Scammers thrive by exploiting fear, urgency, and trust. They try to trick you into giving money or revealing personal information. Scammers are getting more and more sophisticated using A! in many instances to structure their scams to appear more convincing. A prominent personality on social media revealed his scam this week, where he was invited to appear in a conference abroad. Having arranged his visa he was approached by the organisers (scammers) to have this visa adjusted as he was being paid outside the country. The requested $1 700 to be deposited in their account to finalise the Visa. This is when the red flag was raised.

What a scam is and how it works

What it is**: A deliberate attempt to fool you into handing over money or sensitive data.

Common setup**: A believable story, urgent pressure, and a direct request for money, passwords, or access to devices.

Usual lures**: “You’ve won a prize,” “Your account is compromised,” or “This is an official government/agency request.”

How scams usually unfold (red flags to spot)

Phishy contact**: You’re reached by text, call, email, or a social message from an unknown source.

  They imitate real institutions or people you trust.

Pressure and secrecy**: They insist you act now and keep it quiet.

  Phrases like “Only you can fix this” or “Share this number with no one.”

Requests for secrecy or money**: They want payment, gift cards, crypto, or access to your devices.

Most recent scam types

Phishing with urgency**: Fake alerts from banks or apps urging immediate action.

  Example: “Your account will be locked unless you verify now.”

Tech-support impersonation**: Scammers claim you have a malware problem and request remote access.

  Example: “We detected malware; give us control to fix it.”

Romance and social-engineering scams**: Posing as a love interest or new “friend” to gain trust and money.

Lottery/prize scams**: Claim you won something but you must pay fees to claim it.

Fake invoices and delivery notices**: “Your package is stuck” or “urgent payment due” notices.

How to protect yourself

Verify independently**: Use official channels you know (the institution’s website or a number you find yourself) instead of links or numbers in the message.

Pause, don’t pay**: If someone pressures you, take a breath, step back, and verify.

Don’t share codes or passwords**: No legitimate service will ask for them.

Strengthen security basics**: Enable two-factor authentication, use unique passwords, and keep software updated.

Report and block**: Notify your bank or platform, and consider filing a report with local authorities if you suspect a scam.