1. Online Shopping Scam
As the popularity of the e-commerce in Malaysia grows, the number of online shopping scams increase in tandem. Some examples of online shopping scams are:
- Failing to deliver goods after payment was made
- Counterfeit products delivered instead of the original product purchased
So what precautions can you take to avoid falling prey to this scam?
Check the item's description carefully and ask the seller questions if you have any uncertainties about the product. Also, feedback and reviews will show you past transactions of other buyers. Make sure to read through the feedback on the seller’s page before making any purchase. Stay away from websites that do not provide user ratings too.
2. Online Job Scams
The online job scam is a common one. Exorbitant salaries, never having to leave home, and a host of other lucrative baits are all used to rope you into their nets.
Some of them will use you as a pawn to transfer money around and play a role in their money laundering affairs. Which by the way, could land you in jail.
Some fake employers also mask themselves as recruiters from reputable and established companies and require you to deposit a certain amount of money as a refundable processing fee for a guaranteed job. And of course, they will run away with your money without leaving a trace.
So really, the steps here are simple :
- You aren’t required to pay any money for interviews.
- You shouldn't be helping third parties transfer money around.
And if the job sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
3. Forex Scams
Forex, a place for the trade of currencies is a popular choice of investment. It can be very profitable in the long run and like all other forms of investment, it requires hard work and experience.
However, certain miracle software in the market today are claiming to help you achieve the impossible. The promise of investing a small sum to earn an unlimited amount of money should already send people running. But people still get duped by these fancy promises.
Also, take precautions against forex brokers who claim they come from regulated companies. You might never be able to see your money again should you credit your funds into the wrong hands. Only trust reputable companies and do a little research before making decisions.
4. Email Scam or Phishing
Phishing is not a typo of fishing. It is a fraudulent attempt to steal personal information like your username and password of bank account. The scammers usually come up with a very legitimate looking email, commonly informing recipients to update their information to enhance their user experience.
After clicking the link, you will be redirected to a fake website with the same interface and outlook of the original online banking website.
Here's an example of a phishing email:
*Source: CIMB
Should you receive this kind of email, just give a call to your bank and verify the authenticity of it. Remember to call the number from the bank's verified website and not the number provided in the email.
Be Smart and Stay Safe
Scams often prey on the greed and carelessness of consumers or even on Loanstreet. This happend to us in the first half of 2019. Should you receive anything fishy or scammy, remember to practice wisdom and always research when in doubt. Stay safe and don’t become another statistic to these scams.
*The above article is intended for informational purposes only. Loanstreet accepts no responsibility for loss that may arise from reliance on information contained in the articles.
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