Learn what to do if you paid someone you suspect of being a scammer, gave them personal information, or granted them access to your phone or computer.
Scammers are incredibly convincing. They contact, email, and text us in an attempt to obtain our money or sensitive personal information, such as our Social Security numbers or account numbers. They're also really good at what they do. Here's what to do if you paid or offered your personal information to someone you suspect is a fraudster.
Who Gets Scammed: Why Some People Are More Vulnerable
5 characteristics that could make you an easy target
The "illusion of invulnerability," as in "I'm too smart to ever fall for a deception," is the most harmful attitude a customer can have, according to social scientists. No, you're not, and all the evidence suggests that everybody, regardless of age, education, race, or gender, has the capacity to be conned, given the correct circumstances and a con artist who is skilled at putting his victim "under the ether," in other words, unaware of risk.
Defend Your Privacy with the Best VPN
Protect your devices and data while maintaining your privacy for only $3.66 per month.
iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, Fire TV & more
30-day money-back guarantee: https://bit.ly/3MbAcwN
Furthermore, typical victimhood thinking is sometimes incorrect: when it comes to falling for scams, millennials, not elders, are the most vulnerable. According to 2017 Federal Trade Commission data, persons in their 20s accounted for 40% of those who reported losing money to fraud, with those 70 and older accounting for only 18%.
However, the FTC discovered that older persons who fell victim to scammers lost far more money than younger adults. According to experts, financial fraud losses among the elderly are due not just to age-related cognitive impairment, but also to the fact that the 65-plus demographic controls trillions of dollars—and thieves follow the money.
Researchers have been able to discover specific features that distinguish those who are taken in from those who are not, regardless of age. According to Doug Shadel, author of "Outsmarting the Scam Artists" (Wiley, 2012), victims exhibit the following characteristics at substantially higher rates than nonvictims.
Being a Bargain Hunter
Do you know someone who is continually looking for investment "opportunities" and bargains, who sends away for promotional materials and enters contests and drawings, and who reads all of their mail (electronic and postal), including sales brochures and generic charity solicitations? A person who is exposed to what is commonly referred to as "the marketplace" on a frequent basis is susceptible to becoming a scam victim.
Defend Your Privacy with the Best VPN
Protect your devices and data while maintaining your privacy for only $3.66 per month.
iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, Fire TV & more
30-day money-back guarantee: https://bit.ly/3MbAcwN
Persuasion Susceptibility
Doug Shadel and his colleagues discovered in several research that fraud victims are more interested than the general public in particular claims used by con artists to catch their prey: "This offer is only valid for the next 24 hours," says the seller. "My clients are making 30% a year on this investment," or—a favorite among veterans, who have become a new favorite target for con artists—"From one ex-Marine to another..."
Lack of a Defensive Plan
Scam victims are more likely to take fewer precautions to avoid or mitigate fraud. They don't allow themselves enough time to ponder after hearing a sales pitch, they don't undertake rigorous professional reference checks, and they're less likely to sign up for registries that limit unwanted phone calls.
Defend Your Privacy with the Best VPN
Protect your devices and data while maintaining your privacy for only $3.66 per month.
iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, Fire TV & more
30-day money-back guarantee: https://bit.ly/3MbAcwN
Possibility of Taking Risks
Researchers believe there is a substantial link between this attribute and victimization, in part because high-risk but legitimate investments share many characteristics with fraudulent offers, such as the potential for higher profits and the need to make a quick choice. As a result, people with similar personality types are drawn to both.
Faced with a Difficult Situation
Watch out if you've lost a loved one, going through a divorce, have been laid off from a job, or otherwise suffered a major crisis in the last two years. According to a 2013 Federal Trade Commission research, your chances of getting scammed more than double—most likely because dealing with challenging living conditions consumes cognitive ability that could be utilized to detect scams.
How to Avoid Scams on the Internet
Do you know how to safeguard yourself against internet dangers?
Click The Link Below To Make Sure that Never Happen Again
Defend Your Privacy with the Best VPN
Protect your devices and data while maintaining your privacy for only $3.66 per month.