Know your rights
Toba Sevinger, FNB Manager: Fraud and Cyber Security says, “the main risk is that people could unknowingly become the victim of a wire fraud scam. This is often referred to as a wire scam. Criminals create electronic wire fraud emails or SMS messages and trick people into making an online wire transfer. Most people, understandably, don’t want to upset the company they are dealing with, or the person they know. Therefore, the easiest thing to do is to just click on the link and send money without question.”
The SMS message or email typically looks very official and provides details of the ‘equipment used’ to send the ‘preparation and the amount’.
Be aware of the warning signs
Signs of wire fraud scams can vary, but these are common characteristics to watch out for:
Constant Caller ID and Caller ID spoofing
Unusual Call/SMS strings
Missed Call & Text Message Back
Strange Actions of Payments such as immediate delivery of funds
Warning Signs of Wire Fraud Scams
Many consumers are probably familiar with these types of scams, but to prevent you from being taken advantage of:
Strangely timed payment requests
Excessive or unusual communication
Begging for personal or financial information
Strange phone calls that come on automatic ring back or other peculiarities of incoming calls
When to Report It
Please report any incident of cyber crime, fraud or theft to the FBI. The FBI accepts reports from consumers at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
Ask the right questions
Ask yourself the right questions. You don’t have to be tricked into giving out sensitive information. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. To keep yourself safe and protect your money, make sure to question unsolicited communication, large sums of money requests and spam e-mails. You can also look out for red flags such as:
Short delivery times
No proof of delivery
Misleading statements about payment
If you are not sure about the source of the money, look into the legitimacy of the business. Trust your instincts and call the company or organization on which you have been communicating with.
Spend your money wisely
Most wire fraud scams involve you paying money into a stolen account.
Use these tools
Report a suspect business
Asking for your bank or credit card details or physical address while shopping online can result in various money loss situations. The Canada Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) has a feature on their website that allows Canadians to report cases of fraudulent activity.
Fraud alerts
Having fraud alerts set up on your financial accounts can help you receive a notification if a fraudulent transaction is detected. When you have this information, you can avoid the embarrassment of having your account emptied by a thief and the loss of your hard-earned money.
What to do if you suspect fraud
If you suspect that a scammer has been stealing from you, you will need to act quickly.
Stay informed
Companies go to great lengths to prevent issues like fraudulent activity but often fall short. The internet is always changing and existing security measures need to be enhanced and new ones created to secure your personal data.
Please consider subscribing to a newsletter which helps to keep you updated and informed on all the latest cybersecurity threats and scams that are currently in the news.
Remember it’s better to be safe than sorry. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
Notify Your Local Police
Cybercrime and fraud are on the rise, therefore, we have to all take measures to protect ourselves and our loved ones. To do that, the best thing to do is to make sure that you contact the police when you’ve fallen victim to such a scam or fraud.
Conclusion
We at echargeback.org are committed to making our customers experience a hassle-free transaction from beginning to end. By providing them with their comprehensive digital workplace solutions, we have been successful in preventing and blocking some of these threats and frauds. While all the online cyber threats and scams may be disturbing, it is vital to remember that the best way to beat the odds is to be alert, and to go through the entire procedure carefully and thoroughly.