Junior PM to CEO: Scams: What I've Learned and How to Protect Yourself

Personal Experiences

I've recently encountered two scams that were so obvious, it was almost laughable. In one case, a person reached out to me online and offered to invest in my business. They then changed their story and said they wanted me to be a supplier for their company. However, all of their social media accounts were under pseudonyms, and they refused to provide me with a company name or business card. Needless to say, this raised major red flags.

In another instance, an individual claimed to be under surveillance by the Chinese government, the FBI, and other agencies. They stated they could only communicate with me through Zoom and WhatsApp. However, their WhatsApp profile lacked a picture, and when I checked their LinkedIn profile, I saw they had over 500 connections, but none of them were mutual connections. Needless to say, this made me highly suspicious.

Common Scam Tactics

Here are some of the most common scam tactics to be aware of:

• Investment scams:?Scammers will promise high returns on your investment, but they will actually take your money and run.

• Romance scams:?Scammers will create fake online profiles and pretend to be someone they're not in order to gain your trust and steal your money.

• Identity theft scams:?Scammers will steal your personal information in order to commit fraud or open accounts in your name.

• Tech support scams:?Scammers will call or email you claiming to be from a well-known tech company and say that your computer is infected with a virus. They will then ask you to give them remote access to your computer so they can "fix" the problem. However, they will actually steal your personal information or install malware on your computer.

Domestic vs. International Scams

There are a few key differences between domestic and international scams. Domestic scams are typically more localized, while international scams can be more sophisticated and difficult to trace. Additionally, international scammers may be more likely to use threats or intimidation to get their victims to comply.

How to Protect Yourself

Here are some tips on how to protect yourself from scams:

• Be suspicious?of unsolicited offers.?If someone contacts you out of the blue with an offer that sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

• Do your research.?Before you invest in anything or give out any personal information, be sure to do your research and verify the legitimacy of the person or company you're dealing with.

• Be careful what you share online.?Be cautious about what personal information you share online, and make sure your social media accounts are private.

• Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication.?Use strong passwords for all of your online accounts, and enable two-factor authentication whenever possible.

• Be aware of the latest scams.?Scammers are constantly coming up with new ways to trick people, so it's important to be aware of the latest scams. You can find information about the latest scams on the websites of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Conclusion

Scams are a serious problem, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself. By being aware of the common scam tactics, being careful about what information you share online, and using strong passwords, you can help to keep yourself safe from scammers.