We are all aware of the fact that various internet scams have been on the rise lately. In modern times, when everyone can afford a company and open their website, it is no wonder why more and more cybercriminals are taking advantage of this situation.
Because of various get-rich-quick schemes that promise huge profits that sound “too good to be true,” it is very likely not authentic. There are scams on the Internet at every possible step, and that is why every person who has access to the Internet must be aware of this fact.
To adequately protect yourself from everyday cyber scams, it is essential to know the most common scams in 2021 are? We will provide you with a specific and 100% legitimate list of the most common scams we should all stay away from. Let’s get started, shall we?
COVID-19 related scams
Given that a coronavirus pandemic marked 2020 and 2021, it is not surprising why the Internet has become full of scams in this regard. Cybercriminals exploit the widespread fear and concern of people about the spread of the pandemic by sending “legitimate” messages about the virus, or emails, phone calls, and malicious websites, to reach their victims.
The typical Coronavirus-related scams
The most common Coronavirus related scams include the following:
- Scam websites that sell fake disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizers, face masks, and other high-demand products will never arrive. It’s essential to purchase products from well-known marketers only.
- Scammers pose as health authorities or fake health organizations, like the WHO ( World Health Organization) and Centers for Disease Control, offer tests, cures, or other Covid-19 information.
- Bogus government sources, such as scammers that claim to issue payments and updates on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). On the other hand, it could be on behalf of the local tax authority.
- Fake financial offers – it’s possible that scammers might appear as debt collectors, investors, or banks, with highly great suggestions that were designed to steal your financial information.
- Scam nonprofit donation request – Since many people are willing to donate to charitable causes to help with disaster relief, cybercriminals have begun to set up fake hospitals and nonprofits to collect funds.
Scam Shopping Websites
A significant number of websites offer “amazing deals” on behalf of world-famous brands. These sites usually include URLs similar to the brands they wish to mimic, such as “AmaZzon.net.” In case you purchase something from any of these websites, there might be chances that you’ll get a fraudulent item in the email or nothing at all.
Fake Tech Supports
Fake tech supports are somehow easy to spot. Usually, a victim receives an email, phone call, or pop-up warning with information that your computer is at significant risk. If you’re dealing with this, you’d need to ask yourself, “How could they know?”.
If you don’t recognize it as a scam, you might download the application that allows them to control your computer remotely. Then it will download an actual virus so that you’ll believe that something is wrong, and then they’ll tell you they can fix the problem free of charge.
Besides that, there’s another way that they might reach you, and it’s search results. In this case, fake tech support will work hard to get their sites to show up in numerous online search results, or they’ll run their ads.