How to Spot and Avoid Common Online Scams

Online scams constantly change their packaging, but the underlying tactics stay remarkably consistent: create urgency, impersonate someone trustworthy, and push you to act before you think it through. Here's how to recognize the most common ones.

1. Fake delivery and package texts

A text claims a package couldn't be delivered and asks you to click a link to "reschedule" or pay a small fee. Real delivery services rarely ask for payment by text, and the link often leads to a fake site designed to steal your card details.

2. Phishing emails impersonating your bank or a company

These emails often claim there's a problem with your account and ask you to "verify" your information by clicking a link. The email may look convincing, with real logos, but the link usually leads to a fake login page built to steal your password.

3. "You've won a prize" scams

You're told you've won a lottery, gift card, or prize you never entered for — but you need to pay a "fee" or provide personal information to claim it. Legitimate prizes never require you to pay money upfront to receive them.

4. Tech support scams

A pop-up or phone call claims your computer is infected and urges you to call a number or download "support" software immediately. Real tech companies do not monitor your computer and cold-call you about viruses.

5. Romance and relationship scams

Someone builds an online relationship over weeks or months, often on dating apps or social media, then eventually asks for money — for a medical emergency, travel costs, or a "business opportunity." These scams are often patient and emotionally manipulative by design.

6. Job offer scams

A job offer arrives with an unusually high salary for minimal work, often asking you to pay for "training materials" or to deposit a check and send part of it back. Legitimate employers never ask new hires to pay money upfront.

7. Fake online stores and marketplace listings

A product is listed at a suspiciously low price on an unfamiliar website or marketplace, and payment is requested through methods with no buyer protection, like wire transfer or gift cards. If a deal feels too good to be true, verify the seller before paying.

How to protect yourself

• Pause before clicking links in unexpected messages — go to the official site directly instead
• Never pay fees, taxes, or "processing costs" to receive a prize or job offer
• Be skeptical of anyone you've never met in person asking for money
• Use two-factor authentication so a stolen password alone isn't enough to break in
• When in doubt, verify through an official phone number or website — not one provided in the suspicious message itself