Scammers target anyone and are constantly evolving their tactics to get hold of your personal details, or to get you to make a payment to them in ‘exchange’ for a reward such as a loan or a large sum of money. It pays to familiarise yourself with some of the common methods used so you can avoid becoming a victim yourself.
Common methods used by scammers:
- You're promised large sums of money without having to do much for it e.g. by clicking a link or downloading an attachment
- You’re asked to make an upfront administration or processing fee
- You’re asked to provide sensitive personal or account information
- The communication is from an unknown sender or one you’ve never done business with.
- You’re asked to make any upfront payments with MoneyGram
- You’re urged to respond soon or the offer will expire
- You’re asked to keep the communication confidential
- The communication is from an unknown sender or one you’ve never done business with
- The communication misspells the product or brand name or has bad grammar
And, finally, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It’s better to be safe than sorry where your finances are concerned.