How to determine if something is a scam

Scammers are constantly coming up with new ways to trick people, so it’s important to be vigilant. Here are some tips to help you determine if something is a scam:

Is it too good to be true? 

If it sounds like you’re getting something for nothing, it’s probably a scam. For example, if you receive an email from a Nigerian prince who promises to give you millions of dollars if you send him a small amount of money, it’s a scam.

Does the sender ask for personal information? 

Scammers often try to get your personal information, such as your bank account number, Social Security number, or credit card number. They may also ask for your passwords or other sensitive information. Consider your email as sensitive information.

TIP: Be careful about what information you share online.

Does the sender pressure you to act quickly? 

Scammers often create a sense of urgency to pressure you to decide before you have time to consider it. They may say that the offer is only available for a limited time or that you must act now to avoid legal trouble.

Does the sender use poor grammar or spelling? 

Scammers often make mistakes in their writing, which can be a red flag. They may also use unfamiliar terms or phrases. This does not mean they always will have spelling errors or just because there is a spelling error on the email or text message doesn’t mean it is fake, people make mistakes!

Can you verify the sender’s identity? 

Do some research to make sure the sender is who they say they are. You can try to find their contact information online or call the company they claim to represent. When it comes to email scams, you can view the sender of the email address themselves. Here is an example of a fake email:

This email looks like it is from Citibank, but clicking on the more information part of it reveals suspicious information. My gmail account has is also found it suspicious and put it in my spam and added a warning label to it. This wont happen to all emails so even if it makes it directly to your inbox, still be cautious.

Note the “reply-to” is to a gmail account. No bank will use a gmail account.

To be sure, ALWAYS (when available) go to the site and get the information yourself without clicking any links on the email. Banks have their own internal mailbox, so for example if you get an email about something about your bank, you should also receive an email in your bank. If you get an email about your account is inactive because your credit card was declined, go to the website directly and check your account status. If you do not find anything then call the company to verify, making sure you get the contact information from the website not the email.

TIP: Don't click on links in emails or text messages from people you don't know.

Your Homework:

Get to know scammers and what they try to do, this can be done in a fun way. I learnt a lot from watching YouTubers, one I watched a while ago was ScammerPayback where he pretends to be scammed but is actually hacking them. You can learn some of their strategies:

https://www.youtube.com/@ScammerPayback