The internet is as great as it is unsafe. That’s the truth. There are great things online. But there’s also a lot of bad people trying to scam you out of your money.
There’s nothing to worry about, though! As long as you follow these four tips, nothing bad is going to happen – all you have to do is pay attention and you will keep your money in your pockets, and never in a thief’s hand!
- Unverified Emails
There is nothing to gain from strange emails. Replying to them, even if you do not give them what they want, is a bad bet nobody should take.
And that’s the thing: strange emails are always asking for something. More often than not, it’s sensitive data: your first and last name, your phone number, your date of birth. Things that might be useful if someone wants to reset your passwords. Never answer these emails.
You have to remember that no website is going to contact you directly for private information. It doesn’t matter the scenario. If, for example, you are having a hard time with your bank, you will have to go to the bank to sort it out – especially if sensitive information is required to proceed.
Sometimes strange emails might surprise you. When you open them, you might read you won a prize. You probably haven’t. Don’t believe a word that’s written on them and make sure that the prize is real before you proceed. Even if you are sure, doubt and double-check.
- No Money-Related Conversations Without Lawyer
Private and sensitive information is exactly that: both private and sensitive. You should never give it away unless you have to. If someone wants you to talk about how much you earn, how much debt you have, or if you qualify for a credit, you must ignore them right away. Remember: nobody is going to ask you for sensitive information online – unless they want to scam you.
If, for some reason, whoever is asking for this kind of information keeps pressing you for an answer, contact a lawyer. This is the right course of action for two reasons: number one, he or she will be able to tell you what to do; number two, he or she will know how to handle this kind of harassment and how to make the possible scammer stop.
You probably won’t even have to talk to your lawyer. Most scammers will stop if they don’t get what they want at their first try – but sometimes, just to be sure, contact a professional.
- Unverified Phone Calls
Social media and instant messages have rendered phone calls somewhat useless. Nobody wants to talk on the phone unless it’s important – and scammers know this. When you receive a phone call from an unknown number, do not pick up the phone. You could say no word but the scammer has already stolen some sensitive info from your phone or received the confirmation for some bank operation.
The next step after receiving a call from unknown number is to open your computer: it’s time to use Spokeo.
Spokeo is an easy-to-use website where you could get the information you need. If you are unsure about who is calling you on the phone, write down the phone number, and use Spokeo to learn about the caller. Using its reverse phone lookup technology, Spokeo could tell you who is calling, their background information, where they are from, whether they have a criminal background or not, and more!
Once you know who is behind that phone call, you’ll know whether to pick it up or block the number!
- Protect Your Website With Cybersecurity Apps
There are several cybersecurity apps you can use to make sure you are safe online. There are a ton of them, and it’s a matter of personal taste which one you are going to use. These three are well-known and effective:
Wireshark: This is the perfect tool to know what’s happening on your website. It’ll tell you who’s visiting, for how long, and what are they doing there. It’s also user-friendly!
Websecurify: This works perfectly for websites with poor security measures. It’ll look for weakly protected passwords, faulty security, and more.
360 Mobile Security: A free mobile app that works as an antivirus. It will keep you safe from the latest viruses, trojans, and more. This is a must if you are surfing the web with your phone.
Bio – Maguire Haigh is a marketing manager for Spokeo. He is interested in the latest technology trends, marketing strategies and business development. He also prefers traveling, exploring the world and meeting new people. Maguire has great experience in creating and editing articles on different topics.