The money we earn and spend is something most of us don’t take lightly which is why one of the scariest things that can happen to anyone is to be scammed of their money. It pays to pay attention, and this is especially true when we’re confronted with suspicious transactions or offers.
Money makes the world go round. As overused and cliched that statement may be, it rings true especially today. Most of our day to day activities are, more or less, influenced by our need for cash. We go to work to earn money. We opt to commute going to and from work to save a buck. We cook meals at home instead of eating out because it costs way too much money to eat out. It seems bleak and repetitive, but it’s how life goes for most of us.
For the majority of us, money is something that must be spent wisely. Nowadays, it’s too easy to get scammed for your money. With the abundance of online scams, phishing, and other forms of financial frauds it can be difficult to differentiate which deals are real and which deals aren’t. It can also be challenging to hire new personnel in a company even if there’s a reliable financial sanctions screening process in place. Fortunately, protecting yourself from getting scammed of your money isn’t entirely impossible.
Read on to know more about the different ways you can keep your money safe from the dangers of financial fraud.
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Be Wary Of Online Purchases
Today, many people use social media platforms, like Facebook and Instagram to promote their business. This is because of the convenience it offers to both merchants and consumers. However, due to easy access- many people also use it for scam and fraud. Users may send you a faulty item, put up a false advertisement, or even disappear after you’ve sent your payment.
One way to protect yourself in situations like this is to ask for a Cash on Delivery option so you’ll be sure to get your item before you make a purchase. Another way is to do a thorough background check on the seller. Chances are if they’re a scammer on the loose they’ll be using a fake account which is easy to spot.
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Never Give Out Financial Information
If you get a text, an email, or a call from someone you’re not familiar with, the last thing you should do is give out any personal information. This includes ID numbers and credit card details. If a person is claiming to be someone you know and they’re asking for your credit card details or such, always find ways to confirm if it’s really them. As a rule of thumb, steer clear of transactions that involve money if they’re not done in person.
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Upgrade Your Online Security
Nowadays, it’s more difficult for people to protect their information given that the internet helps hackers trace and acquire information from users without them even noticing. The ads that we usually ignore are actually tailored to our recent activity because even the social media we use monitors what we do online. Aside from this, fraudulent emails can now appear as convincing as ever with the help of modern technology. Anyone can conjure up a fake company or charity with a few applications.
If you’d like to be extra careful about your online security especially when it comes to sensitive information like bank account or credit card details be sure to triple-check emails that require you to give out your information. Quick Google searches will yield whether or not the organization that sent that particular email is real or not. Ad blockers can also come in handy when upgrading your security online.
Avoiding scammers might be a bit challenging given the many innovations we have today, but there are plenty of ways to avoid financial fraud by being mindful and careful about the information we give out. In terms of money, one can never be too careful.
