Even if you know how to protect yourself against scammers, it doesn’t hurt to have additional knowledge of how to do this more effectively. So in this post, we thought we’d provide tips and tricks to protect oneself against scammers and prevent further attacks.
This post also focuses on scam phone calls, not just social media scams.
Let’s jump into it, shall we?
#1: Limit How Many Photos You Show Of Yourself Online
The first one is often hard, given many people like showing their lives online, but it is essential to protect ourselves too. Having too many photos online of yourself can often raise your chances of being scammed and your information held for ransom by hackers.
To avoid this, limit how many photos of yourself you have on your social media accounts. Also, be sure not to upload confidential material that could be used as revenge porn.
#2: Use A VPN As A Layer Of Protection
If you’re an avid YouTube watcher, you will know that many creators have VPN providers as sponsors. There are many providers out there, and they cost very little to subscribe to. However, each has pros and cons, as they don’t all share the same attributes.
Using a VPN, which stands for Virtual Private Network, hides your IP address and even allows you to change your IP address and makes the internet think you reside elsewhere so that you can access other versions of the streaming services you may have access to.
#3: Write Down Odd Situations
If you believe scammers are targeting you, be sure to write down odd situations you’ve been involved in. This makes it easier to send a report to your local cyber-related authorities. Be sure also to take screenshots and place them in a secure place.
#4: Use As Many Layers Of Protection To Protect Yourself Online As Possible
Outside of the VPN, if you have social media, it is best to have two-factor authorisation switched on if the website has this option. Also, make sure you write passwords down in a safe place and add as many options as possible to get back into your accounts if you get hacked.
Also, be sure to mix your passwords up. Use capital and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols if you can.
#5: Research Any Services Before Contacting Them
Please, don’t do what we did that had us almost conned. Be sure to research any services you want to use, and don’t just go off people’s opinions. As referenced in our previous article, “How to Spot an Online Scam“, it’s likely a scam if you see anything with horrible spelling. Also, if it says it’s “free” and they say money needs to switch hands, block them immediately.
#6: Block Anyone You Deem Dodgy
As mentioned before, if you see someone being dodgy, block them and any other accounts they might have. In addition, some social media outlets like Instagram allow you to stop any person who might have multiple accounts running from the same email address.
For example, if they have two accounts running from the same email address, both accounts would be blocked.
#7: Hang up On Robocalls And Protect Your Phone By Blocking Scam Calls
Moving over to scam phone calls, the best way to protect yourself is to hang up on robocalls. However, scammers have gotten better at hiding their crimes. So, don’t be polite if you get contacted by a robocall centre. Just hang up, and if you can, block the number. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you get contacted by a robo scam:
- Big companies like phone services will never call you. This includes banks unless you request a call.
- It’s more likely to be a scam if there are gaps at the beginning of the call.
- If you hear background noise, it’s likely a scam, especially if the person on the other end of the call has a foreign accent.
#8: Use Anti-Scam/Spam Apps
Take this next point with a pinch of salt because it doesn’t always work. If you have a look in your apps store, you may be able to find apps that detect scam/spam calls. However, these don’t always function correctly.
#9: Check Your Bank Account Regularly
Scammers have one thing on their minds; money. Be sure to check your bank account regularly. If you see any unauthorised transactions, immediately report them to your bank. They might be able to prevent the transaction from completing. If you have made a transaction to a scam via a credit or debit card, have the card cancelled.
#10: Use An Incognito Window On Your Web Browser To Protect Browsing History
This doesn’t protect you from attacks, but it provides safety for your browser’s data. An incognito window won’t save your browsing history, information entered into fields, cookies, or site data.
#11: Only Use Public Wi-Fi When Necessary
One common way to avoid being hacked is not using public Wi-Fi if you’re out and about. It is usually slow due to the significant traffic and is also a feeding ground for local scammers. If you need public Wi-Fi, do NOT enter your bank details or any accounts connected to a card. Also, if you have a VPN, use that while using public Wi-Fi.
#12: Research Scams Relevant To Your Situation
If you think a scammer is harassing you, research scams relevant to your situation. For example, research Instagram scams if an Instagram scam is targeting you.
#13: Delete Suspicious Emails And Run Virus Scans To Protect Your Emails
Email scams are often easy to identify. If you see anything about Bitcoin, inheritance, or anything else that looks off, delete it immediately. If you’re getting emails from a provider that claims to be your internet service, report it to the actual service. Sometimes, they will tell you if it’s a scam. Also, if you are able, block the account from sending the emails because they may keep sending more. The same applies to phone numbers if you get scam texts.
#14: Take Screenshots of Dodgy Dealings
Be sure to take plenty of screenshots of dodgy dealings and store them securely. These might help you if you’re ever called to give evidence.
#15: Protect And Cover Microphones And Webcams
Hackers have become more crafty in hacking computers and phones to spy on their targets. If possible, cover over webcams and microphones when they’re not in use.
#16: Ensure That Valued Accounts Like Bank Accounts Are Logged Out Of And Shut Down Devices When Not In Use
When using accounts that have your credit or debit card or even your bank account linked, log out when they’re not in use. This includes streaming services.
#17: Be Sure To Monitor And Protect Your Children Online
If you have children, be sure to monitor their online activities. Set guidelines for them to protect them from potentially running into scams.
#18: Don’t Include Highly Sensitive Information On Social Media
Sometimes, including private information online is just the way of social media, but under no circumstances should you include credit card information or phone numbers. Only include a phone number if you’re running a business.
