In a relatively short period of time, the internet has changed the way people live. Things that might have been unimaginable as recently as a quarter century ago are now ingrained in daily life. For instance, few people in the late 1990s might have imagined a day when billions of people across the globe would be walking around with mini computers capable of taking hi-resolution photos in their pockets. But smartphones have long since become an accepted and vital part of life in the 21st century.
The internet has opened doors to new possibilities, but it’s also left other doors open for cybercriminals. Any home with an internet connection is potentially vulnerable to internet scams. Recognition of that fact and awareness of the following scams can reduce the likelihood of being victimized by opportunistic cybercriminals.
Disaster relief scams: Human beings’ innate sense of compassion is on full display in the aftermath of natural disasters, when people across the globe typically donate hundreds of millions of dollars in an effort to help people whose lives have been turned upside down by hurricanes, tsunamis and other devastating events. But skilled cybercriminals prey on that compassion by setting up bogus relief efforts. Such efforts may involve fake charities with names that are similar but slightly different than well-known, legitimate…
