People often look up information online, usually using Google. Companies, including websites like Tech Anoa, know this and create content that matches popular search terms to attract more viewers. However, scammers are also aware of this and use it to their advantage.
Scammers don’t just pay for misleading ads in Google’s “Sponsored Results,” although that is also an issue. They also use popular search phrases to direct you to websites that may trick you into a scam.
It’s always good to be cautious, but be especially careful when searching for certain topics. Here are five things you should Google with extra caution.
“Free credit report”
It’s ironic, but searching for “free credit report” online can actually put you at risk of scams, even though you’re just trying to check on your credit.
We all have the right to see our credit reports for free, and checking your report is a good way to make sure no one has stolen your identity.
However, some fake sites will trick you into giving away your personal information when you think you’re just getting your free report.
You might think you need to provide a lot of personal details to get your report, but be careful. Those fake sites do not care about protecting your money or identity.
Luckily, there’s a safe way to check your credit for free. The three big credit reporting companies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—let you check your credit once a year without any risk. You can go directly to AnnualCreditReport.com or call (877) 322-8228. You don’t even need to Google it. For more ways to get a free and safe credit report, click here.
“[Company] customer service number”
Sometimes you need to talk to customer service quickly, and you might rush to call the first phone number that looks official. But be careful, because scammers hope you’ll call one of their fake numbers without noticing any small warning signs that it’s not real.
Imagine you need to call your cell phone company but accidentally dial a scammer’s number. They might ask to send you a security code to “confirm your identity.” If you give them this code, they could use it to change your account password. Or they might even take over your phone number to scam others.
To avoid this, don’t just call the first number you find on Google. Check the website where the number is listed to make sure it’s the real company’s site. Look at the “about us” or “contact us” page for any signs that something might be wrong.
“High paying remote job”
It’s true that easy things aren’t always good for you, especially when it comes to making money online. Many job postings you’ll find are actually scams.
Here’s the best advice: If a job offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Watch out for job descriptions that don’t give many details, job posts that are very old, and job offers that come from free email services like Gmail.
“Free people finder”
Everyone does it, but nobody likes to admit it. Searching for people online, or “creeping,” is common these days. It’s easy because so much of our personal information is available on the internet.
However, using “people finder” websites to learn about someone else might actually expose too much about you. Many of these sites are unreliable and might take your money and personal information while pretending to help you find someone else. Some people have even complained to the Better Business Bureau about sites like Peoplefinder.com.
Fortunately, there are free, legal, and safe ways to look up people online without risking your own privacy. And if you don’t want to be found on these “people finder” websites, you can choose to remove yourself, although it might take some work.
“Best crypto wallet”
It makes sense that you want to find the safest wallet to protect your valuable cryptocurrency from scammers, hackers, and thieves. But searching for one online is just what scammers hope you’ll do. They are good at using SEO (search engine optimization) to make their fake sites show up high in Google search results.
A better way to find a safe wallet is to go to a trusted website that gives reliable advice about crypto security. You can then follow their recommendations for safe wallets. Check out our suggestions here.