Online Scams

The internet is amazing, but sadly, there are dishonest people online called scammers who try to trick you into giving them your money or your personal information. An online scam is any dishonest scheme carried out using the internet, email, messages, or apps.

Scammers are often very clever and try to play on your emotions (like excitement, fear, or urgency) to make you act without thinking.

One of the most common scams is phishing (pronounced like "fishing"). Scammers "fish" for your sensitive information.

How it works: They send emails, messages (SMS, WhatsApp), or create fake websites that look like they are from legitimate companies (like your bank, a popular online store, a social media site, or even the tax department). These messages often:

• Ask you to click a link to log in and "verify" your account details.
• Claim there's a problem with your account that needs immediate attention.
• Ask you to update your password or personal information.
• Tell you you've won a prize and need to click to claim it.

The Goal: To trick you into entering your username, password, bank details, OTP, or credit card number on their fake website or in a reply.

How to Avoid:

• Be suspicious of unsolicited emails/messages asking for personal info.
• Don't click links directly in suspicious emails/messages. Go to the official website by typing the address yourself or using a trusted bookmark.
• Check the sender's email address carefully – scammers often use addresses that look similar but not identical to the real one.
• Legitimate companies rarely ask for sensitive info via email or message.

Ever received a message saying you've won a huge lottery, a free phone, or an expensive gift, even though you never entered a contest? This is almost always a scam!

How it works:

• They tell you you've won something amazing.
• They then ask you to pay a small "processing fee," "tax," or "shipping charge" to receive your prize.
• Alternatively, they might ask for your bank details to "transfer" the prize money.

The Goal: To steal the "fee" you pay, or to get your bank details to steal more money.

How to Avoid:

• If you didn't enter a contest, you didn't win. Simple!
• Legitimate lotteries/contests don't ask winners to pay fees to claim a prize.
• Never share bank details or pay fees for unexpected "winnings."
• Just ignore and delete these messages.

Scammers sometimes target teens looking for part-time jobs or internships online.

How it works:

• They post fake job ads (often "work from home," "easy data entry," "get paid to click ads") that sound too good to be true.
• They might conduct a fake interview (or none at all).
• They then ask you to pay a "registration fee," "training fee," or buy specific software/equipment through them before you can start.

The Goal: To steal the fee you pay. There is no real job.

How to Avoid:

• Be wary of jobs that sound too easy or pay too much for simple tasks.
• Legitimate employers will never ask you to pay a fee to get a job.
• Research the company offering the job. Do they have a real website and contact details?
• Don't provide sensitive personal information (like Aadhaar or bank details) too early in the application process.

UPI is convenient, but scammers use tricks here too!

Common Tricks:

• Fake "Receive Money" QR Codes: Scammers might send you a QR code and tell you to scan it to receive money (e.g., for selling something online). WARNING: Scanning a QR code in most UPI apps is ONLY for sending money. If you scan their code and enter your PIN, you will lose money, not receive it!
• Fake Payment Requests: They might send you a payment request on your UPI app, hoping you'll approve it by mistake, thinking you're receiving money.
• Phishing for PIN/OTP: They might call or message pretending to be from the bank or UPI app support, asking for your PIN or OTP to "fix a problem" or "verify your account."

How to Avoid:

• Remember: You NEVER need to scan a QR code or enter your PIN to receive money via UPI.
• Only approve payment requests you are expecting to make.
• Never share your UPI PIN or OTP with anyone.

Shopping online is fun, but fake shopping websites exist.

Warning Signs of Fake Sites:

• Unbelievably Low Prices: Expensive items offered at huge discounts that seem too good to be true often are.
• Poor Website Design: Look for bad grammar, spelling mistakes, low-quality images.
• Limited Contact Information: No physical address or working customer service number.
• Unusual Payment Methods: Only accepting direct bank transfers or obscure payment options.
• Missing "https://": Secure websites that handle payments should start with `https://` (the 's' means secure) and show a padlock icon in the browser address bar. Don't enter payment details on sites starting with just `http://`.

How to Shop Safer:

• Stick to well-known, reputable websites.
• Look for `https://` before entering payment details.
• Read reviews (but be aware some can be faked).
• If possible, choose Cash on Delivery (COD) for unfamiliar sites, though even this isn't foolproof.
• If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Protecting yourself online is about being aware and careful:

• Protect Personal Information: Be very careful about sharing your full name, address, phone number, school name, passwords, OTPs, PINs, Aadhaar number, or bank details online or with strangers.
• Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Don't use the same password everywhere. Use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Think Before You Click: Be wary of links or attachments in emails/messages from unknown senders.
• Keep Software Updated: Updates for your phone, computer, and apps often include security patches that protect against known threats.
• Download Apps from Official Stores: Avoid downloading apps from unofficial websites or links.
• Trust Your Gut: If something feels wrong or suspicious, it probably is. Don't proceed. Ask a trusted adult if you're unsure.
• Verify Sources: If someone contacts you unexpectedly claiming to be from a company or bank, hang up or ignore the message and contact the company yourself using their official phone number or website.