Home For consumers Avoid scams

DEFINITION

Internet Scam is a general way to define the different types of fraud that consumers
face when using the Internet. Scammers use technical tools or 'social engineering'
techniques to compromise consumer's personal information with different objectives,
but normally with the intention of get consumer's money.

EXAMPLES

Bogus lotteries or fake prize draws: You receive a letter or an e-mail

informing that you have won a big sum of money. In order to get the money, you have
to indicate your bank data or you are asked to put money into an account to facilitate
the payment of your prize. Watch out! Don't believe such an e-mail or letter. It is only
a way to get your bank account details or money from you! Don't reply!
Phishing: scammers try to gather consumer's personal information in order to
commit fraud: bank details, passwords etc.
Fake web pages, illegal use of trust marks etc.

FIVE HINTS TO AVOID SCAMS

1. Do not trust in offers "too good to be true".

2. Use secure payment methods, never money sending companies.

3. Check at maximum the identity and background of sellers.

4. Protect your computer: firewalls, antivirus and anti-spy software.

5. Protect your privacy: avoid sharing your data indiscriminately.

BASIC PROTECTION ON THE INTERNET

When using the Internet you should bear in mind that the Internet is no different from
other fields of life. When ridding a bicycle, driving a car or even walking on the street,
we are all exposed to risks. To start protecting ourselves on the Internet we have to
realize that total security does not exist.

What we can do as consumers is to try to protect ourselves, to minimize the risks in

order to safeguard our valuable information. It is a fact that when applying very basic
security measures at domestic level we can significantly reduce our risk and
approximate it to 0.
There are basically two threats that as consumers you should be aware of when
using the Internet:

A. Technical vulnerabilities - threats related to the use of your computer and the
use of Internet. This is the case of computer viruses but also includes vulnerabilites
related to the exchange of external removable dispositive like USB or hard drive
memories, or even power cuts.

How to minimize technical vulnerabilities?

Install and update antivirus, firewall and anti-spy software

There are no excuses for not having an antivirus, a firewall or an anti-spy. When you
surf the Internet without any protection you are exposed. There are many
organizations which offer quality software free of charge, e.g. Spanish Oficina del
Seguridad del Internauta and others:

Personal Firewalls

Zone Alarm

COMODO Internet Security

Sunbelt Personal Firewall

Antivirus as product:

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

BitDefender 10 Free Edition

Avira AntiVir Personal Edition

avast! 4 Home Edition

Malwarebutes' Anti-Malware

Panda Cloud Antivirus

Antivirus as service

ActiveScan 2.0 de Panda - Tu segunda opinion sobre la seguridad de tu PC

Trend Micro HouseCall - Trend Micro Espana

Software antivirus y seguridad en Internet para su equipo McAfee

Norton Secutiry Scan

Virus Total

Fight against Spam emails

G-lock SpamCombat

SPAMfighter

Spaminhilator

Mailinator

Anti-Spy software

Ad-Aware Free

Spybot S&D

Windows Defender

B. "Social engineering" - threats not related to technical issues but to the ability of
the scammer to cheat consumers by mean of tricks. It is also related to a responsible
- informed - use of the Internet by consumers.

How to minimize social engineering vulnerabilities?

You are the best "firewall": use your common sense

This is the best advice to have in mind when surfing the Internet. Consumer
protection agencies around the world, co-operating within the ICPEN network, are
working to educate consumers in a responsible use of the Internet. Nevertheless, you
as consumer are the best "firewall" against fraudsters and scammers.