In a few short months, the holiday season will begin to heat up, more people will be shopping online, and more criminals will be trying to steal their information and with the advances in electronic communication, they don’t necessarily need to be face to face to steal from you. Scams are always evolving, and criminals can go to great lengths to cause people to part with their money.
The Financial Crimes Unit of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force continue to investigate instances of individuals being subject to crime on the internet, and despite persons telling their stories of how they have been victims of these criminal activities, persons are still making themselves vulnerable and easy targets by not taking the necessary steps to protect their online activities and sometimes, they just cannot resist the false rewards offered in partaking in the scam.
You might have seen lately on your Facebook newsfeed-or on other Social Media outlets that Facebook is hiring. It seems that they’re looking for people interested in joining their “Work at Home Program” and making money from the comfort of their bedroom. There are mentions of the program being featured on CNN, US Today, or ABC. This leads you to believe that the program will bring in thousands of dollars a month. You are required to open the application page, then asked to provide your name and email address to ‘check availability.’
A next page will then pop up congratulating you on being eligible. That’s when you are invited you to download a ‘Facebook Millionaire’ kit for only four dollars. However, little do you know that your credit card will be charged $94 per month for continued access. Facebook does not have this program. It’s a fake. Ignore the “Make Millions from the Comfort of Your Home” deals, especially if they come with a “Limited Positions Available” tag.
Here are some simple steps to help protect yourself against scammers.
If it sounds too good to be true… It probably is!
■ NEVER send money or give credit card or online account details to anyone you don’t know and trust.
■ ALWAYS seek independent financial and/or legal advice before making any investment or purchasing decisions.
■ NEVER rely solely on advice from the person trying to sell you the service or investment.
Protect your personal information
■ NEVER give your personal or bank account details to people you don’t know and trust.
■ ALWAYS contact your bank, financial institution or service provider if you have been contacted by a scammer posing to be your Bank.
■ DON’T use the numbers provided on the email to confirm an email’s legitimacy before replying.