Online scams
True or false:
Most scam websites begin with domains like .org to make them seem legit
False
Explanation: Scammers often use cheap domains like .click or .xyz to make scamming a cheaper and quicker process.
True or false: If a message seems to good to be true, then it probably is
True
Explanation: Scammers often ensure that the person receiving the message is tempted to fall for it by providing unrealistic prices or deals on products and subscriptions in order to make the person want to take advantage of a rare opportunity.
True or false: A good way to tell if someone on social media is an impersonator is to check the amount of followers
True
Explanation: Fake channels and profiles often have a low number of followers and limited engagement. ¨Even though the number of followers can vary greatly according to the popularity of the brand, product or business, it can help you recognize if a channel is official or not.¨- https://www.santander.com/en/stories/four-steps-to-identify-fake-accounts-on-social-media
How do scammers try to scam people online
A. By trying to make themselves look trustworthy
B. By providing advertisement with malicious links that lead to fake products or services.
C. By making it seem like a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy a product by making it seem very convenient and cheap.
D. All of the above
D. All of the above
These are all tactics that scammers use to grab buyer's attention. They make themselves look trustworthy, provide malicious links, and set unrealistic conditions and costs.
What is the best way to tell if a message or an email is a scam? Choose two answers.
A. If the person does not respond back
B. If the text or email involves a product or subscription you have never heard of or signed up for
C. If the text or email includes a link to a service or subscription that is available at a strangely low price
D. If the same text or email is sent multiple times
B and C are correct
Explanation: Receiving an email advertising a product or service you never heard of or signed up for is a major red flag because services usually will not send you emails unless you have already attempted to buy it somewhere else online. Scammers often use the "too good to be true" technique by trying to appeal by making the product seem abnormally convenient, and that includes setting low prices. https://www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Scams-and-Fraud/Online-Shopping-Scams :¨Scammers use the latest technology to set up fake retailer websites that look like genuine online retail stores.¨A is incorrect because scammers would usually respond to customer questions in order to make themselves seem more legit rather than not responding back. D is incorrect because emails from legit companies are often automated, and some are set multiple times. This is a possible sign that the message or email is not a scam, depending on the timeframe of repetition.
Which of these is NOT a good way to identify a possible impersonation account online?
A. If the person does not include a location in their profile
B. If the person has a profile picture that looks like it came from google
C. If the person doesn't have a lot of followers
D. If the person it is claiming to be has specifically told people that they do not have an account on that certain website or platform.
A
Explanation: Some people choose not to include their location due to privacy concerns. This is not directly related to scam or fraud. B is incorrect because impersonators often use online pictures to impersonate someone especially if that person is not very active online. C is incorrect because impersonators often have limited following and engagement, possibly because other people also believe that the account is fake. D is incorrect because this includes a person directly telling people that an account using their name on a certain website or platform does not belong to them because they do not use it.
Which of the following is MOST likely a scam?
A. An advertisement pop up for Publix claiming to sell certain items at a 30% discount for the next two weeks
B. An online video game subscription popup from a smaller company advertising certain games at the original price, seen on multiple websites. The company isn't well known but there is legit information about it on the internet.
C. A social media post from a person with a high amount of followers claiming to sell an old toaster for $20. The seller is actively answering questions below the post and responding to comments.
D. A social media post from a person with a low amount of followers claiming that his or her son died from cancer and is selling the son's PS5 for $70, and has made the same post multiple times. The post has disabled comments
D
Explanation: D is correct, because a PS5 costs way more than $70, and scammers often set low prices to make the deal seem like a once in a lifetime opportunity. Scammers also often disable comments to prevent discussions of suspicion. A is incorrect because online advertisements are usually legit if they are from a well known company (including Publix) and a 30% is a realistic deal for non scammers. B is incorrect, because even though the company is not large or well known, most scammers would try to mimic the company and try to sell them at a lower price. C is incorrect because most scammers on social media have a low amounts of followers and engagement online and $20 is a reasonable price for a toaster.
Which of the following is most likely NOT a scam?
A. An email from an unknown person which contains a link to an unknown service that the person never signed up for.
B. An email from a medical office 2 days after the person receiving the email has booked an appointment there.
C. A text message from an unknown phone number about a "toll violation notice" with an unknown link
D. A text message from an unknown number that says "happy birthday"
B
Explanation: B is the correct answer because medical offices often send follow up emails after an appointment is booked, and emails from a service that someone signed up for is recognizable and likely not a scam. A is incorrect because scammers often advertise unknown products or services and attempt to convince someone to buy it, and if you don't remember signing up for something then you probably didn't. C is incorrect because toll violations would usually be sent as a bill through mail and not as a text message, and this is a common technique from phishing scammers trying to steal money. D is incorrect because scammers often start text conversations with friendly greetings in order to trick you into believing that they are nice and trustworthy.
Which of the following are reasons to avoid impersonation accounts?
A. Impersonators can make them seem trustworthy by imitating a real person and trick people into a scam
B. Impersonators can communicate with people online in order to lure them to public places, and this often leads to child kidnappings.
C. They often spread misinformation and ruin people's credibility.
D. All of the above
All of these are reasons why impersonation and fraud are bad and why it is a good idea to report these kinds of accounts
Jerry sees an online ad claiming to sell trampolines for $50. The original price of the trampoline is $450, and it is being sold on an unknown website, and the trampoline originally comes from a much more well known website. Is this online ad a scam?
Yes, the ad is a scam because 450 down to 50 is an unrealistic discount and
Robert receives an email from an account that includes payment information for an oil change. Robert had scheduled an oil change recently for the same exact company. Is this email a scam?
No, it is likely not a scam because companies often send automated emails to someone who has scheduled an appointment, and if Robert knows of the company and has scheduled something for it then it is likely not a scam. However, automated emails from companie that you do not have an original payment or subscription could be scams. https://www.epgdlaw.com/e-commerce-automation-scams-everything-you-need-to-know-to-try-to-get-your-money-back/: ¨Although automation is neither illegal nor a “scam” (including e-commerce), some people use the prospect of easy money through automation to lure unsuspecting clients into a promise that won’t be delivered.¨
Andrew receives a message on instagram from an account claiming to be his friend. The account currently follows no one except for him. Andrew had recently asked his friend if he planned to get instagram but his friend said no. The account constantly begs Andrew to buy certain products and send weird links. Should Andrew listen to the scammer, or should he block the account?
Andrew should block the account because it is likely someone pretending to be his friend. Sending weird links and trying to look trustworthy are all red flags for scams.