50 “Massive” Scams That “Everyone Buys Into”, According To These Internet Users

ScamWatch, run by the Australian Government, warns people that scams are usually presented as amazing opportunities either to make or save money. They’re often portrayed as being extremely time-sensitive.

Meanwhile, you should be suspicious if someone you have never met suddenly asks you for your help. You should always be wary of any emails or text messages that have suspicious-looking links or attachments. And your alarm bells should be ringing if you’re asked to pay in unusual or extremely specific ways or you’re asked to set up any new accounts.

The best approach if you notice any red flags is to never give out any personal details or transfer any money. You should either hang up the phone or delete the spammy emails or messages. If the scammers are pretending to be a trusted organization or institution, you can always get in touch with them via their official contacts to double-check any suspicious-sounding requests.

Everybody can fall prey to scams, no matter how educated they might be. Everyone can find themselves distracted and in a situation where they lack self-awareness. However, the more physically, socially, and financially vulnerable someone is, the more likely they are to be targeted by crooks.

However, this doesn’t mean that we can’t fight back against potential scams. Knowledge really is power. The more up-to-date we are about new types of scams, the more we can keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. Although, it’s a constant battle with no end in sight. For every scam you learn to avoid, new ones will pop up to take its place.

A very important rule of thumb when it comes to protecting yourself and your funds is to listen to your gut. When we’re in tune with our instincts, we can tell when something’s off. Broadly speaking, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

For example, if you get a very tempting offer that promises you great riches for doing next to nothing, then it’s very likely that someone’s trying to scam you. Nobody gives away free money… (unless you bought a very lucky lottery ticket or you inherited something, but those situations are super rare).

Slow down. Sit down. Ask yourself some basic, common sense questions about the offer. And then, get in touch with your family, friends, coworkers, or neighbors for their thoughts. There’s nothing like an outsider’s perspective to protect you from swindlers. If nobody’s available to talk, take some time to think about what the offer entails. Sleep on it.

Many scammers rely on pressure to get you to part with your hard-earned cash. So, any offers that are super duper urgent are probably attempts to get you into a mind frame where you’re easier to manipulate. Fairly good deals and sales happen all the time; there is absolutely no reason to rush. Ever!

Meanwhile, if someone asks you to divulge any private information, it’s also very likely that you’re in the process of getting scammed.

You should never ever give out any sensitive info, whether that’s your bank details, your account passwords, your address, or your and your loved ones’ names or dates of birth. Sure, some of your info is probably easily accessible and already ‘out there’ in the wilds of the internet, but you don’t want to give crooks any more ammunition.

What’s the biggest scam that you know of that people keep buying into? Has anyone ever tried to scam you, dear Pandas? What advice would you give someone to help protect them from swindlers and crooks?

Share your advice in the comments! And if you have any warnings to share from your personal experience, we're all ears.