Introduction to Scams

What is a scam?

A scam is designed to trick you into giving away your money, personal details, or data by offering an attractive deal or false information.

• Scammers could contact potential victims through various communication channels, such as phone calls, WhatsApp messages, SMSes, social media, and e-commerce platforms.

• Scammers may target victims who unwittingly respond to their outreach and then deceive them, resulting in victims losing something of value to the scammers (usually transferring of money or virtual credits, or revealing personal particulars or credentials).

• There is usually no face-to-face meeting between scammers and their victims throughout the engagement process.

Common signs of scams

• Unusual communication
  The way they talk to you seems strange or different from normal.

• Communication from unverified sources
  You don't really know who is sending the messages.

• Deals that are too good to be true
  They promise benefits or opportunities that sound amazing but seem unrealistic.

• Visible errors or signs of spoofing
  You can see mistakes or parts that look copied or fake.

• Requires clicking links or downloading things
  They ask you to open links, or install files or apps on your phone or computer.

• Requests for personal details
  They ask for information about you that should be private.

• Asking to send money to strangers
  They want you to pay people or groups you do not know.

• Asking to control your device (i.e. screen-sharing)
  They want more access to your phone or computer, like seeing your screen.

• Saying you must act now
  They try to make you feel like you need to act or respond urgently.

• Making you feel very worried
  They try to upset you or make you panic so you react and do what they want you to.