The Latest Cyber Scams You Need to Know About

**The Latest Cyber Scams You Need to Know About**

With the increasing presence of cyberspace in our daily lives, there are many positive things to consider—we can communicate more easily with our loved ones, create and watch entertainment more effortlessly, and generally have a much easier, automated lifestyle. However, with the expanding digital presence in daily life, there are risks—cybercriminals are becoming more adept at scamming the general public on a large scale. A leading criminal lawyer in Melbourne has found that cyber scams are on the rise this year and that widespread cyberattacks have become much more sophisticated. Here are 10 cyber scams you need to know about this year.

**Facebook Marketplace Scams**

Now that many people use second-hand selling platforms like Depop, Vinted, and Facebook Marketplace, scammers have discovered that they can use these platforms to steal from victims. By not sending the purchased product, they can scam people without much scrutiny. Always be cautious when buying products from second-hand platforms, and if you are purchasing something in person, make sure to meet in a public place and bring someone with you.

**Fake Discount Emails**

Cyber scammers are very clever and will not stop taking advantage of everyone's financial situation to steal money from those in distress. During the cost-of-living crisis, fake discount emails for everything from bills to daily items are circulating in many people's inboxes. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is—and remember that a genuine offer will not ask for your bank details.

**Tax Refund Scams**

Cybercriminals can almost indistinguishably replicate the emails of real organizations. Hackers successfully mimic organizations like HMRC to scam people by promising tax refunds and asking for bank details. Professional scammers are good at knowing what is happening and increasing the likelihood of their scams being caught, such as promising tax refunds due to the recent increase in people working from home. Be sure to protect your personal information and verify any emails by visiting the official website and not clicking on the links provided in the email.

**Fake Charity Campaigns**

Applications like Just Giving and Go Fund Me have made it easier than ever to donate to charities and choose where your money goes if you want to support good causes. This has made it much easier for people to raise money for good causes and collect money from their families and friends, but unfortunately, many people create fake charity campaigns to steal money from kind-hearted individuals. Always be cautious and do your research before donating your hard-earned money on these platforms to avoid being scammed by fraudsters.

**WhatsApp Scams**

Many elderly people are unfortunately targeted through WhatsApp scams—the most common type is a message pretending to be the child of an elderly person who has lost and broken their phone. The scammer will send a message from a friend's phone, trying to get the person to donate money to help the person they think is their child. Staying informed about all the current WhatsApp scams and setting up code words with your friends and family for such situations can help you avoid being scammed online. Always be skeptical of messages and texts from unfamiliar numbers.

**Romance Scams**

Romance and love scams have been on the rise in recent years. The pandemic led to more people trying to find love online, which meant that cyber scammers saw a great opportunity to try and find vulnerable victims. Romance scammers will create a fake profile and target individuals, love-bombing them to create genuine emotions. This can go on for months, and eventually, the scammer will ask for money for investments, travel, rent, and other reasons. If you think you are experiencing a romance scam, make sure to reach out to someone you trust for help and do not send money to that person.

**Fake Cybersecurity Updates**

Cyber scams have made people much more likely to take an interest in cybersecurity and protection, especially since many cyber scams involve malware and ransomware. However, cyber scammers are very cunning and will take advantage of this by promising downloads of free cybersecurity programs and scans. Even if you think you are downloading cybersecurity software, you may encounter a virus that steals your data. Make sure to use well-established cybersecurity software to protect your devices.

**Closeout Sale Scams**

Many scams involve selling fake products at very low prices to attract a large number of victims. They will claim to be running an online closeout sale scam and then never send the purchased products. It will be almost impossible to trace the scammers afterward because the website will be completely shut down. Although you are unlikely to lose significant amounts of money through these scams, you should still be cautious when shopping online to protect your money. No matter how quickly the website encourages you to make a purchase, try to shop only on reputable websites and look for online reviews before buying anything.

**Banking Scams**

Pretending to be a person's bank is one of the worst ways for a cyber scammer to take your money. When a cyber hacker gains access to your bank account, they can wipe out the entire balance. Always be cautious if you receive a suspicious email that appears to be from your bank. A bank will never ask you to disclose personal information such as your PIN number and passwords or click on a link via email. If you receive correspondence from your bank, make sure to call the bank before disclosing any information that could compromise your account.

**Cryptocurrency Investment Scams**

During the cost-of-living crisis, many people are looking for side jobs and investment opportunities to better protect their money. Cryptocurrency and NFTs are leading ways for people to invest their money—but cryptocurrency scams are on the rise. If you want to invest in cryptocurrency, make sure to be cautious and remember that if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you fall victim to a cryptocurrency investment scam, make sure to contact investment fraud lawyers who can help you recover your money.