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Tag: online scams

10 Common Internet Scams and How To Avoid Them

Posted on by Mario Canario

The internet has become a daily necessity for most people, but it also opens up opportunities for scammers to take advantage of unsuspecting users. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), Americans lost nearly $10.3 billion to internet scams in 2022 alone. Being aware of common scams and understanding how to avoid them is crucial to protect yourself from becoming a victim. Here are 10 common internet scams and tips on how to avoid them.

1. The “Accidental” Money Transfer Scam

This scam usually involves receiving money through platforms like Venmo, PayPal, or other digital payment services from someone you don’t know. The scammer then reaches out, claiming they sent it by mistake and asks you to return the money. However, the original transfer was made using stolen funds or fraudulent accounts, and when it is reversed, you lose the money you sent back.

How To Avoid It:

  • Don’t send money back to strangers. If you receive an unexpected payment, contact the platform’s support team instead of engaging with the sender.

2. Overpayment Scams (Craigslist, eBay, Facebook Marketplace)

If you’re selling an item online, scammers may offer to pay more than your asking price. They then request you return the “overpayment” or ship the item in advance. Once the funds are processed, they disappear or their payment method bounces, leaving you without your item and the money.

How To Avoid It:

  • Only accept payments through secure platforms like PayPal or eBay’s payment system. Avoid accepting checks from strangers.
Online shopping website with luxury goods – potential shopping scam.

3. Online Shopping Scams

This scam happens when buyers purchase items from fraudulent websites or sellers on platforms like Craigslist. Either the product never arrives, or the buyer receives counterfeit goods. According to AARP, 1 in 5 online shoppers has encountered a shopping scam.

How To Avoid It:

  • Stick to trusted websites and marketplaces with buyer protection. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

4. Lottery and Prize Scams

You receive an email, text, or phone call informing you that you’ve won a lottery or sweepstake, but to claim your prize, you need to pay a fee upfront. There is no prize, and once you send the money, the scammer disappears.

How To Avoid It:

  • Ignore any unsolicited “prize” notifications. Legitimate contests don’t require you to pay fees to claim a prize.

5. Job Posting Scams

Fake job postings are rampant on popular job boards. Scammers ask for fees to process applications, run background checks, or claim you need to buy equipment from them. These positions are fake, and their goal is to take your money or personal information.

How To Avoid It:

  • Legitimate employers won’t ask for money. Always research the company before providing sensitive information or paying for anything.
Fake tech support scam alert claiming a computer is infected with malware.

6. Tech Support Scams

Scammers impersonate representatives from companies like Microsoft, Apple, or your internet service provider, claiming they detected malware or viruses on your computer. They request access to your device to “fix” the issue, but in reality, they steal your data or install malware.

How To Avoid It:

  • No legitimate tech company will contact you unsolicited. If you receive such a message, ignore it. If you’re unsure, contact the company directly using verified contact details.

7. Fake Apartment Listings

These scams are common on platforms like Craigslist, where scammers create fake rental listings. They copy real photos and details from legitimate listings, then ask for deposits or fees upfront. Once they get your money, they disappear, and there’s no rental property.

How To Avoid It:

  • Always view rental properties in person before making any payments. Avoid paying deposits or application fees for listings you haven’t seen firsthand.

8. Online Romance Scams

Scammers prey on vulnerable individuals by forming online romantic relationships. Once they build trust, they start asking for money under the guise of emergency situations like medical bills or travel expenses. The FBI reports that romance scams cost Americans nearly $1.3 billion in 2022.

How To Avoid It:

  • Never send money to someone you haven’t met in person. Be wary of anyone who avoids video calls or face-to-face meetings and asks for money.

9. The “Sheriff” Scam

Scammers impersonate law enforcement officials, such as the sheriff, claiming you’ve missed jury duty or have an outstanding fine. They demand immediate payment to avoid arrest, often asking for unusual forms of payment like gift cards.

How To Avoid It:

  • Law enforcement will never demand payment over the phone. Hang up and call the actual agency directly to verify any claims.
Accidental money transfer scam message on a smartphone screen – A common online scam.

10. Wrong Number Scams

This scam starts with a random text message from a “wrong number.” The scammer engages you in conversation, gaining your trust, and eventually leads you into an investment scam, often involving cryptocurrency. They trick you into investing money on a fake platform, which they control.

Fake tech support scam alert claiming a computer is infected with malware.

How To Avoid It:

  • Avoid responding to wrong-number texts. If you engage, scammers may try to draw you into more elaborate schemes.

Final Thoughts: Stay Aware to Stay Safe

Protecting yourself from online scams starts with knowledge. While scammers are constantly evolving their tactics, being aware of common scams can significantly reduce your risk. Keep your personal information private, don’t engage with unsolicited offers, and always verify the legitimacy of any transaction or request.

As online fraud continues to grow, it’s essential to remain cautious and skeptical. When in doubt, research the situation and contact customer support for the platform or service you’re using. If something feels off, it probably is.

At Redbird Technology Solutions, we specialize in safeguarding your online activities and home. From IT services to advanced security camera installation, we ensure that your digital and physical spaces are protected. Want to learn more? Check out our latest article, Essential Tips for Choosing Home Security Cameras, to take the next step in securing your home!

I Just Got a WILD Scam Email: Here’s What Happened and How To Avoid It

Posted on by Mario Canario

Recently, I received a wild scam email that made me stop in my tracks. It was surprisingly detailed, even including personal information like my name, address, and a photo of my house! As concerning as this was at first, it turns out this type of scam is more common than you might think. After digging into it and seeing numerous reports on Reddit, I realized it wasn’t just happening to me—this scam is making the rounds, targeting thousands of people.

In this article, I’ll walk you through what this scam looks like, why it’s not as personal as it seems, and most importantly, how you can protect yourself from falling for similar traps.

A shocked individual reacting to a WILD scam email that includes fake threats and demands for Bitcoin payment.

What Was in the Scam Email?

The scam email looked unsettling at first glance. The subject line was simply my name, and the body of the wild scam email contained my full name, address, and phone number. Attached was a PDF with a photo of my house pulled straight from Google Street View. The wild scam email claimed that someone had hacked my computer, watched me through my phone camera, and had “incriminating” footage of me doing “shameful things.” To prevent the footage from being shared with my contacts, the scammer demanded $2,000 in Bitcoin.

The scam email even mentioned the infamous Pegasus spyware, a government-level tool that made the threat seem more credible to anyone not familiar with its real use.

At first, it might seem terrifying. But here’s the key takeaway:

It’s a scam.

Breaking Down the Scam

Automated Mass Email, Not Personal Targeting

Even though the wild scam email feels personal, it’s anything but. This scam works by pulling information from publicly available data leaks. Our information has been breached so many times through various sites that it’s not hard for scammers to get their hands on it. They use scripts or bots to automatically send out these emails, which pull from databases of names, addresses, and phone numbers. They’re not specifically targeting you—they’re blasting this to thousands of people in the hopes that some will fall for it.

The scam works like this:

  1. Data Breach: Scammers grab data from one of the many breaches that have happened over the years. Sites like LinkedIn, Yahoo, and others have been hacked, leaking millions of people’s information online.
  2. Automated Process: The scammer’s bot goes through the list of names, addresses, and phone numbers from the breach. It pairs the information with a generic PDF letter, sometimes including a Google Street View image of your house.
  3. Mass Sending: The bot sends out thousands of emails using the same letter, with only minor changes like name and address. Each recipient gets a seemingly “custom” email, but it’s just a copy-and-paste job.
A picture of a house used in a WILD scam email, threatening victims with personal details like addresses to instill fear.

Why the Scam Feels Personal

When you receive an email that lists your private information and claims to have hacked you, it’s natural to feel alarmed. You might wonder, “How did they get all this info? Are they really watching me?”

The reality is, they’re not. The Google Street View photo of your house? That’s easy for anyone to get. Your name and address? Probably leaked in one of the many massive data breaches that have happened over the years.

If the scammer actually had the compromising material they claimed to have, wouldn’t they just send it right away instead of asking for payment upfront? The fact that they haven’t shows this is just a scare tactic to pressure you into paying them.

Bitcoin Payment Demands

Bitcoin is the preferred currency for scammers because it’s hard to trace. Once the money is sent, it’s virtually impossible to get it back. The scammer asks for a payment in Bitcoin hoping that their victim, scared by the email, will quickly send over the money.

However, never pay these types of demands. If someone really had this kind of damaging information, they wouldn’t waste time with a long letter—they’d send the proof immediately.

A close-up of a smartphone displaying a phishing text message, part of a WILD scam email scheme.

How to Recognize and Avoid Scam Emails

Now that you know the scam is not as dangerous as it seems, it’s essential to understand how to protect yourself from similar attempts in the future. Here’s how:

1. Look for Red Flags in the Email

  • Urgency: Scammers often use urgency to make you act quickly without thinking. Phrases like “Pay within 48 hours” or “Send Bitcoin now or else” are huge red flags.
  • Strange Payment Methods: If the scammer requests payment in Bitcoin, gift cards, or other hard-to-trace methods, it’s almost always a scam.
  • Generic Information: The email may seem personal, but scammers use generic templates. If they can’t provide specific, verifiable information, that’s a sign it’s fake.

2. Never Click on Suspicious Links or Download Attachments

Even if the email looks legitimate, avoid downloading any files or clicking on any links. Attachments can contain malware that can infect your computer.

3. Don’t Respond to Scammers

Interacting with scammers, even to tell them off, lets them know that your email address is active. This could lead to more scam attempts down the line.

4. Use the “Report Phishing” Feature in Your Email

Most email platforms, like Gmail and Outlook, allow you to report phishing attempts. Use this feature to help the email provider improve their filtering and stop similar scams from reaching others.

5. Consider Freezing Your Credit

Since data breaches are common, and scammers may attempt to use your information to open new accounts, it’s wise to freeze your credit. This prevents anyone from opening a credit line or taking out a loan in your name.

In the U.S., you can freeze your credit for free with the three major credit bureaus:

  • Equifax
  • Experian
  • TransUnion

You can also consider freezing with smaller bureaus like InnoVis and ChexSystems.

6. Educate Yourself and Spread Awareness

Scammers rely on victims not knowing about their tactics. By staying informed and sharing this knowledge with others, you can reduce the chances of people falling for these types of schemes.

What To Do If You’ve Already Responded

If you’ve already responded to a scam email or even paid the scammer, take the following steps immediately:

  1. Contact your bank or payment service (such as PayPal or your credit card company) to report the scam and attempt to stop the payment.
  2. Change your passwords if you’ve shared any sensitive information, and use a password manager to generate strong, unique passwords for each account.
  3. Monitor your accounts for any unusual activity and report it immediately.

Final Thoughts

While scam emails like these can be frightening at first, understanding how they work takes away their power. Remember, scammers are looking for easy targets, and their threats are hollow. Now that you know the signs, you can protect yourself and help others avoid becoming victims.

At Redbird Technology Solutions, we provide cutting-edge IT services to protect you from the growing number of online threats, from phishing emails to data breaches. We also specialize in security camera installation to keep your physical space secure. For more information on staying safe online, read our article on Understanding and Avoiding theWeb Envy Scam and let us help you stay protected in the digital world.