4 Ways How to Avoid Online Scams

The use of financial technology also raises the risk of online fraud.

In recent years, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic, people are increasingly doing activities on the internet, from shopping to banking. The development of increasingly sophisticated financial technology, in addition to providing convenience, also poses risks such as online fraud.

One of the most common frauds in cyberspace using social engineering methods. Here are four ways How to Avoid Online Scams.

How to Avoid Online Scams

1. Research before clicking

Fraudsters often give messages that provoke curiosity or that create an impression of urgency so that the victim does not have time to examine the contents of the message. As a result, victims often click on the link without a second thought. To avoid being deceived, be sure to only click on links from official sources, including phone numbers and official e-mail.

2. Don’t share PIN

Never provide important information such as account details, passwords, PIN numbers or one-time password to anyone. Official companies will never ask their users for that information.

If you get an SMS, for example, that gives a message that the user won the competition, be sure to contact the help center (call center) or the agency’s official social media.

3. Pay with a secure method

When transacting online, especially through a website, make sure the site is safe, namely using the “https” protocol. Typically, sites with these protocols are marked with a padlock.

If you want to transfer money via internet banking, double-check the name of the account whether it matches the name of the company in question. 

4. Beware of unknown numbers

Do not reply to SMS or emails from unknown numbers, especially if the messages are suspicious. Just ignore the message, or block it and report it. Apps like WhatsApp, usually use reports to shut down certain accounts.