What are some Internet scams I should avoid?

The well-known phrase “easy money” is a fallacy. The term refers to a concept that does not exist. An offer of easy money is likely to be a scam, as it is impossible to make money with little or no effort.

When you get a letter or phone call telling you that you’ve won something be it a prize, money, or a grant. You need to remember: There is  no such thing as a free lunch. Check things out before you fork over any money or personal information.

You get an email or phone call from someone who tells you they need help because their wallet was stolen while they were traveling, and that they need your help. They ask you to wire them some money so that they can return home. They get you to wire the money and you never hear from them again. 

You get a phone call and they claim they are from Microsoft. They tell you that your computer has a virus or something is wrong. We need to connect to your system to fix it. Then of course they ask for payment after the so called issue has been fixed. They will use fear to try to get you to allow them to connect to your system. They will fake issues, lock you out and break things. All to get you to pay.  No one from Microsoft will call you out of the blue. 

Any debt collector who uses threats to get you to pay taxes is not working for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or any government agency. The IRS will never use threats to get you to pay your taxes. If someone claiming to be from the IRS calls you, or sends you an email demanding payment, hang up the phone. If it is an email, delete it. 

Any kind of email claiming there is a problem and that you need to act now or face consequences is the first sign of a scam. Do not follow any link or enter your account and personal information. You can always call your local social security office for information. 

I compromised your system. You need to pay me or I will show everyone all the dirty little secrets. Don't freak out. Just ignore the email and delete it. Simple as that.

Learn how to identify them. Deceptive requests for money and account details are the first signs of an Internet scam.

To protect yourself from identity theft, educate yourself about the warning signs and what to do if you believe your identity has been compromised.

If you are suspicious about an email or a phone call. Do not give out personal information.

Be cautious when dealing with unknown individuals and organizations via Internet communication.

In the end, you’re responsible for keeping your accounts secure. Remember the golden rule, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” And don’t give away any personal information.