“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” as the old bromide goes. Learning how to identify a scam and teaching your children to do the same will save you time, headaches and cleanup.
An Internet scam is almost always after your personal information, your accounts or your money. Certain red flags should immediately alert you to a potential scam.
Log In, Please!
If you are requested to sign in to an account, open a new browser window and go directly to the official website. Contact support to advise them of the request and verify it is a scam.
The Submit Button
Always research a website before filling out anything more identifying than your email address. Advise children to never click a “submit” button without your prior approval.
Buy Now!
If asked to make a purchase, verify whether the company is reputable and recognizable and purchase directly from a trusted website. If the product is desirable and the company unknown, verify that the payment processor de-identifies data and provides immediate refunds or cancellations if you lodge a complaint.
Tell Me Everything
If you have already made contact with a company or individual, especially when job-hunting, a response may come back asking you to sign up for another website or provide more identifying information than necessary. Assume these are scams and either ignore them or report them on the FBI website.
Trust Me
When “Apple” contacts you out of the blue to offer you a job or free product, immediately suspect it. A quick inquiry to the company will prove most offers false. Whenever you recognize the name of a company, always research on the official website before acting.