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All you need to know About Online Crimes

Online schemes and crime change often — especially since AI tools have become widely available. But there are specific patterns you can learn to recognize.

A scam is when a product or opportunity is made to look real, but it is actually designed to take your money or personal information without giving you anything in return.

Often times, online criminals try to steal your personal information, such as your Social Security number or bank details. This could cause you harm without you knowing right away.

Other common crimes online

What is Phishing?
“Phishing” is when someone sends you a message or email pretending to be someone they are not. They do this to gain access to your money or personal information. Pay attention to strange messages or emails that contain links or attachments.
Junk or scam emails

Here are a few signs a message might be a junk email:

  • You did not start the conversation with whoever is trying to contact you.
  • The email seems too informal, with spelling and grammatical errors. While emails from friends or family will often be written informally, when companies send you emails that need your attention, they are written with a very professional tone with no mistakes or errors.
  • They ask for your personal information like bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, or passwords.
  • They do not know your name (although sometimes they do). This could be a generic greeting at the beginning of the email, like “greetings account holder.”
  • They say there are consequences if you don’t respond quickly and place a lot of urgency on the matter.
  • They have included attachments or links you did not ask for. Be sure to avoid clicking any links or downloading any attachments.

How to tell if a link in an email is safe

  • First, hovering your mouse over the link will show you more information about the link itself – but DO NOT click on the link.
  • If the website does not have the letters “HTTPS” in front, it is potentially unsafe.
  • Copy and paste the link into The Google Transparency Report, which will tell you if it is safe or not.

What to do if it’s junk email

  • DO NOT click on any links
    Many junk emails contain links so they can get you to their website and enter your information or get you to download something on your computer.
  • DO NOT respond to the email
    It may be tempting to respond to junk emails to get more information, but responding to them only encourages them to focus on you.
  • Delete the email
    It’s best to delete the email since clicking on links or responding can only lead to more risk. While deleting an email won’t stop all junk emails from coming, it will help you avoid clicking the links.
Identity theft

Identity theft is when online criminals try to steal your personal information, such as your Social Security number or bank details and pose as you in order to cause harm or steal money.

It's important to be careful with messages from people you don’t know online, especially if they ask you for personal information or money. Always check to make sure the person is who they say they are or you are submitting information to a secure and/or trusted source.

Learn more about how to prevent identity theft by visiting the Identity Theft Resource Center.

Unsafe links

Why you should avoid following links from people you don’t know

Untrustworthy websites may try to download programs on your computer called “viruses.”
What are computer viruses?
Viruses are harmful programs that track what you do on the computer so they can access your information. Often, these will also slow down your computer.
What to do if you click an unsafe link
Clicking an unsafe link doesn’t guarantee that you will get a virus, but the risk is still there, and there’s no good reason to be on an unsafe site. If you do click an unsafe link and are concerned about your security, here's what you can do:

  1. Close the page and browser window.
  2. Disconnect from the internet.
  3. When you reconnect to the internet, change your passwords.
Fake online stores

Dishonest online stores may offer to sell you items at a very low price. If you purchase something on a fake website, they will likely send you nothing in return. Make sure you know you are buying from a trusted company and website. You can do that by looking for several things:

  • Look for reviews
    If they don’t have any reviews or only have reviews that are too good to be true, it is likely not. Also, be sure to check reviews of the website you are looking at purchasing from via other websites by doing a simple internet search like “[company name] reviews.”
  • Ask yourself if it’s too good to be true
    If you find something you want to buy, but the price is much lower than on other websites or is marked down by a lot compared to other websites that carry the same item, it’s likely not real.
  • Search for scams
    You can search for a known scam or report a scam through the Better Business Bureau.
Fake technical support

This is when a stranger pretends to work in technical support. They may pretend to work for the company that made your computer or where you purchased your computer from. They may tell you your computer has an issue and then ask for access to your computer or payment to fix your computer. When they get access to your computer, they will use that as an opportunity to access your information like passwords, personal information, and more.

Tech Support Scam Example:

A website cannot tell you if your computer has a virus
If the message came from a website you are visiting and it tells you that your computer is broken, it’s likely not true. Websites generally cannot tell if your computer is broken. If your computer is having issues, you will be able to tell if it stops working or slows down.

Real companies will not ask for payment in gift cards
Real companies that specialize in tech support accept credit cards. If they only accept gift cards as a way of payment, it’s likely not trustworthy. Using these forms of payment tells you that they do not want to be tracked.

Computer companies will not call you or message you first
If you get a phone call or email that you did not ask for, it is most likely not a technical support company. In the same way that a plumber will not show up to your house without you calling them first for help, companies will only call or email you if you message them asking for help first. They do not watch your computer and cannot know if you are having a problem. If you need computer repairs, you should reach out to the computer company directly or use a trusted source. This is true for most internet scams.

What to do if your computer is having problems
Because the internet is such a large part of daily life now, having issues with your computer can be a big problem. Luckily, there are lots of people out there who can help fix your computer.

  • Reach out to the company that made the computer
    The computer company is one of the best resources for having your computer problems.
    They occasionally even offer free support.
  • Go to a computer store
    Stores that sell computers usually offer trustworthy services to fix your device at a cost.
  • Work with Project Nandi
    Project Nandi offers free help with computer and internet issues for Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian families. You can apply for help here.
Online contests

If you get a message from someone who tells you that you’ve won the lottery or a prize, but to claim it, you need to pay or provide personal information, it is likely not true. Online criminals do this so they can use your information in harmful ways.

Prize Scam Example:

Signs the contest is not real

  • You did not buy a lottery ticket or enter a contest
    If you didn’t buy a lottery ticket or enter a contest for a prize, but you get an email or message on a social media platform that you won, it’s very likely untrue. If you do believe it could be real, be sure to check the email carefully or social media profile before responding.
  • They ask you to pay them
    If they claim you need to pay them first before claiming your prize, it’s not a real offer. They will take your money and not return it.
  • They ask you to hurry
    Often, they will be impatient and demand that you hurry. Otherwise, they will give the money or prize away. They do this because they know the more time you think about it, the more likely you are to realize it is not real.

What to do if you get a junk contest email
Like all forms of scams on the internet, the best thing to do is to delete the message and avoid clicking any links or downloading anything.

Fake internet romances

Signs it is a fake internet romance

  • They claim they have a connection to you that you don’t remember
    To make it seem more believable, they may claim that you’ve met before or that they were given your contact information by someone else. They usually get your information at random and send the same message to many people.
  • They cannot meet in person
    If they say they can't meet in person because they are too far away and won’t accept phone calls or video calls, it’s likely because they are not who they say they are.
  • They ask for money and have a sad story
    If they ask for money and say they need it because they are hurt, sick or in jail, it’s likely a trick to get you to send them money. They want to play on your sympathy and get you to feel sorry for them.
  • They ask you for pictures
    They may ask you to share very personal photos, then threaten to send them to your family and friends unless you pay them. Be sure you know who you are really talking to before sending any photos or other information of any kind.
  • What to do if you get a fake romance message
    If you get a message from a stranger who seems as though they are interested in you romantically, it’s best to ignore and delete the message. Responding only encourages the sender, and they will continue to message you.
Learn How To Spot A Scam

Keep your information safe

Just like we lock our doors to keep our homes safe, being careful online helps keep our personal information and money secure. Be smart about sharing personal information on the internet. Never share details like passwords or credit card numbers unless you’re sure they’ll stay secure and private.
Learn More about Personal Security Online