Online Fraud Threats – in Russia and Everywhere Else

Russia PI Blog Stay Informed. Lower the Risk.

Online Fraud Threats – in Russia and Everywhere Else

If there is a way for people to commit fraud online, they will find the opportunity. It seems that the more opportunities the cyber world provides, the more opportunities for fraudsters to develop new scams. Theft is not always something that is physical and happens right in front of your eyes. There are many consumer scams out there that impact people with no ties to the online industry. If you’re online, you are a potential target. And although Russia might be a place where hackers and scammers have created a global name for themselves, the scams and fraudsters are everywhere.

Many scams take place remotely and are virtually impossible for victims to prove or recover funds from. These crimes may not leave any physical damage, but can certainly hurt a person’s financial stability. Before you sign in to your social media accounts, or open an email from an unrecognized name, consider these ways you can be manipulated online below. Knowing the risks and warning signs ahead of time can save you serious troubles down the road, and prevent you from being a victim.

Russia private investigators offer the below safety tips.

Online dating. Looking for love on the internet can be dangerous – and not just in terms of finding out the profile photo a potential suitor posted is 10 years old (which can be scary). Manipulation by real people trying to find a match is not nearly as problematic as being deceived by false personas and fake personalities. Scammers troll online dating sites and create falsified accounts in order to prey on the vulnerable. Once they have the trust of the person on the other end, they ask for money for made-up reasons. Once they have the cash, they disappear – or even worse, they stick around to pull the same scam again. Protect yourself by never sending money to a person you have never seen face to face. Even if you have met the person, have a dating background check run to ensure that he or she is really in the dating game for the same reasons as you.

Investment scams. The world of electronic payments has opened up a whole plethora of new scams involving upfront money and goods or services that are never delivered. Some of these cases are high-profile, like the demise of the large virtual currency exchange Mt. Gox which left investors empty handed when millions of real dollars’ worth of currency disappeared. Never send money to a stranger or a company that you have not vetted properly. Research any online investment opportunities thoroughly before making them. If you have no answer for why a particular person contacted you with a financial opportunity, then there is likely reason to be concerned about the legitimacy of the claim.

Phishing scams. Fraudsters often create electronic communications, like emails, that resemble real companies that you may frequent. These scammers will send an email that appears to be from a retailer or a financial institution that asks for you to input financial and identity information. Once in the hands of these scammers, the information is used for theft of items, cash or even identity. Be wary of emails that ask you for information a particular company should already have, or ones that ask for information that seems irrelevant to your relationship with the company. When in doubt, call the company in question and ask if the communication originated from it. Report any suspected fraud immediately to Cybercrime.gov.

Identity theft. With recent media coverage providing many examples of well known companies such as Home Depot and Target having their systems breached by hackers, it shows that no company is 100% immune from hackers. Even the U.S. government can’t protect your data, which has been clearly proven with the debacle of the Obamacare website, Healthcare.gov. Security experts say when possible, provide false information or provide no information at all. Pay in cash, and learn new ways to protect your privacy. The more companies and government agencies know about you, the more at risk you and your family members are. Russian detectives say it’s in your best interest to stay out of databases to begin with, when possible. Don’t assume that it can’t happen to you.

Just because you are in the confines of your secure home or office does not mean that you are safe from theft and other crimes of internet opportunity. What you send out and post about yourself can be used against you if scammers see an opportunity to benefit from it. What you share with companies and the government can and may be used against you – legally and illegally – and may end up in the wrong hands. Be careful about you post and say and protect your privacy, and be safe!