Protecting yourself from online scams in 2021
Here is an article about online scams, phishing and ransomware that I wrote for an IT firm.
The digital landscape is hard to keep track of. With every new development comes its counterpart, new ransomware or malware technique that could seriously harm your business. It is important to know the dangers of online scams and how to protect ourselves from them.
Online scams are getting increasingly popular
Over the course of 2020, Ransomware occurrences grew by 875%. Not only are they happening more often, but they are taking place on bigger scales every time. No type of scam has no impact: whether it be massive ransomware attacks that could reach international proportions, or simple identity fraud, phishing, or farming, any kind of scam could have a repercussion on your business.
Online scams are more dangerous than you might think
Though ransomware is not new, the money in play has grown from thousands to millions of dollars. Even the biggest companies such as Apple, or Acer, and even government institutions such as the Colonial Pipeline have been victims of ransomware. The consequences of these attacks are getting worse: there is great potential for scam events to disrupt the every day habitual operations that we all rely on so much. Power companies could have to stop running, and hospitals may not be able to dispatch ambulances and treat urgent patients. On a smaller scale even, no data is safe from being stolen by malware and online scammers and constantly coming up with different ways of extorting money or information from people. Here are a few:
• ‘You just won a prize’ identity theft
• Fake charities
• Dating and romance scams
• ‘Verify your identity’ personal information theft • Fake buying or selling transactions
• Fake investments
• ‘Guaranteed’ ways to make fast money
• Threats and extortion
• For more: https://carmichaelconsulting.net/online-scams/
How you can protect yourself from online scams
Here at Carmichael Consulting, though we can help you recover from scams, we’d rather help you prevent any damage to be done to your business. Our best advice for you to avoid falling victims to scams would be:
•Stay skeptical of too good to be true promises. Delete, hang up, and block if you feel as though the deal seems a bit too perfect.
•Scammers want to pressure you into making a fast, ill-informed decision, so always take the time to think. A legitimate business/vendor will always let you reflect upon making a purchase. Maybe ask someone else for their opinion.
• Always be aware of who you are dealing with. If someone who you have never heard of contacts you out of the blue, that’s often a sign that you’re dealing with a scammer. Don’t be afraid to thoroughly research vendors/businesses - read reviews, anything you can find to check their reputation and their legitimacy.
• Protect your data and important information at all times. Never give out any information to a source you don’t completely trust. Legitimate firms will never ask you for sensitive information upon initially contacting you - change your passwords regularly, and make sure no two are the same across different platforms.
Going with the less expensive vendor isn’t always the best option
As a business, it’s natural to want to consider the most cost-effective options. However, choosing the cheapest vendor isn’t always a good idea. Many scams use attractive prices to lure customers into purchasing. Vendor fraud is extremely common - always perform due diligence when setting up a new vendor by checking tax ID and telephone numbers, PO boxes/mailing addresses... Purchasing goods or services will put your business at risk if you don’t take precautions. In any case, whether it’s sharing the risks and dangers with you, or helping your business recover from malware, ransomware or vendor fraud, here at Carmichael Consulting we can assist you in protection against online scams.
