How to Recognize and Dodge Email Scams?

Internet scams are spreading rampantly across the world. And guess what the most popular carrier of such scams is? No prize for guessing – our beloved internet darling, email. This post gives you a quick read on some of the most common online scams that are spread via emails.

1. The Lost Traveler
Scam Name – Stranded Traveler Scam

What is it? – You receive an email from someone claiming to be your friend, who got lost or robbed somewhere in the middle of nowhere. The sender solemnly asks you to loan them some money, with a usual subject line “I am writing this with tears in my eyes”. Really, you got lost or robbed but still managed to write a nice, awe-inspiring email instead of just giving a call?

What should you do? – Confirm if your friend really did go to such a trip, from his friends or family. Or, if you find something fishy about it, you always have the “delete” button at your disposal!

2. Hello, I am a Genie, I make you Rich!
Scam Name – Work from Home Scam

What is it? – This is, perhaps, one of the most widespread online scams. You receive an email that takes you to wonderland, where you see yourself going from rags to riches by just downloading a software, and paying an upfront registration fee to begin the “work from home” job. Give money to get money eh?

What should you do? – Simply remember the saying, “there is no such thing as a free lunch”.

3. Help me move Money and I will dip you in Cash!
Scam Name – Nigerian Scam

What is it? – Ever received an email where some person is asking for your help to access a humongous sum of money? This agenda may be sugarcoated with hundreds of stories, explaining why they have chosen “you” as their superman. So what’s in it for you? Well, you will be rewarded for your kind assistance. But first, you must cough up some cash to help them initiate the process.

What you can do? – Well, we just told you about how this scam works. You know what to do right?

4. Congratulations! You just got Rich!
Scam Name – Email Lottery Scam

What is it? – One day your luck strikes and you receive an email that informs you that you have won yourself a huge sum of money in some lottery. To take the process further, you would have to contact some account manager. And the final step would be to pay an advance processing fee so that the money can be transferred to your account.

What you can do? – Think, what on earth did you do that won you such an amount of money? Or, read this post on the Google award email scam.

5. Hello Kind Sir, Need a Bit of your Info!
Scam name – Phishing Email Scam

What is it? – Phishing email scams, unlike the ones mentioned above, do not directly ask the victim for money. Instead, they trick the victim into divulging personal or banking information in response to an email that looks like to have come from a genuine entity like a bank or other financial entities. Such emails usually redirect the victim to a fake website that requests for such information.

What to do? – No genuine financial institution will ask you for your personal or banking information over email or phone. If you get any such emails, confirm the matter with the sender over the phone or by personally meeting them.

6. Child, I can See your Future!
Scam Name – Astrology/Psychic Scam

What is it? – Your inbox receives an email from a Professor Sybil Trelawney, who has had visions about your past and future. It also says that the professor has a magical spell that can turn around your life. But in order for the mojo to work, you would have to spare some money for talismans, golden eggs, pendants, or probably, a half-burned wood or a charcoal.

What you can do? – Ignore Professor Trelawney, for the only person who can have visions about your future is you.

As online scammers are becoming more technologically sound, email scams are evolving with time. Taking the right preventive measures is the only way to doge them. And these measures include employing multilayered security software for your system and having a keen eye to test the legitimacy of every email that hits your inbox.

Rajiv Singha