How to avoid phone scams
Nowadays, several online scammers are just waiting for that moment to trap you with the wrong intentions. In fact, the scammers can call you and claim they are from a reputable company providing technical support. For instance, they can trick you into scams which are related to sweepstakes or wired money. You need to be savvy with the information you provide over the phone. Also, you need to know how to avoid such scams. Some providers are good at stopping nuisance calls. The following are tips to follow:
Avoid unknown callers
You should avoid unknown calls. Also, do not entertain unknown service providers that are just interested in selling services to you. Also, if you are inclined towards their services, you need to ensure that you perform online research from reputable companies.
Do not wire money
The majority of scammers request their unsuspecting clients to wire money. When you wire money, it becomes impossible to make payments. If a seller insists on the wire transfer, you should not unless you are sure about the authenticity of the deal.
Do not reply
You should never reply messages that ask you to provide your personal or financial information. It does not matter whether you receive messages in the form of email, advertisement, phone call or text, do not share your personal or financial information with unknown people. This is what is known as “phishing.” In the end, these criminals will steal sensitive information from you.
Avoid foreign lotteries or sweepstakes
You should note that it is illegal to play foreign lotteries. However, a lot of people take a lot of interest in these deals. You are likely to lose your hard-earned money through such fraud sweepstakes. You will receive fake messages informing you that you have won a lot of money. They will then ask you to pay taxes, fees, or customs duties before collecting the prize money. Avoid replying such messages or even making payments no matter the guarantee or promises they give you.
Do not deny or confirm your identity
Never confirm your identity or deny until you know the person who is calling. For instance, some callers will not reveal their names until you identify yourself. You need to be very clear; the person who calls should identify himself or herself first. If the caller is unknown to you, ask him or her to identify himself or herself first.
