The Internet can sometimes seem like a jungle. Too much information flow makes scams and scams always lurking. The consequences of falling into one of them always cause too many inconveniences, it is not only about losing money, but that a feeling of vulnerability takes over us. No one is free from being the victim of an attempted scam, but for that reason we are going to give some guidelines that avoid falling into the trap. It will be enough to follow some basic safety rules to make it increasingly difficult for those who are lurking.
Scams, the internet is the great breeding ground
The picaresque has always been there, and with the arrival of a digitized society, what until recently was done in person has its translation on the Internet. Scams such as the tocomocho or the stamp have been replaced by Nigerian scams, in which they suddenly try to make us believe that we are heirs to a great fortune.
Truth be told, the Internet is the ideal breeding ground for scams. But we must not get carried away by those siren songs that scams always involve. It is, when it happens to us, when we are able to realize the few precautions that have been taken or how we have allowed ourselves to be deceived.
How to recognize a scam
Scams and scams generally arrive by email. They always follow the same pattern, it is an email that we have not requested and that is from an unknown sender. Normally he addresses us correctly, but there is something that draws attention, they usually use a very particular Castilian, the result of being an automatic Google translation.
In this email they are made aware that we are heirs to a significant amount of money, or that we have an income in a foreign checking account for a very important amount, and that to unblock it we need to make an economic income for expenses of management and lawyers. The person who writes this email is usually that person, who presents himself as an intermediary or as a legal professional who will help us in all the procedures. No, in the event that we had an inheritance in another country, we would be notified in a totally different way, not by email and, far from it, by requesting money previously.
If one day we want to carry out a test, it will be enough to answer that email and show our interest. We will see how the messages are more and more insistent , we have to make a bank transfer to be able to access that millionaire amount that we will receive in a few days. But the most appropriate thing is to ignore these emails and send them directly to the recycle bin, as a preliminary step we will mark it as spam.
The package you are waiting for
We make so many purchases online that from time to time an email sneaks up on us urging us to pick up a package. You have to be very careful, because this email shows us a link that when you click on it, you can install malware on your computer or mobile phone and lose a large amount of data. These types of emails are especially dangerous for the reason we have just discussed, many times we lose track of what package we are waiting for. But before clicking on that link, it is convenient to look a bit at the message. The sender is usually unknown and has something that has nothing to do with a courier company as the domain of the mail. Ignore it, if you are waiting for a shipment and you cannot be found, the company itself will call you by phone to make the appointment. Another solution can be to browse the official website of the place from which you have been sent the offer and check that it really exists. Always look at a detail, it is usually an email that has a very particular Castilian, it is made with an automatic translator.
I have been scammed, what to do?
Stop complaining and automatically file a complaint with the State Security Forces and Bodies. Also, and although it gives you some shame, being in your social networks of that scam. This will prevent other people from falling into it. In the event that you have made the payment through the PayPal platform, you must notify the case since they will be responsible for reimbursing you.
One of the favorite means of payment for scammers is to use Western Union or HalCash , since they usually leave little trace and recovering the money paid is practically impossible. If you have paid with a debit or credit card, once you have the complaint filed, you can contact the insurer who issued the card and ask if your case is covered. Hopefully you can have your money with you again.
To recap, the best way to avoid falling into an Internet trap or scam is to exercise extreme caution. Remember that no one gives hard to four pesetas, and that the best ally of scammers is haste and playing with your illusions. Before taking any step, do some research to see if the email you are dealing with and which is causing you suspicion is a scam attempt.
The gift voucher or the incredible discount
It is also usually common, we have the immense fortune to receive an unexpected gift, which can be a very succulent discount on that product that we want so much. The common denominator of this type of message is urgency, the offer ends very soon and you have to take advantage of it. To do this, you will click on a link. Follow the same mechanics as the previous scam, steal your data or damage your computer. If you receive an email about which you have doubts and it is disguised under the name of a commercial brand, escaping the uncertainty is as simple as calling the official website of that website and asking if they have that offer in force.
