An average person who hasn’t had a financial injury from a fraud, usually thinks that scams happen to gullible and air-headed people. There is a general opinion that cons are easily recognizable and avoidable. They happen only to poor elderly citizens who don’t know how to use the internet. This is all a huge misconception that helps fraudulent organizations thrive.
Age Groups
First of all, studies have shown that an average person aged 50 and older has developed a suitable level of computer literacy. This enables them a sufficient level of resilience against fraudulent sites and phishing tactics. What’s more, it is their lack of internet presence that keeps them protected. Simply put, they are less likely to get exposed to online scams.
Which brings us to the main point, it is actually young people who are most likely targets for many schemes. It’s important to understand that scammers have adapted to the modern cyber landscape. This means that they prey on their potential victims on social media, official platforms, and popular messenger apps. This includes inexperienced people who are on the internet a lot, and that is the younger generation.
Affinity Scam
This term does not imply a specific type of con, but more precisely it is a preliminary step in various ploys to extort money. It implies the practice of designing a scam suited for a specific individual or a group. For example, a religious person might be targeted with a charity scam. Another case would be if a homeowner falls victim to an insurance con and so on.
As social media have become an ever-present part of daily life, we might have taken for granted how much information we leave publicly. Fraudulent parties can now analyze people’s social media profiles and create a tailor-made plan for extorting their money. In these cases no one is safe, and anybody can fall into a trap especially if it is made for them specifically.
Another problem regarding social media is that they also enable scammers to set up their accounts that work as a hook for targets. You can easily find fake profiles of young attractive people flaunting their money, and offering investment opportunities. Con artists also become regular members of official pages, forums, and platforms. This makes things additionally problematic, as it gives them credibility and people are less likely to recognize them as fraud.
Social Engineering
The danger behind many scams doesn’t lie in the fact that their targets are naive suckers. In fact, the damaging threat of schemes lies in their very design. They use a web of dirty tactics that would make any individual vulnerable. It doesn’t matter how old, smart, and educated you are, the scam will use all the deceptive tools to break your defenses.
What’s worse, fraudsters rarely work alone. They are members of organized groups that utilize well-developed plans that have been tested. The general public is rarely aware of all the dirty tricks at scammers’ disposal. Quite often, the targets have fallen in a con with multiple scammers and they are completely unaware of it.
Numbers Game – Phishing
“Of course, I wouldn’t click on that flashy banner offering me millions of dollars!”, most people think to themselves. However, what they don’t realize is that things aren’t always as obvious. Phishing stands for fraudulent emails and messages with malicious links and a call to action. This is usually a starting point for many sorts of schemes. If a target clicks on the link they either start a data extortion process or set off a trap that pulls them into a scam.
It’s important to know that nowadays an average person experiences a constant stream of messages and emails. It’s not uncommon that people read them absent-mindedly, so an individual might not be as cautious towards a text as they could. Also, many phishing tactics try to take on the identity of an official institution or a person we know. Is it reasonable to expect from an average person to be suspicious of every message? – No. With so many emails and texts, a person will click on the wrong thing eventually.
What to Do in Case of a Scam?
Financial injury is the main problematic outcome of a scam. However, people rarely talk about the psychological damage that comes after it. The realization that a person or their loved ones have been a victim of fraud tend to leave people disoriented and disturbed. They might experience shame, disbelief, and anger. These negative emotions can impede an individual’s impulse to take action and fight back.
The most important thing is to take matters into your own hands. The first step of regaining control is to contact a professional money recovery agency. We at Funds Recovery company offer a package of services that can help you get back your money. Don’t hesitate and contact us for a free consultation.