Our way of life has become easier because of the technological advancements that we have right now. Modern inventions and innovations has led into development of products and services that helped improve our day to day activities.

One of the activities that we really enjoy doing right now is browsing the internet. According to Hootsuite, the Philippines alone now has 67 million internet users. Internet has helped us stay connected with our loved ones, get information that we need easily, earn extra income from the comfort of our homes, and get things done easily like bills payment, remittance, and shopping.

As we become more dependent to the internet, we also become susceptible targets for criminals committing online scams.

What is Online Scam?

According to computerhope.com, “a scam is a term used to describe any fraudulent business or scheme that takes money or other goods from an unsuspecting person. With the world becoming more connected thanks to the Internet, online scams have increased, and it’s often up to you to help stay cautious with people on the Internet.”

Since more and more people uses the internet, different online scams have emerged – phishing emails, donation scam, lottery scam, credit card scam, identity theft scam, fake antivirus software, and others.

Globe Telecom, being a purveyor of digital lifestyle, came out with the #makeITsafePH cybersecurity and cyberwellness campaign to educate consumers about online threats and what they can do to avoid becoming a victim. The campaign also teaches the public proper online etiquette so that they would not become a source of such deplorable behavior.

I was asked to write an article about online scam, and I thought of giving you tips on how you can spot one. I’m not a professional when it comes to this topic, but these are the things that I do when I find something suspicious online to avoid being scammed.

How to Spot an Online Scam

Double check the URL (domain name)
When we get phishing emails, scammers usually ask us to click links to other websites. These websites usually look exactly the same as the original website. Make sure that you double check the URL (domain name) because additional words and letters can really be tricky.

Asking for personal information
When a website is asking for personal information such as birthday, email, and password, it could be an online scam. Remember that legit companies will never ask for your passwords online.

Money is involved
This is common with lottery scam. People usually receives email claiming they won a lottery and for them to claim their prize, they need to settle an amount first. Never send money to malicious websites or transactions.

The power or research
When in doubt, there’s always the internet that can help you verify if it’s legit. Most of these online scams are being reported online or discussed in forums. You can also talk to your friends about it.

It sounds too good to be true
When you receive an offer and it involves easy return of investments or money, it could be an online scam. As the old saying goes, “If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.”

Do you have other tips in identifying online scams? Please write it on the comment below. You can also share this article on your social media accounts with the hashtag #makeITsafePH to spread awareness about online scam.