Our guide to keep your information safe online
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Key takeaways
- Phishing baits you into sharing personal information.
- Scams steal money with counterfeit goods.
- Fraud includes identity theft and financial deception.
- Phishing can include fake emails or texts, suspicious links and unsolicited requests.
- Avoid scams by researching seller reviews and avoiding “too good to be true” deals.
- Prevent fraud by refraining from sharing personal info through unusual channels.
Internet safety: Why is it important?
Understanding the basics of internet safety, such as how to avoid the most common online safety pitfalls and spot red flags, can do 90% of the work in keeping you safe online.
Discover common scams and internet safety tips for avoiding phishing, scams and fraud.
- What is phishing?
- How to identify and avoid phishing attempts
- What is a scam?
- How to identify and avoid scams
- What is a fraud?
- How to identify and avoid fraud
- How to detect and prevent phishing, scams and fraud
What is phishing?
Phishing is an attempt to steal your personal information directly from you.
Phishing “fishes” for your data using “bait” like emails, social media or direct messages. Phishing emails or messages can easily deceive internet users by imitating trusted sources and appearing legitimate.
How to identify and avoid phishing attempts
Best practice: If an email appears suspicious, don’t open attachments, click links or download anything from unverified sources.
You can check the “true” URL or email address by hovering your mouse over the “From” line and any links in an email message. If the information doesn’t match the rest of the email or contains a long string of numbers and letters, avoid interacting with the message.
Be aware of these common phishing schemes:
- Email: An email that appears to be from a friend or a company you trust asks you to “verify” information by clicking on a link or using personal login credentials.
- Text messages: “Smishing” is a form of phishing via text messages on your cell phone. It can also start with a message that seems to be accidentally sent to you, followed by the sender’s attempts to build trust and extract information through continued conversation.
- Fake invoices: An invoice received through email that resembles a legitimate company or service. The email may ask you to pay the invoice or update your payment information.
- Cloud files: Sent via email or text, this phishing attempt may include a request to share or view a document on Google Docs, Dropbox or other cloud-based platforms. It may also demand that you fix a “problem” with your account on PayPal or other online payment sites.
What is a scam?
Scams trick you into buying or signing up for fake services to steal your money by appearing credible through convincing company or agency names.
Common scams include selling fake products on platforms like Instagram or TikTok, where either the product never arrives or it’s not as advertised. Often, when you try to report the company, its account is already deleted.
How to identify and avoid scams
Best practice: Refrain from shopping on social media sites where the likelihood of counterfeit products is significantly higher.
If you choose to shop on platforms like TikTok, Instagram or Facebook, use these internet safety tips to identify potential scams:
- Shop with trusted sellers: Make sure the shop has a verified seller badge, indicating that the website has approved documentation confirming the seller’s identity.
- Research the seller: Do a web search on the seller or shop to check if there have been any previous reports about its credibility.
- Read reviews: Read reviews for information on the store’s quality. Overly flattering or multiple similar-sounding reviews are a red flag, so proceed with caution.
- No data via DMs: Avoid sharing any personal or financial information through direct messages.
- Unbelievable deals: If a product is selling for much cheaper than standard prices, it’s a huge red flag that the seller may be unreliable. The item is likely counterfeit or will not arrive as advertised.
What is a fraud?
Fraud occurs when a person or agency misrepresents themselves to gain access to your financial information.
The most damaging type of fraud is identity theft, which can take months or years to recover from, but fraud also includes things like lottery scams, fake jobs or dating schemes.
How to identify and avoid fraud
Best practice: Keep your personal data secure by avoiding sharing sensitive details, especially banking information.
Fraud can be frustrating and time-consuming to resolve, especially if your credit score has been impacted. You may need to contact multiple credit agencies and provide proof to undo the damage caused by identity theft or other forms of fraud.
Stay alert for fraud cons such as these:
- Shipping fraud: Messages claiming you have an unclaimed package from an entity pretending to be USPS or a similar company, urging you to click a link or provide details to resolve the problem.
- IRS fraud: An email or text claiming to be from the IRS, demanding additional information or threatening that you owe money to the government. If you suspect an IRS communication is a scam, verify it by calling the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 to confirm before responding in any way.
How to detect and prevent phishing, scams and fraud
The most important thing to remember to defend against cyberattacks is that if a deal or situation sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
If you receive an email about unclaimed lottery winnings, a free vacation or a job that you never applied for, it’s likely a scam, fraud or phishing attempt.
Here are some additional internet safety tips and red flags that could indicate you’re being targeted by a con artist:
- Unsolicited requests: Requests for personal information or an “advanced fee” to claim a prize, money, a vacation or other rewards are a clear sign of a scam.
- Unusual contact methods: If an institution contacts you in an atypical way, such as if you receive texts from your bank though they usually communicate by mail, it’s likely a phishing attempt.
- Requests for money: Monetary inquiries, especially through uncommon methods like cryptocurrency, wire transfers or apps, are red flags. These requests are often designed to exploit your emotions, with emails posing as debt collection, charity contributions or offers to help resolve financial stress.
- Urgency: Phrases like “act immediately” and “or else” should be considered suspicious. Excessive pressure to provide information with threats of something bad happening is a giveaway for a scam.
- Something seems off: A misspelled word, awkward phrasing, “slightly off” brand logos, or email headers are signs of scam artists. Unusually long email addresses that contain random strings of letters and numbers are also a red flag.
Phishing, scam and fraud FAQs
Do websites keep my personal data?
Reputable websites don’t store your personal data unless you choose to save information like credit card details for sites you regularly shop. However, sites often use cookies or pixels that collect data on how you interact with the site. Companies use information like where you click on a page or how you navigate the site to enhance functionality and improve user experience.
How can I avoid internet predators?
The top three ways to protect yourself online are:
- Avoid sharing personal information, especially on public Wi-Fi.
- Use safeguards like a VPN or antivirus software.
- Don’t click on email links or download attachments from unknown or suspicious sources.
How can I report online scams or fraud?
This FBI website allows users to report cybercrime, hacking and online fraud for investigation.
This content is produced through an alliance between USA TODAY and Allconnect.com. Under the alliance, Allconnect publishes articles about broadband-related topics upholding strict editorial integrity standards in line with USA TODAY’s Principles of Ethical Conduct. The opinions, analyses, reviews and recommendations expressed are those of the Allconnect editorial staff alone. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information. Read more about our Allconnect Advertising Disclosure.
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