Semalt: Things You Need To Know About Internet Fraud and Scams

Internet fraud is the illegal use of internet software or services to take advantage of someone's assets. Every year, millions to billions of dollars are stolen via internet websites, emails, and other similar things. Several high-profile hackers use the names of renewed sellers to trap the victims and to take their money on the internet. With the passage of time, Internet fraud has become a major concern for civilians and law-enforcement agencies.

Ross Barber, the Semalt Customer Success Manager, conveys crucial information about this type of criminal activity.

How to protect yourself

It is possible to protect yourself on the web if you know everything about the types of internet frauds. Stolen credit cards, unknown emails, lotteries, untrustworthy websites and fake auctions are the most common types of online scams. There is no set rule to stay safe on the internet; however, you can protect yourself by keeping your credit card details saved. It is also important that you avoid clicking the unknown attachments and do not share your username or password with a third party.

What to do if you become a victim

The numbers of online scams are on the rise these days, so it is important for you to keep in mind a few things:

• 1. Only respond to emails that have come from authentic IDs. If your spam folder is receiving a significant number of emails, you must delete them as early as possible.
• 2. You should remember that no real job requires fees, including visa processing fees, certification fees, and administrative charges. If someone offers you a job and wants you to submit a fee, there are chances that he or she is trying to trap you.
• 3. You should not get trapped by someone who says you have won a lottery. There is no such thing online, so hackers only intend to attract you and steal your money.

How to receive your money back

Cyber laws offer legal resources and ways to recover your money. If you have been a victim of such scams, you may contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center. File a complaint with this company, and they will trace the IP address from which your money has been stolen.

You can also submit a Customer Dispute Resolution Form with your bank so that further transactions get stopped. For this, you have to contact your nearby bank branch and provide them with all the details. The court may further conduct inquiries into your complaints, and the matter will be heard and decided in nine to eleven months.

Types of internet fraud

Here are some of the major types of internet scams that law enforcement and regulatory authorities and consumer organizations see:

• Auction and Retail Schemes Online

Fraudulent schemes often appear on auction websites to attract more and more people. Hackers try to steal your money through these schemes by offering you a handsome amount or trips to other countries.

• Business Opportunity

If someone contacts you through email and offers a business opportunity, there are chances that he or she is trying to trap you. Business opportunities are never offered via private email IDs.

• Identity Theft and Fraud

Some Internet fraud schemes involve identity thefts – the wrongful obtaining and using of your personal data in a way that involves deception or fraud.