How to Recognize Scammers: Main Signs of Fraud

Scammers actively use various methods to deceive people, luring them into various schemes. Most of these schemes have long been known, yet people still fall for the tricks of fraudsters. Moreover, scammers exist in various fields, both in everyday life and using internet resources, in construction investments, charity, and more.

Signs of Financial Fraud

Modern technologies have permeated our lives, and almost everyone has a mobile phone with internet access. The presence of social networks and access to phone number databases have significantly simplified the lives of scammers.

A sign that a scammer has begun their attack is:

• calls from unfamiliar numbers;
• conversations about financial matters;
• luring into loans;
• participation in promotions;
• posing as bank employees to extract personal information;
• intimidation with the threat of card blocking.

Such schemes are called phone schemes.

Under no circumstances should you respond over the phone about personal data, passwords, access codes. Bank employees do not behave aggressively and do not insist on disclosing banking information, which greatly differentiates them from fraudsters.

How to Recognize a Scammer

Having obtained the phone number of a potential victim, a scammer begins their attack. To be attentive and recognize from the first minutes of communication with scammers, you should know that a scammer:

• will always call first;
• will tempt with promotions;
• offer to invest money in a project with high returns;
• speaks quickly, clearly does not allow you to insert a word or ask any questions.

This is all aimed at overwhelming the victim and not giving them time to recover. In such a state, they may take rash steps, such as disclosing personal data, agreeing to unclear investments, or payments.

Characteristic Traits of Fraudsters

With good psychological preparation, fraudsters attack the victim using various methods.

A scammer can be described in a few words - these are very selfish people, they can be both introverted and extroverted, inspiring trust and rapport, or using the method of intimidating clients. If you are being forced to make immediate decisions, to hurry, these are also the main methods scammers use with people.

Scammers can be so professional that they can unobtrusively gain a person's trust, become their best friend, and it will not be immediately clear that you have become a victim of a scammer. Essentially, every scammer operates according to a scheme they have developed, which has worked for them. With experience in deceiving people, their scams often succeed.

Scammers' Schemes

As mentioned earlier, one scammer cannot operate in different fields, so each of them chooses a specific focus for luring people. These can be:

• investments in construction;
• buying and investing in cryptocurrency;
• investing in charitable foundations;
• organizing earning courses;
• posing as bank employees;
• may impersonate police, prosecution employees.

No matter which method a scammer chooses, their main goal is to make money, and by dishonest means, to extract money. Sometimes victims lose not only finances but also valuable items, property, and even real estate.

How to Distinguish a Scam from a Real Deal

If you plan to invest your income and receive constant profit, you should carefully choose, for example, a broker on trading platforms. If a broker offers you instant income three times the invested amount, you should beware of such offers. Most likely, it's a scammer targeting to take the investor's money.

It should be known that in a real deal with an honest broker, it's impossible to receive huge profits, the investment starts working with a low earning percentage – this allows for a low but stable income.

In the process of fraud, scammers always offer to believe, as they say, on their word of honor.

Scammers do not provide the necessary documents that allow for working in the investment market; they do not have licenses; client databases and other necessary information.

In a fair deal, accurate information is always provided, agreements are made with signing and discussing all issues, everything looks transparent.

Signs of Fraud

The above signs of fraud may help protect against scammers. As soon as you feel you are becoming a victim of scammers, you should protect yourself by contacting the police, being vigilant. Use known methods of protection against scammers, feeling danger, immediately hang up, stop communication on social networks, report to the police, warn acquaintances and relatives.