How to spot online fraudsters

Scammers are master manipulators. An expert reveals how to spoil scammers' schemes and shield yourself from fraud.

Transcript

00:00 Scammers often use false identities, posing as bank or postal service employees.

00:07 If you suspect a scam, it is best to start by checking the spelling of email addresses or websites.

00:13 Since the real address is already taken, scammers use slight variations to mimic the original.

00:22 It could be just a hyphen where there was none, or a letter from a different alphabet.

00:28 Love and romance scammers often create fake profiles.

00:31 Here, a reverse image search can help, for instance with Google Lens or the InVID program.

00:36 However, this method falls short for deepfakes of fake callers.

00:40 To counteract these, all you can do is make up a code word, or a question and answer game.

00:48 Are you really well? And the answer to that is, yes, I ate my oatmeal this morning, for example.

00:55 An innocuous question with a very specific answer.

00:58 Scammers often use professional methods to manipulate their victims.

01:06 They rely on flattery, sympathy or time pressure, all to make money.

01:12 If you have even the slightest suspicion, then you should end the conversation or chat as quickly as possible.

01:23 You should not reply to the email, but ask someone else and not get involved in a conversation.

01:29 That is the best countermeasure we have.

01:33 (speaks in foreign language)