Online scams have appeared and evolved alongside the rapid growth of the internet. During the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, online scams have increased sharply. Before and during Lunar New Year, scammers tend to become even more active.
To help the online community stay alert and enjoy a safe Lunar New Year, cybersecurity expert Hiếu PC has listed the 7 most common scam methods today. These scams aren’t new but have become more sophisticated, so users need to be very careful to avoid falling into traps.
Here’s the list of 7 common scams during Lunar New Year according to Hiếu PC:
1. Fake websites or fanpages impersonating train, plane, or bus companies to sell counterfeit tickets, targeting the rising demand for travel home during the holiday.
2. Impersonating law enforcement, government agencies, or official organizations to threaten, intimidate, or extort money and steal personal information.
3. Scams involving multi-level marketing, binary options, cryptocurrency projects riding the blockchain hype, or NFT and GameFi projects that lure investors before disappearing, leaving them with losses.
4. Fake e-commerce websites and counterfeit brand pages set up to sell bogus products.
5. Scams that trick victims with fake prize notifications or cheap motorbike sales, exploiting greed to steal deposits or personal identity information.
6. Stealing personal info, money, or assets through emails, branded messages, SMS, or social media chats that lure victims to malicious links mimicking banks or e-wallets, or by building fake relationships promising valuable gifts.
7. Phone number theft scams claiming free upgrades to 4G or 5G SIM cards, then taking control of victims’ e-wallets, bank accounts, Facebook, or email.
Additionally, Hiếu PC advises the online community to be cautious of other scams like online loans, fake job offers promising easy work with high pay, and fraudulent labor export schemes. These scams often cause victims to lose deposits and personal information.
