According to a study from ScamWatch, in March 2020 online users reported a total of 11,011 digital scams. From this number, 1,400 scams happened through online purchases or investments. It is also important to highlight that these 1,400 reports represented losses that reached up to $7 million.
Despite all the benefits of the digital world, security is still something that causes many problems for its users. There are several types of online scams, including fake billing, identity theft, phishing, or hacking. However, the majority of online scams usually happen with person-to-person transactions.
How do person-to-person scams work? First of all, a person contacts the user to offer a product or service in exchange for digital assets. These people often pretend to be employees of well-recognized brands so that users have more confidence in them. The communication is usually made through different channels such as Facebook, WhatsApp, or email.
How can I know if someone wants to scam me? It’s important to take these details into account when you make a person-to-person transaction on the internet to avoid being scammed.
If the person who contacted you asks you to send the payment in advance before you receive the digital assets you are buying or selling, it is a reason to be skeptical. People must provide you with insurance that guarantees the authenticity of the transaction.
Do you know the person? Before accepting a person-to-person transaction it is important to know who the person is or at least have a referral from them. It is recommended that you check their profile to make sure that the person is who they say they are. Another suggestion is that a friend of yours recommends a trusted person to perform these types of transactions with greater security.
Don’t trust advertisements at very low prices. Scams usually begin with a good offer that draws the attention of users due to the benefits it offers. Therefore, it is important to double-check that the offers are really from the companies and are not being made up by a person.
Finally, it’s also important to regularly check the official channels of the brands. This way you can be aware of the current offers and benefits they are offering. Furthermore, many brands have already started to share educational content about this topic on their social media channels, which can be very useful.
Making purchases from person-to-person can be a big risk, therefore it is safer to make these transactions in an official site or exchange. Education on the subject is also important in order to recognize when there is a risk of scam and consequently take the necessary measures to protect your digital assets.
