Topic
Scams & Fraud
Identify and report online scams confidently. Learn to dissect offers, validate identities, preserve evidence, and notify the correct channels swiftly to protect yourself and others.
Recognize Patterns
1
- Be wary of urgency, guaranteed returns, unverified escrow, or requests for upfront fees for jobs and grants.
- Look for mismatched branding, inconsistent grammar, cloned websites, and newly created social accounts with aggressive DMs.
Validate Identity
2
- Check domain age, SSL, and registrant data. Compare official contact details to those provided in the offer.
- Request verifiable references and official documentation. Call known official numbers rather than those provided in messages.
Preserve Evidence
3
- Take screenshots of messages, profiles, payment requests, and transaction IDs.
- Record dates, usernames, phone numbers, and any bank details. Evidence expedites investigations.
Report
4
- Report to the platform (social networks, marketplaces) to suspend the scammer’s account.
- Notify your bank for fraudulent transfers and request chargeback or dispute procedures.
- Escalate to local authorities or cybercrime units according to national guidance.
Payment Safety
5
- Prefer escrow on reputable platforms; avoid direct transfers to unknown parties.
- Use strong multi‑factor authentication on banking apps and disable risky auto‑forwarding email rules.
Education and Outreach
6
- Share verified warnings within community groups to prevent others from falling prey.
- Encourage critical evaluation of offers and provide checklists for safe engagement.
Recovery Steps
7
- If funds were lost, document transaction IDs and contact your bank immediately for dispute options.
- Preserve communications intact for investigations; avoid confronting scammers directly.
International Considerations
8
- Check cross‑border jurisdiction limits and report through appropriate channels when scams involve foreign entities.
- Avoid sending identity documents to unknown “verification” email addresses.
Checklist
Work through these steps in order.
- Identify red flags.
- Validate domains and contacts.
- Preserve all evidence.
- Report to platforms/banks/authorities.