How students can protect themselves from scammers on social networks

Today it is hard to imagine a person who does not have a profile on social networks. Because of the activity on the Internet, scammers began to appear on social networks. In this regard, the number of cybercrimes has increased, including those that can rob a student, who has a small budget anyway. Summer holidays, payment of communal bills, essay writing service and fashionable clothes – how not to find yourself without money? How not to fall for the tricks of scammers in social networks and not to lose a scholarship and earned money read in this article.

What is Internet fraud?

Internet fraud is a type of fraud using the Internet. It can involve hiding information or giving incorrect information to extort money, property, or inheritance from victims.

1. Don’t look for easy money

There are no easy earnings on the Internet. Only scammers promise to give you a million at once. It is best to ignore ads for earnings without investment and immediately add them to the black list. This is usually the way they try to lure you into pyramid schemes or fraudulent networks.

2. Do not believe strange messages from friends or relatives

Everyone has faced receiving messages from relatives or friends with a request to borrow money. Many highly credulous people are fooled by tricks and transfer significant amounts of money. If you are told that the person is out of town, has no money, has no card, has changed telephone number, etc., then it is better to call him/her first and check if it is not a fake.

3. Connect VPN in unfamiliar places

With a local network, scammers often steal personal information from social networks or computers. Scammers can easily connect to your laptop or phone, download your photos/correspondence, and then start blackmailing. Therefore, it is better to enable VPN in places you don’t know.

4. Come up with a strong password

Many passwords on social networks don’t change for several years. Some have one code for all time, but it is better not to do so. You can choose uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and Latin alphabets as your password. It’s easier to recover a password than to get your stolen money back.

5. Don’t click on strange links

You may receive an email from a fake account or someone you know asking you to click a link as quickly as possible. In addition, scammers often lure the victim with a mention in a community post. For example, it could be a link to a fake win. If you’ve ever posted on Avito, scammers may include your number in a text message. It’s better to text directly on the app.

6. Buying things

In order not to run into scammers, it’s better not to buy goods from the left sites. Find the official websites of brand representatives and order through them. Recognizing the scammer is simple – he/she will ask for prepayment directly to the card. In the case of the real store, you pay for the purchase, and the money is deducted immediately, going directly to the store.

7. Do not trust bank employees who ask for any passwords

Often scammers call from a familiar number – 900. In 99% of cases, the bank will not call you. It will simply not make the transaction you made and will ask you to confirm it again.

What to do if you still ran into a fraudster?

If you suddenly suspected that you became a victim of fraud, then immediately call the bank and block the card. After that, it is better to report the fraudsters, even if there was no suspicious activity, but you called your card number. Banks may respond in different ways. Some you can just call or write to, and some you have to go to.