FRAUD
How to notice and avoid it
Fraud: Intentional deception for gain
What to look for:
You can come across fraud in a couple different ways. For example:
- Phishing & Smishing - Fake e-mails from "your bank" asking for personal information. (credit card number, social security number, address, phone number, etc.)
- Retail or Auction Fraud - Buying any item online and getting ripped off or not receiving what you paid for.
- "Work At Home" - Getting offers that supply you with an easy job that you can do right from your home. Attempting to get your attention so you apply for that job with personal information.
How to avoid it:
Avoiding fraud is easy when you know what to look for. But here are some steps that will help you out:
- Don't reply to the fake emails with your personal information. Any person or place that you are in business with shouldn't be asking for your personal info. Because if it was a real business, they would already have it all on file.
- Research where you're buying from. Don't purchase everything you see on the internet thinking it's always legitimate. Look at the customer ratings or stick to websites you know/have bought from before.
- Too good to be true.. For instance, if you get an e-mail promising you $1,000 if you just give them your bank account number, would you? No. Because that's where common sense comes into play. Don't respond to anything promising you the sky when you know it's false.