On the Internet you can be a victim of many attacks and scams of all kinds. They can try to steal your passwords, break into bank accounts or social networks, sneak in a virus… What should you do if you have been a victim of a scam? We are going to tell you how you should act. The objective is to prevent the problem from becoming bigger, from accessing your accounts or even reaching third parties. By taking action as soon as possible, you can reduce the impact.
You may be facing scams that reach you by email, WhatsApp, social networks, when you enter a website, when you buy something… They can really deceive you through many means on the Internet. The goal can be varied, as they could simply want to collect some personal information or go much further and steal your passwords and control your bank accounts.
What to do if you get scammed online
It is important to act quickly and know how so that the problem does not increase. Not only could it affect you, your data and devices, but also third parties who may see how they are being scammed. Therefore, it is key to take certain measures as soon as possible.
Delete messages or files
The first thing you should do is eliminate the reason for the problem. Maybe they have sent you a message on your cell phone, an email, a file that is actually a fraud… All of this could be the reason why you have been scammed online. They could take advantage of that message or file to reach third parties.
Therefore, eliminate the source of the scam. Whether you have really been scammed, or if you simply suspect that it may be something malicious, it is best to delete it immediately. This will help you stay safe and avoid problems.
Block accounts
Another step you must take is to block your accounts. For example, if you have been scammed online and have gained access to your bank account or suspect that you have made a fraudulent payment, block the card immediately. That will avoid major problems, at least until you can see what happened.
You can do the same with social networks, email, etc. If you suspect that you have been scammed, you should take action quickly and block the accounts to limit the problem as much as possible.
change passwords
You should also change passwords. It is possible that they have scammed you through a Phishing attack and have stolen the password from an online platform. They may simply have snuck in a virus and you suspect that they may have recorded the passwords that you have been entering.
Whatever the reason for this scam, one of the first steps is to change your passwords. You will avoid many problems and it is always good to renew them. Use secure keys, that you are not using elsewhere, and with this you will further increase security beyond this specific scam that you may have suffered.
Notify third parties
It is a good idea to notify third parties who may be affected. For example, if you have been sending messages on WhatsApp without being aware of it, warn that it is a scam and that they should not open any link or download any file that could be a problem for their security.
In many cases, online scams go in a chain. Attackers seek to steal information or passwords from a victim to subsequently reach their contacts and affect many more. Therefore, it is key to break that chain.
Request a refund
If money has been stolen from your bank card, if you have made a fraudulent purchase on your Amazon account or you have involuntarily subscribed to a payment service, what you should do is request a refund. It is key to not have problems and to be able to return what they have stolen from you.
You will have to contact your bank, the card provider or the online store where you were scammed. This process is not always easy, nor is it quick, but it is something you must do.
In short, this is how you should act if you have been the victim of a scam on the Internet. It is essential that you take measures as soon as possible and prevent this problem from spreading to third parties as well. Maintaining privacy and security on the network is key whenever you use a computer, mobile phone or any device.
