How Have Scams Evolved in Recent Years?

Scams have been around since ancient times. Examples of these were the Roman armies that sold the throne of their emperor and Greek merchants who sank their ships to get insurance. In modern times, fraudulent activities have evolved, involving faking signatures, issuing bouncing checks, and manipulating accounting documents.

With the release of smartphones, users were also targeted with text scams asking users to transfer money immediately. Some scammers pose as family members in an emergency and need money right away. The advancement of technology paved the way for better security measures to prevent fraudulent activities. However, hackers have also evolved their skills and knowledge and continuously look for ways to pass through the securities and scam people. More recent scam evolution includes the following:

Email phishing

Scammers posing to be from a legitimate company send emails to get your personal information by filling up a form, clicking on a link, or providing specific details. These emails were easy to spot in the past because of their typographical and grammatical errors. Plus, the email address used would immediately tell you they are fake. But they are now more brilliant as the emails look exactly like those sent by actual companies. Moreover, their email addresses also look more valid.

Card-not-present or CNP fraud

It refers to the use of the credit card for unauthorized payments. Scammers find ways to gain access to credit card information and use them for fraudulent transactions, which are then charged to the victim.

Cryptocurrency scams

Cryptocurrencies are online currencies that have grown in popularity in recent years. Their steady increase in value makes them an ideal target for scammers. Fraudsters trick users into transferring cryptocurrency to their wallets using various means. For example, they promise the victims to grow their money through investment or networking. Others use dating apps to gain the trust of their targets and eventually ask them to transfer cryptocurrency to their wallets. Since this field is not regulated, it can be challenging to get back the amount lost. However, some companies specialize in getting chargebacks from cryptocurrency scams. Top 10 Chargeback is a review site that lists the most trusted chargeback service providers experienced in this area.

Fake sites

If phishing emails pose as legitimate emails, phishing sites pose as legitimate sites. Hackers create these sites to look like actual company websites. So, if you don’t look closely, it would be hard to tell the difference. Therefore, always be careful and thoroughly check the site before signing up, logging in, or performing transactions.

Tech support scams

Some scammers pose as tech support. They may contact you through various means and tell you that there is a problem with your account, device, or app. You may be asked to download something, which can be a virus or spyware designed to steal your information. Others would ask you to provide information for the verification process and proceed with the so-called repair.

Stay alert and always be mindful of every transaction that you make. Ensure that you are dealing with a legitimate company, site, and email to avoid scams.