13 Scary Scams on the Internet You Should Beware!

Sometimes, the internet can be a spooky place. With technology advancing rapidly, it can be hard to keep up with the complexity of new internet scams. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of popular phishing scam examples with the hope to help identifying online scams.

1. Tech support scams

Tech support scams start in a variety of different ways. You may get an email, phone call, or a pop-up warning you about problems with your computer. They give you a toll-free number to call posing as a company, like Microsoft Support.

Scammers encourage you to download an application to give them remote access to your computer. If a company you don’t know asks you to download remote access software like AnyDesk, this is a red flag. Next, they then trick you into thinking that your computer is broken and offer to “fix” it for a fee. To avoid tech support scams, it’s important to ignore pop-ups, and never give someone you don’t know remote access to your computer. For more information on tech support scams and their inner workings, check out Jim Browning on YouTube.

2. Investment scams

Scammers will often disguise their plots as investment opportunities. Some common examples of investment scams are Ponzi Schemes and crypto pump and dumps. In investment scams, scammers promise high financial returns to victims when investing their money. These charlatans will often try to overcomplicate things and use confusing language to fool victims.

Beware of people promising that you will double your money or see high rates of return quickly and easily. Keep in mind, at EarthLink we are not financial professionals. If you’re considering an investment opportunity reach out to a trusted source or an investment professional.

3. Online shopping scams

Online shopping can be rife with scams and scammers. In an online shopping scam, criminals may advertise limited time offers on products. Many times, these products may never show up or aren’t as advertised. Whether you’re trying to purchase something you saw on TikTok or on a website, it’s important to do your research before clicking buy.

4. Social media scams

Social media scams take many different forms. It may be more helpful to think of social media as a medium for illegal ploys rather than a specific type of scam. Many of these tactics like online shopping scams, impersonation scams, and more take place on social media.

If you get a strange message from someone you know, contact them outside of social media. This will help you confirm their identity. And as always, do your research on companies or influencers before giving someone your information like credit card numbers.

5. Travel scam

With travel scams, criminals will post fake vacation listings online, especially on social media. Scammers will post a vacation offer that shows a value of $10,000 for only $999, or something similar. The truth is they will likely take your money and there will be no vacation.

It’s important to remember this simple rule: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

6. Online dating scams

Online dating scams are a continuing trend. Many of these schemes may start on a social media platform, an online dating app, or website. Scammers will often create fake profiles to lure victims into giving personal information or money. This usually takes place over the course of weeks while scammers create a false sense of connection with victims.

If a person seems too perfect, or always has a reason to not meet in person, talk on the phone, or video chat, this may be a red flag.

7. Impersonation scams

Impersonation scams are increasing in complexity. Scammers will pretend to be a bank or government agency accusing you of a serious crime like money laundering. They will then attempt to convince you to send the “stolen” money back to them via gift cards, crypto, or cash in the mail. If someone is trying to get you to pay in gift cards, it’s almost certainly a scam.

8. Job offer scams

Job offer scams play on a person’s desire for a well-paying job. Scammers may collect personal information from you by conducting fake interviews and having you fill out counterfeit paperwork. They also may promise an easy income if you purchase a training program or equipment.

When applying for a job, it’s important to use your best judgement and do your research on the company before applying. This can help you to tell if your job opportunity is a job offer scam.

9. Business email scams

In business email scams, criminals will create fake email addresses to look like an employee or your boss at your company. In these schemes, the perpetrator attempts to get the victim to send gift cards to the boss labeling it as an “important task.”

If you receive an email that looks like it’s from your boss, be sure to confirm it with them in person or over the phone.

10. Charity scams

Charity scams didn’t start with the internet. For many years, scam callers will pose as a charity to earn sympathy from people and get money from them.

The transition to an online world has made posing as a charity even easier. Online, a charity scam takes the form of a GoFundMe, or DMs and posts on social media. Before donating to a cause, it’s important to do your own research to get the full story.

11. USPS package scam

In this emerging trick, scammers will claim to be the United States Postal Service. Would be assailants send victims texts or emails that look like package tracking information or unpaid postage charges. The goal of the scammers is to get money or personal information from victims. Visit the U.S. Postal Service website to learn more about these scams.

12. WiFi hotspot scam

In a WiFi hotspot scheme, scammers will set up a “free WiFi hotspot” in a public place. Often, they will make it appear professional by using company names like “Starbucks WiFi.” When potential victims connect to the hotspot, hackers will use this as a way to connect to your device and attempt to steal personal information. When connecting to public WiFi, best practices are to connect using a VPN.

13. Smishing scams

SMS phishing or, smishing, is a text version of email scams. These attacks have the same goal of getting you to click a link or call a phone number to trick you into giving them your money. If you want to learn about ways to protect yourself from smishing and other internet scams, read our guide.

Conclusion

The internet can be both a wonderful place and a haunted house. It’s important to protect yourself while on the internet. If you aren’t sure where to start, reach out to our team for help at 866-618-0264.