How to Spot a Scam
While we’re living in a digital world, the idea of someone getting your personal information is not so impossible anymore. Don’t let scammers attack you anytime. Always be vigilant and don’t let your guard down by taking note of these signs:
Contacted by the unknown
Verify the identity of the person who contacted you by asking details of their affiliation to the company. If you are not convinced by the answers provided, don’t hesitate to hang up or stop engaging. Then, contact the company or the bank to confirm authenticity. It’s also best to initiate communicating with the bank/company to prevent getting scammed, whether it’s about your account or a specific product offering.
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Offer is suspicious or too good to be true
When an offer entails a suspicious action from your end or if it is something that is too good, don’t decide on it yet. Do a research first about the authenticity of the promotion or the case by visiting the bank or company’s website. It is recommended to ask through official channels too before taking an action or a purchase decision.
Asked to share personal details
Don’t just easily give out any personal information especially over the phone where you can’t really validate if you’re talking to a scammer or not. Legit companies will have a fixed protocol when it comes to asking their customers’ for personal information. Be aware of the details that ONLY you should know such as One Time Pin, Password, Account Number, Card Number, and CVV. If any of these details are being asked, there is a high chance that you’re being scammed.
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Messy messages
Don’t fall for messages with a lot of spelling and grammatical errors. Start with checking also the e-mail address or sender’s details. If it does not indicate official details or if there are also weird characters and text in it, it is very likely to be a scam. Most scams also have odd layouts and contain typos, and also force you to click on areas that will compromise your account or reply with your personal details. Always think before you click.
Requires you to act quickly
Scammers want you to respond quickly, without thinking. They will make sure you will panic by either telling you an incredibly good offer or by instructing you to act on securing your compromised account right away. Never respond hastily and do call the bank/company to check if the incident or offer is true.
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These are just some of the many ways to help you detect a possible scam. Always remember that these scammers don’t have power over you and your data. When you think you’re being scammed, cut your connection with the suspected scammer and contact your service providers and banks right away.
