Scams can take various forms. However, these usually have a common target, that of conning their victims out of their money or of obtaining personal details, such as bank account details, PIN numbers, or internet banking log-in details.
Sometimes, while browsing the internet, pop up windows may appear on our computer screens which elicit us to click and claim a prize. In reality, once we click we are then asked to call a specific telephone number to claim the prize. What we usually are not aware of, is that these calls are very expensive and if we fall victims to such scams, we will end up spending money on a telephone call where the promised prize does not exist. To avoid falling victims of such scams, the best way is to never try and claim such prizes. The best answer is a ‘NO’. You should also ask yourself the following: If you did not buy a ticket, how could you win? Free prizes are supposed to be ‘free’ so why are you being asked for money or to make an expensive call?
‘Pyramid Schemes’ are another common form of ‘scams’. Usually, these schemes entice the recruiting of people who put money into the scheme. However, for everyone to profit, there would have to be an endless supply of people and there never is. When these schemes eventually collapse, most of the participants in the scheme lose money. Furthermore, such schemes are considered illicit and hence promoting or participating in these kind of schemes is illegal under the Consumer Affairs Act.
Another ‘popular’ scam is Phishing. This occurs when scammers try to get your personal details, like bank account and credit card numbers, usernames and passwords. When giving out such details, we risk having money stolen from our bank account, or that someone spends money using our credit card details, or having our identity stolen and hence risk that someone takes out loans in our name.
One of the preferred tool used by phishing scammers is the telephone. Lately, a substantial number of Maltese consumers have reported that they received a telephone call from persons claiming that they are representing a global software provider. These callers claim that our PC has a virus and a particular anti-virus software needs to be installed. Then they tell us that they can resolve the problem remotely and ask us to allow them to do so by following a number of steps. Before hanging up, they will also ask us for our credit card details, claiming that the software they installed on our computer is not free and there is an annual subscription.
These scammers may be quite persuasive and to avoid falling victims to such scams, the best thing to do is hang up. Keep in mind that if there really is a problem with our computer, we would realize that and we would be the one calling on a PC technician and not the other way round.
Phishing may also be carried out through emails that appear to come from our bank or credit card company, asking us to update our personal information. When asked for any confidential information related to our finances, we should immediately realize that it is a scam. We should remember that our bank will never ask us for our personal details in this way. If we are in doubt, because the email looks genuine, or the caller sounds very professional, we should contact the bank ourselves by using the phone, rather than email, and by calling at the bank’s official number.
To avoid falling victims of scams, we should never forget that scammers are always finding new ways by which to trick us and get from us as much money as possible. The best defense is to be aware of the current scams that are going on and to be on our guard at all times. We should also keep in mind that no one will ever give us anything for free, and if something sounds too good to be true, then it usually is. Common sense can also take us a long way and help us understand whether or not we are being scammed.
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