Finding out you have been the victim of an online scam can instantly lead to a roller-coaster of emotions. Anger, sadness, frustration and more anger are all possible and all justified. Whether being the victim of your own carelessness or because you got tricked by something that sounded too good to pass up, the important thing is what you do next.
Examples of Online Scams
The following is by no means an exhaustive list of every type of online scam out there. Rather, it serves as to provide a general understanding what types of scams to expect and be aware of so you’ll know to avoid falling for them.
1. Credit Card Theft
This type of scam usually involves a website that is designed to look exactly like a site you know so you feel safe entering your credit card info. Except, the moment you do enter your info, your credit card details are harvested and used for nefarious purposes.
Alternatively, there have been cases of scammers randomly generating credit card numbers, then requesting pre-authorizations for small, random amounts like $1.01 just to see if the credit card number is valid. This will likely happen without you knowing. The scammers will then use your credit card to make purchases online. If you notice random pre-authorizations that you don’t recognize through your mobile banking app, call the bank right away to replace your credit card.
2. Phishing
The way…
