Online surveys and contests are everywhere on the internet, but they often hide a number of risks and scams.
As cybersecurity company ESET notes, scam campaigns are an increasingly large business for cybercriminals.
A study revealed that a single criminal network was making $80 million per month from victims worldwide, using surveys and giveaways from 120 well-known brands to attract its victims.
Such scams often begin with an email or text message that has likely been sent to countless other victims and is designed to entice the recipient to participate by clicking.
After all, surveys can be a useful tool for companies, but they often have limited value for consumers. So, it’s best to avoid them altogether unless you have a very good reason to participate.
16 tips to avoid being stalked online
- Be wary of offers that seem too good to be true. It could be a big cash prize for a few minutes of work or an expensive gift.
- Watch out for typos or poor grammar; they can be a sign that things aren’t quite right.
- Shortened URLs can also indicate a scam.
- Limited time offers are another way for scammers to put pressure on their victims.
- Sometimes it may not be clear who is conducting the survey; there is no “contact us” link.
- If the sender is using a free webmail account, then the survey is likely a scam.
- Also, take the following steps to stay safe and protected:
- Don’t blindly trust survey offers, even if they come from a friend or family member.
- Look for the contest to see if it has been reported as a scam or if it is legitimate.
- Install a security solution from a trusted vendor on all devices and computers.
- Keep your operating system and apps up to date on all computers and devices.
- Trust only official app stores, such as “Google Play” and “App Store.”
- Stay informed about current threats; it will provide a useful early warning system.
- Use strong and unique passwords combined with multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all important accounts. Even if scammers do steal your passwords, they’re less likely to access those accounts with 2FA enabled.
- Be suspicious of unsolicited emails or phone calls.
- Never pay to get money later; it’s always a scam.
If the worst happens, notify your bank immediately and cancel your cards or block them through your banking app first. Also, change any passwords that may have been compromised.
Source:
(Συνολικές Επισκέψεις: / Total Visits: 8)
(Σημερινές Επισκέψεις: / Today's Visits: 1)