There are thousands of new scams every year, and sometimes, it's challenging to keep up with all of them (we know, we try!).
However, if you can just remember these ELEVEN TIPS, more than likely, you will be able to avoid most scams while protecting yourself and your family.
1. Never have an online romance with someone you have never met face-to-face and never invest online in surety bonds, credit guarantees, or business more than CHF/USD/EUR 100.-
2. Never send money via gift card or wire transfer to someone you have never met face-to-face. Seriously, just don’t ever do it. If they ask you to use a wire transfer, a prepaid debit card, or a gift card, those cannot be traced and are as good as cash. Chances are, you won't see your money again.
3. Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments in unsolicited emails. Links, if clicked, will download malware onto your computer, smartphone, tablet, or whatever electronic device you're using at the time allowing cyberthieves to steal your identity. Be cautious even with an email that looks familiar; it could be fake. Instead, delete it if it looks unfamiliar and blocks the sender.
4. Don’t believe everything you see. Scammers are great at mimicking official seals, fonts, and other details. Just because a website or email looks official does not mean that it is. Caller ID is commonly faked.
5. Double-check your online purchase is secure before checking out. Look for the “HTTPS” in the URL (the extras are for “secure”) and a small lock icon on the address bar. Better yet, before shopping on the website, make certain you are on the site you intended to visit. Check out the company first. Read reviews about the quality of the merchandise, and make sure you are not buying cheap and/or counterfeit goods. Look for a brick-and-mortar address listing on the website itself and a working phone number. Take an extra step and call the number if it is a business you are not familiar with.
6. Use extreme caution when dealing with anyone you’ve met online. Scammers use dating websites, Craigslist, social media, and many other sites to reach potential targets. They can quickly feel like a friend or even a romantic partner, but that is part of the con for you to trust them.
7. Never share personally identifiable information with someone who has contacted you unsolicited, whether it’s over the phone, by email, on social media, or even at your front door. This includes banking and credit card information, your birthdate, and Social Security/Social Insurance numbers.
8. Resist the pressure to act immediately. Shady actors typically try to make you think something is scarce or a limited time offer. They want to push victims to make a decision right now before even thinking through, asking family members, friends, or financial advisors. Sometimes, they'll advise avoiding contacting anyone and just trusting them. While high-pressure sales tactics are also used by some legitimate businesses, it typically isn't a good idea to make an important decision quickly.
9. Use secure and traceable transactions. Do not pay by wire transfer, prepaid money card, gift card, or another non-traditional payment method (see number one above). Say no to cash-only deals, high-pressure sales tactics, high upfront payments, overpayments, and handshake deals without a contract. Read all the small print on the contract and make sure to understand what the terms are.
10. Whenever possible, work with local businesses. Ask that they have proper identification, licensing, and insurance, especially contractors who will be coming into your home or anyone dealing with your money or sensitive information. Review Business Profiles to see what other people have experienced.
11. Be cautious about what you share on social media. Consider only connecting with people you already know. Check the privacy settings on all social media and online accounts. Imposters often get information about their targets from their online interactions and can make themselves sound like a friend or family members because they know so much about you. Then, update and change passwords to passphrases on a regular basis on all online accounts.
Contact for your solution and offer today Private Investigator Switzerland or Swiss Security Solutions LLC, if your case is complex you will have a free consultation.
Private Investigator Switzerland
Schaffhauserstrasse 550.
CH-8050 Zürich
Switzerland
T. +41 44 586 60 33