Time and again, we have heard about people who have fallen victims of fraud emails and lost huge chunk of money as a result. We probably know of at least one or two friends who have been victims of scam emails. Even worse, many of us must have received one scam email or the other to attempt to defraud us in our journey through the web. To avoid being a victim of online scam, you need to be aware of steps you can take to prevent this. These include:
Know how to recognize scam emails
The first step towards avoiding scam attempts is the ability to distinguish between spam emails and real emails. Most scam emails are vague in nature. The scammers usually do not disclose their personal information. Some scam emails also have poor grammar and spelling. In most cases, scammers are reluctant to meet face to face with their victims. Another way to tell a scam email is when the deal seems too good to be true. These emails are quite convincing, so be on the lookout and don’t be gullible enough to fall a victim.
Never disclose your financial information
Financial information such as bank account details, bank verification number, etc, should always be confidential. Unless you know the company well or meet the agent in person, don’t be too quick to give away any financial information. Under no circumstance should you disclose you bank verification number.
Beware of the products you are purchasing
Ensure you have the right information of the product you intend to purchase. This is vital, as it will help you distinguish between fake emails and real ones. You need to carry out extensive background checks on the company selling the product to assure you of its genuineness.
Never respond to scam emails
A vast majority of companies that post fake emails use this to collect real email addresses and sell them to spammers. The moment you take the bait and reply, they get a lot of information about you. Ignore emails that do not touch on your area of interest. If you have to do it, use an email address that is set aside for spams and that does not bear your full names.
Report scam attempts
If you suspect any fraud attempts, report to the nearest security personnel. You can contact the local police and give them details about the scammers.
We welcome comments here on your experiences with scam emails that you received and how you handled it so other online users can learn more on how to respond to scam emails.
