet.  Scams can happen in a myriad of ways- via phishing emails, social media, SMS messages on your mobile phone, fake tech support phone calls, scareware and more. The main purpose of these types of scams can range from credit card theft, capturing user login and password credentials and even identity theft.

Most Common Types of Online Scams

Phishing

The top online scam today is Phishing. Internet thieves prey on unsuspecting users by sending out phishing emails. In these emails, a cybercriminal tries to trick you into believing you are logging into a trusted website that you normally do business with. This could be a bank, your social media account, an online shopping website, shipping companies, cloud storage companies and more.

Another type of popular phishing scam is the Nigerian Prince, or 419 scam.  These are phishing emails in which you’re asked to help bring large sums of money into the country, cash phony money orders or wire money to the thief. The trick is that the scammer first asks you for a small fee because the larger sum of money is “tied up” whether it be in wire transfer fees, processing fees or some other tall tale.

Fake AV

One close to our industry is fake security software, which is also known as scareware. These start with a pop up warning saying that you have a virus. Then the popup leads the user to believe that if they click on the link, the infection will get cleaned up.Cybercriminals use the promise of “Free Anti-Virus” to instead implant malware on a victim’s device.

Social Media Scams

Social media scams are a variety of posts you will see in your news feeds- all with the goal of getting you to click on a link that could potentially be hosting malware.

Mobile Scams

Mobile scams can come in many forms, but the most common are phishing apps. These apps are designed to look like the real thing, just like phishing emails. It is exactly the same premise, however, instead of emails, the malware is passed through a fake app.

Social Engineering Scams

Social engineering is a way that cybercriminals use human-to-human interaction in order to get the user to divulge sensitive information. Since social engineering is based on human nature and emotional reactions, there are many ways that attackers can try to trick you- online and offline.

How to spot online scareware scams

Today’s cybercriminals are more creative than ever, using continually-evolving techniques to worm their way into the computers (and wallets) of unsuspecting victims around the globe.

Read More

Protecting yourself from online shopping scams

Constant connectivity to the Internet has improved our lives by leaps and bounds. From booking dinner reservations and buying movie tickets to keeping in touch with long-distance friends and finding the perfect gifts, the web offers a wealth of information.

Read More

Social engineering scams on social media

Nobody likes being manipulated—and that’s exactly what happens to people when they fall victim to social engineering scams online. In addition to using more sophisticated malware, ransomware, and viruses, online criminals have become increasingly aware of the use and power psychology plays in weaving believable online fiction.

Read More

How to protect against phishing scams

Phishing is an online con game, and phishers are nothing more than tech-savvy con artists. In a typical phishing scam, phishers send out emails, which appear to come from a legitimate company, in an attempt to scam users into providing private information that will be used for identity theft.

Read More

Teach your kids to avoid online scams

Surfing the Internet means possible exposure to online scams, something your children might not have any concept of. If you’re allowing them to go online, it’s imperative that you discuss online scams. Such scams come in a variety of guises, including those that specifically target children.

Read More

Avoiding ransomware scams on social media

Ransomware is a form of malware that allows cybercriminals to hold your PC, or files on it, for ransom. This is typically much worse than your average spyware or spam, as the crooks behind the ransomware can ask for a great deal of money.

Read More

Emerging Threats

Malware threatens new technologies and devices every day. Stay educated on most up-to-date ways to protect yourself.

Read More

Privacy

Equip yourself with best practices to take control of what you share online. Read articles about how to keep your online activity and identity private.

Read More

Malware

Malware is an abbreviated form of malicious software. Learn more about emerging malware threats and how to help protect yourself.

Read More

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Online Scams | Avoiding Internet Scams | Norton

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Learn how to spot and avoid falling for online scams. Read all about the types of scams that cybercriminals use to steal information and commit identity theft.

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What is an Online Scam? The 5 Examples You Need to Know,https://softwarelab.org/what-is-a-scam/

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What is an Online Scam? The 5 Examples You Need to Know

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What is an Online Scam? The 5 Examples You Need to Know

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What is an Online Scam? The 7 Worst Examples Ever (2024)

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What is an Online Scam? In this article, we’ll reveal the 7 worst examples of online scams, arming you with the knowledge to stay safe online.

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Nina Kollars of the Naval War College explains an Internet fraud scheme that she stumbled upon while shopping on eBay.

Internet fraud is a type of cybercrime fraud or deception which makes use of the Internet and could involve hiding of information or providing incorrect information for the purpose of tricking victims out of money, property, and inheritance. Internet fraud is not considered a single, distinctive crime but covers a range of illegal and illicit actions that are committed in cyberspace. It is differentiated from theft since, in this case, the victim voluntarily and knowingly provides the information, money or property to the perpetrator. It is also distinguished by the way it involves temporally and spatially separated offenders.

In the FBI's 2017 Internet Crime Report, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received about 300,000 complaints. Victims lost over $1.4 billion in online fraud in 2017. In a 2018 study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and McAfee, cybercrime costs the global economy as much as $600 billion, which translates into 0.8% of global GDP. Online fraud appears in many forms. It ranges from email spam to online scams. Internet fraud can occur even if partly based on the use of Internet services and is mostly or completely based on the use of the Internet.

The scammer poses as a charitable organization soliciting donations to help the victims of a natural disaster, terrorist attack (such as the 9/11 attacks), regional conflict, or epidemic. Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 tsunami were popular targets of scammers perpetrating charity scams; other more timeless scam charities purport to be raising money for cancer, AIDS or Ebola virus research, children's orphanages (the scammer pretends to work for the orphanage or a non-profit associated with it), or impersonates charities such as the Red Cross or United Way. In recent years, there have been cases of scams being done by the people who started the charity.

A 2019 example of this was the head of the Long Island Charity, Wafa Abbound. Abbound was found guilty of stealing close to a million dollars. She was charged with bank fraud, money laundering, and embezzling. There are many methods scammers will use. First, they will ask for donations, often linking to online news articles to strengthen their story of a funds drive. The scammer's victims are charitable people who believe they are helping a worthy cause and expect nothing in return. Once sent, the money is gone and the scammer often disappears, though many attempts to keep the scam going by asking for a series of payments. The victim may sometimes find themselves in legal trouble after deducting their supposed donations from their income taxes. United States tax law states that charitable donations are only deductible if made to a qualified non-profit organization.

A variation of Internet marketing fraud offers tickets to sought-after events such as concerts, shows, and sports events. The tickets are fake or are never delivered. The proliferation of online ticket agencies and the existence of experienced and dishonest ticket resellers has fueled this kind of fraud. Many such scams are run by British ticket touts, though they may base their operations in other countries.

A prime example was the global 2008 Beijing Olympic Games ticket fraud run by US-registered "Xclusive Leisure and Hospitality", sold through a professionally designed website with the name "Beijing 2008 Ticketing". On 4 August it was reported that more than A$50 million worth of fake tickets had been sold through the website. On 6 August it was reported that the person behind the scam, which was wholly based outside China, was a British ticket tout, Terance Shepherd.

First, hackers will steal gift card data, check the existing balance through a retailer's online service, and then attempt to use those funds to purchase goods or to resell on a third party website. In cases where gift cards are resold, the attackers will take the remaining balance in cash, which can also be used as a method of money laundering. This harms the customer gift card experience, the retailer's brand perception, and can cost the retailer thousands in revenue. Another way gift card fraud is committed is by stealing a person's credit card information to purchase brand new gift cards.

People tend to disclose more personal information about themselves (e.g. birthday, e-mail, address, hometown and relationship status) in their social networking profiles. This personally identifiable information could be used by fraudsters to steal users' identities, and posting this information on social media makes it a lot easier for fraudsters to take control of it.

The problem of authenticity in online reviews is a long-standing and stubborn one. In one famous incident back in 2004, Amazon's Canadian site accidentally revealed the true identities of thousands of its previously anonymous U.S. book reviewers. One insight the mistake revealed was that many authors were using fake names in order to give their own books favorable reviews. Also, 72% say positive reviews lead them to trust a business more, while 88% say that in "the right circumstances", they trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

While scammers are increasingly taking advantage of the power of social media to conduct criminal activity, astute risk managers and their insurance companies are also finding ways to leverage social media information as a tool to combat insurance fraud. For example, an injured worker was out of work on a worker's compensation claim but could not resist playing a contact sport on a local semi-professional sports team. Through social media and internet searches, investigators discovered that the worker was listed on the team roster and was playing very well.

According to the FBI, on April 26, 2005 Tom Zeller Jr. wrote an article in The New York Times regarding a surge in the quantity and quality of the forging of U.S. postal money orders, and its use to commit online fraud. Counterfeiters will conduct these scams through emails or chat rooms. If a person is trying to sell or give away an item of theirs, counterfeiters will make them believe that they are related to auction sites such as eBay. As of right now, there is no way to figure out how much money is being taken through these fake orders, the United States Postal Service believes that it is in the millions. The people who are targeted the most are those who are smaller retailers who operate through the internet or everyday people who sell or pay for items on the web. Owing to the lack of rules or warning signs about counterfeiters, more and more people will be affected.

Many companies like UPS and Federal Express have started to collaborate with the United States Postal Service to begin surveilling money postal orders. This way they can spot the real from the fake, however this is easier said then done, so they advocate users to be cautious when making a money postal orders. Arrests have taken place, between 2004 and 2005, 160 counterfeiters were arrested. Many of these arrested were caught in the process of cashing in the money they have stolen. In the United States of America, the penalty for making or using counterfeit postal money orders is up to ten years in jail and/or a $25,000 fine.

Legend, Therza (1 January 2018). "CYBER FRAUD: How to be aware, to protect yourself and your business". Podiatry Review. 75 (1): 32-34. Gale A524380313.

Lin, Kan-Min (September 2016). "Understanding undergraduates' problems from determinants of Facebook continuance intention". Behaviour & Information Technology. 35 (9): 693-705. doi:10.1080/0144929X.2016.1177114. S2CID 5975706.

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Internet fraud is a type of cybercrime fraud or deception which makes use of the Internet and could involve hiding of information or providing incorrect information for the purpose of tricking victims out of money, property, and inheritance. Internet fraud is not considered a single, distinctive crime but covers a range of illegal and illicit actions that are committed in cyberspace.

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How to spot social media, email and internet scams (infographic)

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How to spot social media, email and internet scams (infographic)

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While browsing the web, you should bear in mind that scammers are around too. They may try to contac...

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Spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures, people are spending more time on social media and conducting various activities online, such as banking and investing. The growing volume of e-commerce and online investment activities have given rise to more fraudulent activities as scammers take advantage and are actively looking for ways to con victims. From social media scams, to phishing activities, to soliciting people to invest in bogus get-rich-quick schemes, the risk exposure to online scams are escalating. Although technology is making money management more convenient, it's also important to be aware of the risks when using these online services.

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video tag. "Don't fall prey to online financial scams" TV commercial

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Stock trading scams on social media

Social media has become a platform for scammers to operate their "pump and dump" schemes in recent years. There are many social media groups operating under the premise of stock investment and learning of stock trading which allow investors to exchange views and information. To lend credibility, fraudsters will claim that their recommendations are based on exclusive tips from experts, or even inside information. Be suspicious when you hear of such investment pitches and question the credibility of the information and its source.

Phishing scam

Phishing is a form of online fraud involving e-mails/ links claiming to be from your bank or other reputable company. Scammers attempt this ruse to set up beneficiaries on your accounts then transfer your money to their account, to hack into trading accounts, or to obtain trading authorizations. Never respond to e-mails that ask you to go to a website and update your details and input personal data. Your bank will never send you an unsolicited e-mail asking for this information.

Sweet-talking tactics on social media

Advice on social media such as WeChat (微信女) from sweet-talking fake female personas and "experts" to entice netizens to get their authorization letter to make online investment. People should be stay vigilant when allowing third party authorization.

Other common online scams
Social Media Cons
Scammers obtain information about you from your social media accounts such as instant messaging apps. With your login name and password they can impersonate you, to try and con your friends and contacts out of their money.
Email Scams
New tricks to be aware:

Scammers learn about your transactions with some companies from stolen emails. They then pretend to be from the company and send you fictitious emails to ask for money.

Hacking into your account and sending emails to your family and friends to ask for money.

Pretending to be a senior management of a company, the scammer sends fictitious emails to the staff asking them to transfer money to designated bank accounts citing reasons such as trading with overseas business partners or making business investments.

Advance Fee Fraud
Scammers can get in touch through social media. After gaining your trust they trick you into paying fake service fees. They may also claim you have won the lottery, but to get the money you have to first pay handling fees. After you have done so, they disappear.

Scammers can also get hold of you by telephone, or in an email, and trick you into paying fake service or handling fees.
Online Business Fraud
These scams usually involve online shopping sites. The conman pretends to be a customer and the seller delivers the goods but does not receive payment. These cases often involve false payment. For example, a fake foreign bank's email is received to confirm payment, or a bad cheque is received by the seller.

In another scam, it's the seller who is the con. After the buyer pays for goods (in an online auction, for example), the seller does not deliver the goods and the buyer can't get back the money.
Cyber Security Tips
To safely surf the internet, pay close attention to suspicious emails, protect your password, and make sure your system is secure. You should also follow the safety guidelines on public wifi networks.

IF you think you have been tricked, report to the Police immediately.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has pages " Demystify phishing emails" and " Fraudulent bank websites, phishing e-mails and similar scams " to educate consumers the common characteristics of phishing emails and how to handle suspicious emails, and update the latest email scams.

The video footage in this section comes from the Fight Scams Together campaign provided by the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre (ADCC) of Hong Kong Police Force to prevent fraud. Go to the website for the latest scam information.
ADCC - Fight Scams Together
9 March 2021

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Spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures, people are spending more time on social media and conducting various activities online, such as banking and investing.