How to protect ourselves from scammers?
It is a real world and there are many types of people. I do believe that the vast majority consists of honest, decent people, unfortunately, there are also scammers, liars and so on. In most of the cases we are unable to recognize them from the first contact. If this contact is via anonymous communication it is even more difficult. Additionally, if the other person is a scammer, the chances are that you will be dealing with a person way more experienced than you with the Internet. Most of the scammers prefer to talk to you one-to-one. Of course! This way it is much easier to create a believable story and it is way more difficult to check this story. Sounds dangerous, doesn’t it? Yes it does, but only sounds like that. In reality it is not that difficult to protect yourself. There is a way to greatly minimize the risk of being scammed. I will try to explain it as simple as possible.
Everything starts with a simple rule:
USE COMMON SENSE!
It is not that difficult at all! Do not give your personal information! Do not give your email - it is a personal information!
- Assume that the scammer is smarter than you. It doesn’t matter whether it is actually true. That assumption will help you a lot. Less ego is safer! If you do think that the scammer is smarter it is more likely to ask somebody else for help. Therefore, more likely to identify possible scam.
- All of you are used in the old way – ‘…here is my email, phone number or (even worst) my address – contact me…’. I know, it appears simple and forward, but it is stupid and dangerous. How about a new way of communication? How about keeping your privacy and keep communicating at the same time? Yes! There is a new way – use aidPage! Keep ALL of your communication with the aidmates via aidPage only. You have choice of public and private messages. It is even more convenient that the old email. What is more important – you exact location and email address are protected. So, the other party has no way to get this private information unless you give it to him/her yourself. Which brings us to the next question – when, how and how much information should we give to the other party?
- Will you give your home address or phone number to a complete stranger on the street? Probably not. Why you are doing it on the net?! What would be the common sense action on the street? You will try to get to know this person better. Perhaps, you will meet somewhere else; perhaps, you will take a friend with you…; perhaps after you feel more confident you may give him/her some more personal information about you. Sounds natural, isn’t it? Well, it is! Do exactly the same thing here. Talk to anybody you like. Ask other aidmates for their opinion about this person. Give yourself enough time to know this person.
I do understand that when you are in trouble there is not much time and you would like to get help as soon as possible. That is probably true, but it is also true that you don’t want more troubles. So, remember – Patience is a virtue! What was the first rule - The scammer is smart. Ok, maybe, but being smart the scammer don’t like to invest too much time with you. He/she is in this for an easy catch. If you are patient, careful and you are asking questions you are not an easy catch. Most likely he/she will loose interest or in the mean time will be identified as scammer by you or some other aidmate. So, you are safe. On the other hand, if the other party is a decent person he/she will not be offended by your questions. He/she understands your worries and will be patient too. A person that is willing to help you will not ask you for anything in advance. It is not a trade – it is help!
- Let us say, you found an individual that is willing to help you by sending you some item that you need. There may be shipping charges involved. You might be willing to cover these charges. It is ok, but PLEASE don’t do this in advance! Think! Most likely the other person is better situation than yours. So, he/she can take care about these charges at least temporarily. Once, you receive the item, you can send shipping charges back. If you trust him/her with your address it is just fair to expect such trust back.
- If there are money involved. The best way is to use Paypal. It is easy, free and it is safe. Yes, it is easier to get a money order or a check, but it is also easier to counterfeit them. Remember – you are patient and you are not looking for trouble!
One important note: If somebody is sending you money with a condition to distribute some of them to other parties this is almost 100% scam. Ask yourself why he/she needs this? If he/she want to send money to several people it is easy to be done. Why sending money to you to send them to somebody else? It is a scam!
- If the other party claims to be an organization then it is even easier. Any legitimate organization has a public website, publicly known address, phone and officers. If some of this information is missing or withhold there is something wrong! Alter all it is simple advertising for this organization. Ask yourself why it should be a secret? Ask them to publish this information on aidPage. This way other aidmates will be able to check them too.
- A word for the people willing to help. The above rules of communication are easily applicable to you too. After all you also don’t want to be scammed by dishonest individual claiming certain needs.
- Share your experience whether bad or good with other aidmates. Give yourself a chance to be warned on time and make aidPage a safer place by exposing the scammers.
Follow these simple rules and you will have safer and pleasant experience on aidPage.
Again, be patient and apply common sense!
