13 Sneaky Online Scams That are Easy to Fall for

In the past, online scams were easier to detect, such as fraudulent emails from imaginary Nigerian princes. Unfortunately, today’s scams are harder to spot than ever before.

Following are some of the biggest online threats to your identity and your bank account. Learning more about these scams might help you avoid foolish mistakes that could result in lost money.

Recently, the federal government offered sweeping student loan forgiveness to millions of borrowers. 

However, you should only trust information you receive about student loan forgiveness if it comes from an official source, such as the U.S. government Federal Student Aid website.

Anyone claiming your loan will be forgiven if you pay a small fee or share your Federal Student Aid account name and password is likely scamming you. 

The U.S. government will never ask for your account information, nor does it require you to pay money for debt forgiveness.

When disaster strikes, fraudsters suddenly materialize to take advantage of the good intentions of others.

Americans are generous, often giving their money when a flood, tornado, fire, or other natural disaster damages a community. However, scammers often take advantage of this by setting up fake websites that accept donations that allegedly are earmarked to help victims.

Instead, the money ends up in the pockets of crooks. If you want to donate, go directly to the websites of the U.S. government or established organizations such as the American Red Cross.

Scammers have been contacting American taxpayers over the phone or via email with an offer to help set up an account at the IRS website.

This one is especially prevalent during tax season, but may come up at other times as well since many people log into the IRS website to check on the status of their taxes or to pay off their tax debt.

If you accept this “help,” the scammer will ask for your Social Security number, address, and other identifying information. Fraudsters who get this data then sell it to the highest online bidder.

Stay a step ahead of the game by setting up an IRS account on your own. Never reply to anyone who volunteers to set up an account on your behalf.

The advent of social media has allowed us to spend endless hours networking online with others. Unfortunately, fraudsters gravitate to where the people — and the money — are. That makes social media a prime territory for online scams.

Be careful when you see ads for goods or services on social media sites that are especially enticing. They could be scams enticing you to click on a link that will invite malware to infect your computer.

The old tried-and-true rule applies: If something looks too good to be true, it probably is. Be suspicious of unbelievably good offers on popular products or guarantees of prizes.

Spear phishing refers to a phishing attack that specifically targets someone and is tailored to the target’s interests.

This could include emails claiming to be from your bank asking you to follow a link to confirm details about your account. Other attacks use current events to get you to open an email and click a link.

Some crooks set up phony apps that look legitimate. You think you're downloading the hottest new app when in fact you are falling victim to a phishing app that will install malware onto your phone.

Fortunately, this online scam is easy to avoid. Don’t download anything but reputable apps. If you're interested in an app that you've never heard of before, do a little research online and check reviews from publications and other trusted sources.

Also, only download from sites such as Google Play and the Apple App Store. These sites are not 100% free of malware, but you should be safer downloading apps here than from an email that appears in your inbox.

Make sure to be extra vigilant about emails that claim to be from the IRS. These phishing schemes might include claims that you’re in danger of being jailed or fined if you don’t send a hefty payment to the email sender immediately.

The IRS generally communicates only via regular, traditional mail. You certainly won’t get an email from the agency demanding immediate payment.

Romance scams have been around for a long time. But the old scams have taken on a modern twist in 2023: Cryptocurrency fraud.

After initiating a fake romance, a cryptocurrency romance scammer will pressure their victim to invest in cryptocurrency through a fraudulent “investment” site that the scammer controls. The victim invests money and it disappears into the fraudster’s pocket.

Many of us receive a steady stream of pre-approval notices in the mail inviting us to sign up for a new credit card account. These notices can also show up in our email inbox, but in many cases, the offers are really scams.

Click the link in the email and you might be asked to make an immediate payment to earn approval for the credit card, which allegedly offers great terms such as a high credit limit.

In reality, there is no card and you're now out some valuable cash. If you need a credit card, apply for one directly with a legitimate bank, credit union, or another lender.

If you have an expensive bill due, payday loans can seem like a tempting way to pay it. But these loans typically have sky-high costs and are not in your best interest.

As if payday loans weren’t scams enough on their own, some fraudsters will pretend to offer payday loans that require the victim to pay an upfront fee just to apply.

Don’t trust anyone who tells you they need money before they can approve your application.

This is a scam that can really hurt, especially if you're desperate for a job and need income fast.

Clever scammers craft fake job ads in a way that makes them especially appealing. Perhaps the job promises to let you work full-time remotely or offers outstanding pay.

The appeal of this scam for fraudsters is obvious: As you apply, you will be asked to provide your Social Security number, bank information, and other valuable details. Crooks then take that information and run with it to steal your identity.

Steer clear of this type of scheme by only applying for jobs on reputable job boards or at official company websites.

Criminals love to prey on those who are especially vulnerable to their nefarious intentions. As we grow older, we all become more susceptible to falling for scams we might have detected in our younger years.

One particularly cruel scam involves phone emails or text messages allegedly sent by children or grandchildren requesting emergency help in the form of financial assistance. This scam targets caring hearts and steals money without mercy.

If you're older and get a request like this, call your loved one directly and ask if he or she really needs help. And if you're the child or grandchild of an older adult, assure them that you'll always call directly if you ever require assistance.

If you can't afford to pay all the taxes you owe, the IRS might make you an “offer in compromise” that reduces the amount of money you have to pay or extends your tax payment deadline.

Some scam artists claim they can drastically reduce your debt payment for a fee. This is often misleading and can cost people thousands of dollars if they don't truly qualify for an offer in compromise.

Be wary of third parties claiming they can get you a better repayment deal with the IRS. The agency notes that it has plenty of resources that you can use on your own to help resolve tax debt.

Pro tip: If other debts are making it difficult to pay your taxes, meet with a professional at a credit-counseling agency who can help you pay down your debts faster.

If you’ve fallen for a scam in the past, you don’t have to feel ashamed. Scammers are frighteningly good at their jobs.

Luckily, you can lower the chances of falling prey to a cruel scam by getting familiar with the warning signs of the most current scams.

Use this list to spot suspicious activity online. It can help you protect your identity and stop throwing away money by placing it in the hands of would-be attackers.