With the technological advances in this day and age,
scammers are becoming more sophisticated and effective. But, no
matter how charismatic and persuasive a con artist can be, you can
avoid losing money by following these 5 ways:
1. DO NOT GIVE YOUR BANK DETAILS OVER
THE PHONE
Most of the phones today have caller ID that shows you
the number of the person or the company on the other end of the
line. If you do not recognize the number or the caller and he or
she asked you for your valued bank details, say you will call back.
Wait for a few minutes then, try to call the number again to access
the validity of the caller.
It is better to not give any sensitive details over the
phone, unless if you initiated the call. Simply, if you do not
recognize the caller’s number and the area code is not
+65(Singapore’s area code) then, it is most
likely a scam.
2. BE CAREFUL WITH THE LINKS
To avoid downloading virus or other malware, only open
attachments and links that were given by your friends, family,
partners, and clients.
Apply this rule for emails and social media messaging.
For instance, there was a scam that used a fake Facebook game based
on the popular “Twilight” series to
gather the personal information of the Twilight fans.
3. BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR
EMAILS
There are three “Don’ts” that you must follow to avoid becoming the
target of an online scam:
a. Do not provide your personal email address
freely.
b. Do not respond to emails that are asking for your personal
information.
c. Do not answer emails whose senders are unknown.
Image Credits: Wikiphoto (Creative Commons
License)
4. KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR DEBIT AND CREDIT
CARD REPORTS
If someone else assumes your identity or steals your
wealth, a good way to find evidence of the crime is by checking
your credit card statements. I am sure that most of the banks have
online banking now so, you will have the convenience to track your
spendings anytime and anywhere. Report any suspicious activity to
your bank right away.
Aside from credit card fraud, you can lose more money
if you are a victim of debit card fraud. Since your debit card is
connected directly to your savings, losses can be more extensive.
And, money will be harder to recover. This is why you must check
your account frequently and be vigilant of the people who stand
close to you while you are using your debit card.
5. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO DISCUSS WITH
OTHERS
Con artists seek those individuals who are perceived as
solitary, trusting, and gullible. If an opportunity (e.g., a new
business venture or a new insurance scheme) arrives at your
doorstep, do not hesitate to ask for more time to think things
through.
Before making a huge decision, it is important to
consider the situation and the consequences carefully. Tell the
agent or the potential con artist this: “I will
discuss this with my lawyer and my partner. After which, I will get
back to you.”
Sources: 1
& 2