How to spot an online scam

MANY PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE OF the main difference between http:// and https://

It's all about keeping you secure.

HTTP stands for Hyper Text Transport Protocol. The S (big surprise) stands for "Secure".

If you visit a website or webpage, and look at the address in the web browser, it will likely begin with the following: http://

This means that the website is talking to your browser using the regular 'unsecure' language. In other words, it is possible for someone to "eavesdrop" on your computer's conversation with the website. If you fill out a form on the website, someone might see the information you send to that site.

This is why you NEVER ever enter your credit card number in an http website!

BUT if the web address begins with https://, <https://> that basically means your computer is talking to the website in a secure code that no one can eavesdrop on.

You understand why this is so important, right?

If a website ever asks you to enter your credit card information, you should automatically look to see if the web address begins with https://

If it doesn't, there's no way you're going to enter sensitive information like a credit card number.

How to spot an online scam:

An oline scams is to get you to click on a link. This link can show up in an email, a hijacked messaging account of one of your friends, a WhatsApp message, or even an SMS. The idea is to direct you to a malicious website. Then the scammers will try to download malware onto your device, or trick you into revealing your login credentials on a phony website that looks like the real thing.

Anyone can fall for an online scam, how scammers make you pay? Another red flag is when someone asks for money in a non-traditional form like a gift card or a cash reload card. Even requests for a wiring money can be suspect. FTC has a good video.

If you get an email stating your bank account is about to be frozen, or your PayPal email account suddenly needs to be validated, don’t click. Look in the lower left corner of your browser window. Use your mouse pointer to hover over the button or link your bank wants you to click without actually clicking it. You should see the web address the link will take you to. A bad link will never lead to your bank’s website, and scammers will often use a link-shortening service to try and hide that fact.