If scams have not been new, they have become much more frequent for several months, especially due to massive tricks operated on many platforms and organizations.
Thanks to them, pirates can address their victims in a much more advanced way, multiplying the indications that suggest a real official demand. An SNCF Advantage card at -95%, or a police letter that tells you that it has children’s pornographic archives and is receiving a fine … the traps are multiplying.
Tech & Co helps you in some steps not to be deceived.
1. Verify the sender from an email
When it receives an attractive offer or an accusation of an organization, an operator or a company, the name “official” may appear in the field of the sender. By default, most email customers only show this mention, which has the effect of deceiving user surveillance.
However, it is the first alert signal. In any mail client, such as Gmail, be sure to verify the email of the sender. If it is not an official email, you will see another shown. In the example, which shows a false SNCF email that proudly shows the “95%reduction” in a flash sale linked to the advantages cards, we can see that the email of the sender is [email protected], while the Electronic SNCF emails are generally sent by [email protected].
The same goes for emails that indicate that it has a pending package (customs office, reception …). The sender is always a good indicator to see a possible scam.
2. Verify the site address in the browser
If organizations have bought many domain names so that they are not used for scams, there are still holes in the racket. Some scams do not even bother to hide outside. After the sender of an email, it is recommended to verify the visible address in the browser, or even the address of a link before clicking, if you can.
In general, the pages resemble two drops of water for those of the official site, but the domain names of these false sites are often strange or, in any case, very different from official domain names, whether there is a completely different typification or direction.
In addition, also verify that navigation is in “safe” mode (with a small lock next to the address). This means that data transfer is encrypted. All modern browsers have made this function mandatory.
3. Be careful with too attractive offers
This SNCF email, which occupies the usual graphic letter of the official emails, offers a very attractive offer: -95% on an advantage card! Obviously, he is false, and also plays with the feeling of urgency to force him better to take action.
In any case, never click on the links contained in this type of email. They will return to a false page of the SNCF or the service in question, demanding their personal and banking data. Do not hesitate to communicate with the company’s customer service or the organization worried to verify that this offer is very real.
4. The police will never accuse him by email
If you have received an email with a police letter or the Gendarmerie that tells you that you have evidence that you have not paid a fine or that you have children’s pornographic archives on your computer, it is a scam. Whether one or the other, in this type of business, the police will never be attractive in this way.
In the case of these emails, we also observe that it is false when looking at the sender, but also the header and requests to “pay” so as not to be processed. Often, the mail is going to pay a bitcoin -shaped fine with a link that will steal your bank’s data by the way.
5. Never pay outside the dedicated sites
In the right corner, eBay or other classified ads, such as Vinned, some scammers will offer you a beautiful sum for an object that sells, and then invites you to go through an alternative and difficult to track payment system.
The technique is known: the buyer proposes a greater sum than what he requests, under the pretext of absolutely wanting the object. This decreases its surveillance, which therefore makes it probable that you accept without previous condition.
The above -mentioned platforms do not recommend going through more than their own payment system, even if in the case of the right corner, you can also make a sale in your hand. In this case, the cash is mandatory for security, does not accept a delayed transfer.
6. By SMS, check the numbers and links
To pay a toll, to indicate a new address for a package … SMS of scams has flourished in recent months. Therefore, it is advisable to be careful. To avoid being deceived, first check the sender. A number in 06 or 07 will never be used by an organization (such as post, Amazon, taxes …) to contact it for this type of task.
In addition, be careful with the numbers or masked links you receive by SMS. In the case of a package with a package that “does not enter its mailbox,” the links are systematically watered. In addition, its form does not correspond to the usual nomenclature of delivery services.
For an order whose address must be restored, the safest is to go directly to the site or application of the platform to be sure that it is a real delivery, a real product.
7. The virtual bank card technique
For online purchases, the best technique remains the use of a virtual bank card offered by most banks. It allows to be used only for a fixed period and for a sum determined in advance.
If you ever have a scam, it is your virtual bank card that will be stolen, and the pirate will not be able to go beyond the amount you have initially paid.
8. Go through a water brand generator to protect your documents
Another widespread scam at the classified advertisements is to offer the rent an apartment that seems, at first glance, legitimate, all, with a very interesting rental. Except that the apartment in question is not for rent, and the photos have undoubtedly been stolen (think about looking for images invested in Google to verify it).
If you are interested, the false owner will often operate in the same way, asking him to “freeze” his candidacy. On the one hand, it is not legal, and on the other hand, it is important not to respond affirmative.
But if you are looking for an apartment and respond to an advertisement providing your personal documents, it is best to apply a watermark in each of them.
The Government offers a water brand generator, which, therefore, allows you to protect your documents by applying a customizable mention to them, therefore, make them unusable for another application, in case it is a scam destined to usurp your identity.
9. Verify the reliability of a site or email
Do you seem suspicious but everything seems legitimate when you click on it? There are sites to verify the authenticity of a site or email. This is the case of Scamdoc or Franceverif, which provide access to several information, such as the date of creation of the domain name, the name of the owner and the user’s notices.
In addition, on each sales site, it must find general sales conditions (or CGU), it is a legal obligation, with contact information.
10. Report the scams
Either by email, SMS or by phone, or on a website, remember to inform the scams you see. The Signal Conse site exists and, therefore, allows the competent authorities to be referred to.
In addition, if you are a victim, remember to file a complaint by presenting an online pre -plater. Then he will be contacted by the police. Also remember to maintain all the documents that make up the file in the case of which you have been a victim by multiplying screenshots. Do not forget to notify your bank.
Even if these scams are generally operated from foreign countries where France has no power, this can be useful for the continuation of the investigations and any reimbursement that your bank can do.
Source: BFM TV
