Many have encountered or heard from others about certain cybercriminals whose "responsibility zone" includes the Internet and other communication platforms, such as telephone networks. Unprepared communication with them promises nothing good. Therefore, it is important to know the types of fraud and ways to protect yourself from them. This article is dedicated to this issue.

First Tip: Avoid Registering Online with Your Real Mobile Number

Your number will end up in a database and will be leaked at the first opportunity. This poses a threat to your confidential information, finances, and even physical safety in some cases. The safest option is to use a reliable SMS activator, which guarantees SMS reception, ensures complete anonymity, and does not charge exorbitant fees for virtual numbers. It's worth it.

Financial Fraud: Protection Methods and Financial Security

Money is credited to your bank or mobile account from an unknown source. Shortly after, you receive a call or message claiming that the funds were mistakenly transferred and asking you to return them. After you return the money, you discover that double the amount has been debited from your account. This happens because part of the money was sent by you, and the rest was withdrawn by the fraudster through their bank.

Basic Principles of Protection Against Financial Fraud:

• In case of an erroneous money transfer, contact your bank and provide them with the details of the situation. They will initiate a return transaction, preventing the fraudster from making a double profit.
• Alternatively, you may choose to do nothing, as the fraudster will still find a way to retrieve the funds.
• Sometimes, such messages may be fake, and no money was actually transferred. Therefore, always check your account first.

Winning Notifications

You receive an email or text message informing you that you are the lucky winner of various prizes, such as cash, a car, a modern gadget, or even an undefined "surprise." However, to claim your prize, you are asked to pay for delivery, taxes, fees, and other charges by transferring money to the fraudsters' account.

Protection Methods Against Fraud:

• Recall whether you participated in any contests. If so, which ones specifically? Visit the official website of the contest and verify the information using the contact details provided on the site.
• Remember, in the case of a genuine win, no one will ask you to pay any fees upfront. If you are asked to make an advance payment, it is likely fraud.
• Never transfer money; otherwise, you risk losing funds and facing further demands for payment.

Phishing

As you may have noticed, advertisements often appear at the top of search engine results. This is another method used by online fraudsters. When searching for your bank's website or an airline's website, you might accidentally land on a fake site that mimics the original. However, there is one key difference: your personal information and money can be stolen by the fraudsters. If you fail to notice differences in the website's address, design, or description, you might enter your data, which can then be intercepted and used for fraudulent purposes.

Phishers not only create clones of websites but also fake online stores, mobile account top-up services, and microcredit platforms. Therefore, always remain vigilant when encountering a new online resource.

Protection Methods Against Fraud:

• Save links to websites where you regularly make payments in bookmarks or elsewhere. This way, you can avoid accidentally landing on a fake site.
• If you decide to use a new service, first search for information about it online. If the site was recently created, has no reviews, or has suspiciously many positive reviews, be cautious and avoid making payments on that resource.

Account Blocking

Fraudsters use various methods, not limited to the Internet. They might use your phone number to send you a notification about the blocking of your bank card. The message will state that to recover the funds, you need to transfer a certain amount to activate a backup account or call/send an SMS to a special number. They might also provide a link to a fraudulent website where you need to go for "unblocking."

More sophisticated fraudsters may call you personally, posing as a bank manager. They describe a problem with your card and ask you to confirm details such as the card number, expiration date, and CVV code. Shortly after, your account may be emptied.

Protection Methods Against Phone Fraud:

• Do not trust such messages or fulfill their demands. If in doubt, call your bank's hotline to clarify the information (the number is listed on the official website and on the back of your card).
• Do not disclose payment details over the phone: a legitimate bank employee will not ask for them. This is also an obvious sign of fraud.
• It is also recommended to use a virtual phone number for registering on any online service. In this case, fraudsters will not be able to reach you.

Protection Against Internet Fraud on Auctions

This type of fraud operates on real auctions, where the organizer's reputation is extremely high. Suspicion arises when the price of an item is too low, and payment is requested through anonymous electronic payments.

Protection Methods Against Internet Fraud:

• Do not trust strangers immediately—gather information about them. Search for their phone number and username online. However, remember that even positive reviews can be fake.
• Compare prices for similar items elsewhere: the price should not be too low.
• The safest option is to follow the recommendations and precautions offered by the platform itself—this way, your purchase will be protected.

Recommendations for Protection Against Fraudulent Links

If you suddenly receive a link in messages from your friends or acquaintances, do not rush to open it. Clicking on this link might lead to downloading a virus onto your phone or unintentionally subscribing to an expensive service.

Protection Against Fraud:

• Call your friend and clarify what they sent. Their account might have been hacked, and the malicious link could have been sent without their knowledge.
• If the source of the message is completely unknown, the best decision is to ignore it.
• If you do not yet have antivirus software, it is recommended to install one for additional protection.

Types of Protection Against Fraud in Social Media

From time to time, you may come across announcements in social media about fundraising for the treatment of seriously ill children and other similar causes. Charitable organizations and desperate parents may genuinely seek help on social media, where billions of users can see their appeal within a month, and some may provide financial assistance. However, some "requests for help" may come from morally unscrupulous fraudsters.

Popular Rules for Protection Against Financial Fraud:

• Verify the data. Fraudsters often use real photos from the Internet and alter the information. Your task is to search for these photos and compare them. The deception will immediately become apparent.

Paid Surveys

On Instagram, fraudulent schemes continue to thrive, often using the names of famous personalities. For this, an account is created that closely resembles the profile of a well-known individual, and promises are made on their behalf to reward participants with a substantial sum for completing a survey or participating in a lottery.

Protection Methods Against Fraud:

• Avoid falling into the trap of fraudsters by ignoring such announcements. Photos of celebrities with money, happy "winners," "real stories" of winners, and similar plots are just fabricated stories.
• You may be asked to pay a "commission" or fulfill other preliminary conditions, only to be left with nothing in the end.

Protection Against Instagram Fraud: Avoiding Scams

Perhaps the most cunning method of deception involves gradually building trust over an extended period. You may trust your new online acquaintance so much after six months of communication that you do not suspect their intentions to be dishonest, especially in financial matters. Eventually, you decide to entrust them with your savings and become a victim of a fraudster, losing your money irretrievably.

Protection Methods Against Fraud:

1. Stay vigilant in all financial matters, regardless of your level of trust.
2. Before accepting an offer of so-called "help," verify all information. For example, if a "reliable international company" is mentioned, search for it online, read reviews, and ask questions in customer support.
3. Remember that in cases of online fraud, the law is often unable to protect you.

Discounted Airline Tickets

When planning a trip abroad, you may come across a website offering great deals on airline tickets. However, remember that booking on such sites is often only possible with prepayment. You might be asked to make an express transfer to a virtual account. Despite this, you will never receive the tickets. Alternatively, when it comes time to board, you may find that your seat is already occupied by another, legitimate passenger.

Protection Against Fraud:

• Carefully study the information on the website. If prepayment is requested for the first time, it is better to refrain from it.
• To maximize your safety, it is recommended to book tickets on the official airline website or through a well-known and trusted intermediary.
• Always remain vigilant and consider possible online fraud schemes.

It is time to start teaching cybersecurity in schools. The types of fraud and protection against fraudsters are evolving daily, and keeping up with this development is the main priority of a responsible Internet user and citizen.