Protect yourself this fraud prevention month

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/02/2022 (1435 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

First, second or third? Which link do you tend to click after typing something into your favourite search engine?

Your choice likely has less to do with the link order but more with the look of each link title and subtext. Some links appear legitimate, while others are clearly not what you’re looking for. Most of us don’t spend too much time analyzing, though, as doing an online search is a small and regular task in our busy days.

But this is where scammers take advantage of unsuspecting surfers. They lurk near the surface of online searches, waiting for people to click on the second link instead of the third. The trouble is, that second link may take you to a website that exactly mimics the real one.

That’s what happened to a Calgary woman looking for Hoka shoes. The only difference between the fake site and the real one was the final three letters in the url. The consumer bought a pair of hiking boots, only to later discover the site was fake. The boots never showed up, despite another fake email stating they had been delivered, and the scammers had her credit card information, name, contact information and home address. She wisely cancelled the card and alerted BBB to the ploy.

But a search engine result is far from the only place scammers lurk in the shadows. Their increasingly sophisticated methods have turned smart and savvy people into victims. That’s why it’s more important than ever to stay up-to-date on the tactics being used by those trying to cheat you out of your hard-earned money.

The best place to do that is on BBB ScamTracker. The online tool filters out common and recent scams targeting your area.

For example, a cryptocurrency scam is ripping through Manitoba, where well-intentioned investors look to invest in crypto and stocks, only for that money to be put in a scammer’s pocket. Some victims report having found the company’s registration number to be legitimate, only to later find it was all a rouse and their investments are gone.

The BBB Institute of Marketplace Trust will soon release the BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report for 2021, which will give consumers even more information on popular scams and how to avoid them.

For more information on the BBB ScamTracker, visit www.bbb.org/scamtracker. You can also find the latest news and advice at www.bbb.org/Manitoba

Your local BBB provides many resources to protect yourself and your family all year, but especially throughout March, which is Fraud Prevention Month.