Behold, the online scam market. It is getting harder and harder to spot. But, unfortunately, some are so good that it is often hard to tell. So, in this post, we’ll look at the telltale signs of when something is too good to be true.
We’re going to be covering the basics and the signs that many people might miss. So hang on, folks. This will be one heck of a post.
#1: Bad Spelling And Grammar
The first noticeable sign of an online scam is the spelling and grammar. If you receive an odd email or direct message that looks too good to be true, check how words are spelled and the basic grammar. Usually, this is a dead giveaway that it’s asking for trouble.
Bad spelling and grammar are often signs that the person sending you the online scam is not a native speaker.
#2: Aggression If You Don’t Comply
If you engage with an online scammer, you’ll find a typical pattern outside of bad spelling and grammar. Many of them become aggressive if you don’t comply with their demands. Also, they will panic if you call them out.
#3: If A Service Says It’s “Free,” It’s Not
If there is one thing we almost fell for during our near-con experience, it is the “free” concept. If you check their social media account and they say, “No free service”, but someone else engages with them and says it’s a “free service”, it’s probably not. So run as far away as possible. Block and report them if you need to. If ryour country has a government body that monitors scam trends, report them and give as much information as possible.
That way, it makes it easier for research to be done on it to alert people not to fall for it.
#4: Constant Contact If They’re Not Blocked On Social Media
A big red flag is if the person behind the online scam keeps contacting you on social media. If you have had this experience, you’ll know how terrifying it can be. The more you engage with them, the more they’ll come after you. Be sure to block them, and if you need to, shut down any account, they may have access to.
#5: Demanding Money
A big sign that you’re dealing with an online scam is if they ask for money. It doesn’t matter if it’s legit cash, crypto, gift cards, etc. It’s a con. As mentioned earlier, if they keep adding money to the con and saying you need to supply them with things, shut down ALL communication.
#6: Blackmail
This one links back to point three. Many scammers will do anything to get you to bend to their demands, and they can resort to blackmail. If this happens, do NOT respond and shut the conversation down. Please do everything you can to protect yourself, as some are relentless in their pursuit.
#7: Bragging
This next one ties to the previous point. Online scammers love to brag about their “services.”
#8: Talking About People’s Looks If Given Verification And They Talk About Things They Weren’t Told
Now, this is a weird one. Some online scam artists will talk about a person’s looks if given a photo for verification.
Another thing is some scammers will talk about things they weren’t told about.
#9: Odd Phone Calls (From Phone Numbers You Don’t Recognise)
There are still a lot of online scams that happen over the phone. If you get an old phone call out of the blue from a number you don’t recognise, then the likelihood of it being a scam is pretty high. One dead giveaway is if it’s from a number from a state or country, but you don’t know anyone from that state.
