How can you recognize the signs of an online scam?
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Newsletter - February 2012
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If you're anything like us, you'd have spent a large portion of the
holiday season sitting at your PC trying to hunt down a bargain online,
avoiding those long queues of buyers in store. PC ToolsThere's no doubt
that the internet is a great source for special offers, but how are you
meant to know if these are legitimate or something designed to exploit you?
Unfortunately, for every great deal you find online there's a host of
fake offers out there that are designed to take your money or identity
and provide nothing in return. We call these dishonest activities… scams.
IS 15% off offer
Who's at risk?
Who's at risk?A recent study by PC Tools in collaboration with the
Ponemon Institute found that those aged 18-25 were most at risk of being
a scam victim.
Women in the US are also considered to be more at risk than men.
Interestingly, people thought that they were as susceptible to an online
scam as their friends were, which was in contrast to respondents from
the UK and Australia.
Read more
What should you look out for?
One third of respondents said they were likely to provide personal2012
Scam Alert or financial information in the following situations, all of
which are common scam devices.
· Online prizes or giveaways
· Free anti-virus (scareware/rogueware)
· Get rich quick schemes
· Online shopping registration
· Online donations (fake charities etc)
PC Tools Online Security Expert, Grant Dawson talks about some of the
online scams that you should be wary of.
Watch the video now
What can you do?
The general rule that applies to scams is that if something appears too
good to be true, it probably is! Be sure to question any opportunity
What can you do? that rewards you for no apparent reason, as scammers
prey on people making impulse decisions like they would with a
legitimate online offer.
Whilst normal internet security products will maintain protection
against viruses and malicious files, scams are designed to trick you
into willingly handing over your personal information.
PC Tools Internet Security is built with a feature called “Scam Alerts”,
which will ask you to think twice before sharing your personal and
financial information online.