The digital world is a jungle full of opportunities, but also dangers. Among these, online scams are constantly growing, with increasingly sophisticated techniques to target individuals and companies.
Scammers never go on vacation and exploit every channel: email, social networks, messaging apps, even advertisements.
It is not only a question of naivety, but also of increasingly sophisticated techniques that exploit our weaknesses. No one is immune but we must not lose hope: there are strategies to prevent these attacks.
Let's start by understanding what the most common online scams are and how we can defend ourselves:
1. Phishing: The most common scam. These are emails, messages or even calls that pretend to come from trusted institutions – banks, postal services, e-commerce sites – with the aim of stealing sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers or personal data. Sometimes the message seems so authentic that it is easy to fall for it. It has evolved into a real “art” of manipulation.
2. Spear Phishing: A more targeted variant of phishing, where the scammer targets a specific person or company, using personalized information to make the attack even more convincing. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to distinguish from a real communication.
3. Vishing and Smishing: These terms describe the voice (vishing) and SMS (smishing) variants of phishing. Again, the goal is to trick you into providing sensitive information by convincing you that the communication is legitimate. The sender appears trustworthy and is trying to obtain sensitive information directly from your phone.
4. Ransomware: This is a type of malware that encrypts all the data on your device, preventing you from accessing it. Hackers demand a ransom (hence the term “ransom”) to unlock it. Paying is never a good idea: there is no guarantee that your data will be recovered and it only encourages criminals.
5. Scams on Marketplace: Scammers create fake ads on e-commerce platforms or classifieds sites to sell non-existent or counterfeit products. You pay and… they disappear. Beware of deals that are “too good to be true”! Once they receive your payment, they disappear into thin air.
6. Romance scams (Romance Scam): Very common on dating platforms, these scams involve scammers pretending to start a romantic relationship online with the goal of stealing money from the victim. The Nigerian mafia is behind them and not only. I wrote an entire article about this (https://screpmagazine.com/le-truffe-amorose-online/).
7. Social Media Scams: Hackers create fake profiles or compromise real ones to contact victims, pretending to be friends or companies, and trick them into clicking on malicious links or providing personal information.
8. Credit Card Fraud: An evergreen of online scams. Your card details are stolen and used for unauthorized purchases. This can happen through phishing, skimming (capturing data through physical devices) or hacker attacks on large platforms.
How to prevent and defend yourself from online scams:
1) Attention to detail: Always verify the source of an email, SMS or message. Look at the sender's email address, link URLs and if you suspect something, do not click or respond. Trustworthy banks and services will never ask you to provide sensitive information via email.
2) Use strong and unique passwords: Weak or reused passwords across multiple sites are one of the most common vulnerabilities exploited by scammers. Use a password manager to generate and store strong passwords. Strong passwords should be long and contain a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols (at least 18 alphanumeric characters are recommended).
3) Two-factor authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of security to your accounts by enabling two-factor authentication. Even if a hacker gets your password, they'll still need a second code (often sent to your phone) to log in.
4) Constant updates: Always keep your operating system, browser and antivirus updated. Hackers exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software to penetrate systems.
5) Data Backup: Having a backup of your important data protects you from ransomware attacks. That way, if your device gets hit, you won't have to pay a ransom to get your files back.
6) Check the websites: Before you shop online or enter sensitive information, make sure the site is secure. Check for “https://” in the URL and verify that the site is legitimate (e.g., check reviews, seller trustworthiness, etc.).
7) Don't trust unknown apps: Before downloading an app, check the reviews and permissions requested. If an app asks for too many permissions, it might be a scam.
8) Monitor your accounts: Regularly check your bank account activity and notifications of unusual access to your online accounts. If you notice anything suspicious, immediately report the activity to your bank or online service.
9) Digital Education: Stay up to date on new threats and attack methods. Scammers continue to evolve and so must we.
In conclusion, prevention is our first line of defense. Online scams will continue to grow, but with the right precautions we can limit their impact and protect our information. You can never be “too much” in the digital world.
Ultimately, the golden rule is this: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Questions I often get:
- “Does romance scams lead to convictions for those responsible?”
- “Is it possible to recover money lost through bank fraud?”
Convicting cybercrimes like romance scams is often a huge challenge. Romance scams, in which scammers pretend to be interested in romantic relationships to gain victims’ trust and then steal money, are on the rise, but getting justice remains complex.
Meanwhile for the difficulty in tracing the culprits.
These individuals often operate from foreign countries and use false identities. Tracking down those behind a profile may require the cooperation of international police forces and access to digital information that, due to privacy or jurisdiction, is not always obtainable.
Then the complaints are missing.
Many victims do not report out of shame or fear of not being believed. This makes it difficult to start investigations, since without formal complaints the police cannot move.
Men in particular have a hard time turning to the police. And there are several cases that have ended in tragedy. Recently, here in Milan, a man committed suicide after discovering that he had been deceived by a fake profile that pretended to be a famous pop star.
Romance scams are often perceived as “gray areas” where psychological manipulation overlaps with more specific crimes. Clear evidence of intent is needed to demonstrate that the goal was illicit financial gain.
There are also long times and difficult tests: Even when a scam is exposed, gathering evidence that is admissible in court can be time-consuming and expensive.
Fraudsters change identities and platforms frequently, making it difficult to link a single individual to multiple crimes.
What are the possible solutions?
An important part is prevention. Educating people and recognizing the signs of a potential romance scam can reduce the number of victims. In addition, increased international cooperation and new laws that specifically recognize this type of fraud could make it easier to combat romance scams.
And for bank frauds, can the lost money be recovered?
Recovering money lost in bank fraud is possible, but not always guaranteed. Bank fraud can take many forms—from phishing to unauthorized transactions—and the chances of recovering your funds depend on a combination of how quickly you act, how you work with your bank, and the type of fraud you’ve been subjected to.
Act Immediately: Timeliness is key. As soon as you realize you have been the victim of fraud, you should immediately contact your bank and block the compromised card or account. The quicker you act, the greater your chances of recovering your funds, especially if the money has not yet been transferred to foreign accounts.
Collaboration with the Bank: Banks have security protocols and sometimes insurance coverage against fraud. If the bank determines that the transaction was fraudulent and the customer followed the recommended security measures, it may be possible to obtain a full or partial refund. However, it is important to demonstrate that you have not been negligent (e.g. providing passwords or PINs to third parties).
File a Complaint: Reporting the incident immediately to the police, such as the Postal Police in Italy, can be helpful. The official report can become an important document in negotiations with the bank to obtain reimbursement.
Insurance Funds and EU Reimbursements: In some cases, Italian and European banks have compensation funds that cover losses up to a certain amount for proven banking fraud. European Union regulations also protect consumers from unauthorized transactions and provide a series of safeguards, especially for credit card transactions.
When it is not possible to recover: If the fraud occurred due to negligence (for example, the customer voluntarily provided their PIN or unknowingly authorized a payment), the bank may not be obliged to refund. This is why it is essential to protect your login details and not click on suspicious links.
Bottom line: Acting early is key. Regularly checking your account movements and protecting your credentials are your best defenses.
If you have had a similar experience, what tips would you like to share to avoid scams?
What is the scam that has affected you the most? Tell me your experience to help others not fall into the trap.
