Today, scams are very common. There are scams from job offers, product replicas, and more. In this post, we will tell you about the most common ones that criminals use to deceive teenagers. In order to keep your personal data and money. Sometimes teenagers are not as impressionable compared to children. But, despite that, they can be victims of external influences.
If you are one of those, you may never have experienced any ups and downs. Therefore, you are most likely confident and easy to manipulate. In fact, that innocence can make you a target for scammers. Because they are always looking for new people to cheat and keep their money.
This post is aimed at teenagers. In order to take them into account and avoid falling into a trap. On the other hand, if you are a parent, it is best that you share these tips with your children. They can surely learn to stay away from anything similar.
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Social media
Without a doubt, social networks occupy a large space in the lives of adolescents. Therefore, it is common for scams to be carried out regularly. These social networks have different sizes and shapes. One common method is to submit links to trending articles about celebrities. But, what the user does not know is that this link directs him to a malicious website.
On the other hand, scammers can contact victims through contests or sweepstakes. The most common is to send a message where they invite teenagers to participate. But, in the same way, the link will direct you to a fraudulent page. It will automatically infect any device with malware. In order to steal or access completely confidential information.
Item discount scams
Another of the most common scams involves offers through social networks and fake ads. Usually from items that are priced too low. Scammers offer products that are attractive to teens. For example, limited edition shoes, brand clothing, among others. The objective of these people is that those who have a normal or low salary can buy these things.
In general, the idea of scammers is to create a fake site where they offer the products. Then when someone makes a purchase, that person will receive a copycat product. It is even possible that in the end, you will not receive anything. Also, this can become an even bigger problem. Because the victim was able to share the credit card details and the criminals will be able to take advantage of it.
Scholarships
It’s normal for students nearing graduation to think about the next stage. In fact, the first thing they start to do is look for college offers. However, depending on the university, access can be very expensive. This forces them to try to acquire a scholarship that covers part of the expenses. This is where scammers look to take advantage of this situation. Therefore, they create bogus scholarships that students can easily access.
These scholarship programs typically require a registration fee to be waived for entry. But, in reality, the scholarship does not exist and the scammer will keep the money that they gave him. Also, the scholarship can be based on a drawing that one person won. After contacting the winner, the scammer will ask for a “processing fee.” In order to justify the entry costs, but in the end, the result will be the same.
Job scams
Teenagers have different interests. For example, traveling, buying clothes, going to concerts, among others. But, the problem arises when they do not have enough money to cover these expenses. Therefore, it is normal for them to want to get a full or part-time job. In order to meet your needs. There are even teenagers who are looking for a way to help their families. For this reason, they allocate an amount of money for that.
Like the previous points, scammers create bogus job offers. These are usually too good to be true. In fact, scammers post job postings on legitimate job boards. These positions even allow you to work from home with a considerable salary. But, the goal is to acquire personal information from people. In order to use that data in illegal activities. For example, to falsify documents, open bank accounts, among others.
Romance and scams
Criminals have also been featured in online dating apps. Through scams on these grounds. However, this does not only happen in dating apps. Scammers also use social networks and communicate through private messages.
Typically, scams focus on posing as an attractive person. The scammer will then attempt to have a relationship with the victim. But, their only goal will be to steal your money. Unfortunately, there are criminals who go further. They manipulate people into sending intimate images or videos. In order to then extort them and have them pay money not to publish them.
How can I protect myself from scams?
In general, these scams are aimed at teenagers. The good news is that there are a few ways to protect yourself against these.
- When you find a tempting job offer, first do a search about the company. Therefore, if you have doubts, you can verify that nothing suspicious is happening. Also, don’t forget to provide salary information after being hired.
- The same happens in the case of scholarships. If you are thinking of looking for one, remember to verify the organization. In fact, you can do research on the internet or contact the offices. Also, remember to never pay a processing fee before all of this.
- On the internet, there is a golden rule that most people should know. “If something seems too good to be true, it most likely is not.” Therefore, if you come across a product with a low price, it is surely a scam. But if you continue to be intrigued, we recommend consulting with the manufacturer. You can also do your research to verify this information.
- Be careful with messages from people you don’t know. Mainly when it is a question of a link or a questionable offer. We recommend that you ignore the message and avoid clicking it.
