The 5 most popular online scams to be aware of in Cambodia
Cambodia, Southeast Asia. The country with the most vulnerable population to internet scams in the world. This is due to the limited educational level of Cambodia’s population. Cambodia has a median literacy rate of 87%. However, this statistic does not paint the entire picture. 47% of Cambodians are at or below grade 3 level education, meaning they are unable to read or write beyond simple words. As a result, Cambodia has a high percentage of illiterate adults willing to fall victim to scammers.
Cambodians are constantly bombarded by cyber scams, be it through email or social media. These scams can take many forms, ranging from the seemingly benign like phishing for personal information to the more intrusive form of identity theft.
The following are 5 common scams that Cambodians should be aware of:
1. Emails Phishing scam
A fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details for misappropriation.
2. Fake antivirus software scam in Cambodia
There are many popular online scams in Cambodia, and one of the most common is the fake antivirus software scam. This scam asks for money to install and update antivirus software programs on your computer, but there is no program installed. They may also ask you to provide personal details so they can help you find out who hacked your computer.
3. Make money easy and fast scam in Cambodia
The internet is a wonderful resource for information, communication, and many other useful things. However, it is also the perfect place for scammers to lurk. Cambodia has seen an increase in online scams including ones that seem like great opportunities but are really just traps to get your money or personal information. In Cambodia, there are a number of scams online that you should be aware of, from the time-tested Nigerian money scam to newfangled fake Amazon reviews.
The most common online scam in Cambodia is the Nigerian money scam, which usually starts with a Facebook friend request from someone who is out of country and needs help getting their inheritance out of the country after their father died in an accident. A newer scam that has emerged in Cambodia is the fake Amazon review scam.
4. Fake shopping websites and formjacking scam in Cambodia
Millions of people are victims of online scams each year, with many of these scams originating in countries where English isn’t the native language. Cambodia is one such country, in which the most common scams have over time become well-known to locals and expats alike, but still continue to spread quickly in this country. One scam that is particularly prevalent in Cambodia is formjacking, which uses fake shopping websites to steal personal information from unsuspecting shoppers.
6. Fake employment offers scam in Cambodia
In Cambodia most scams are carried out over the internet and by phone. These scams can take many forms, from fake employment offers to emails from a Nigerian prince with a large inheritance. The rise of the internet has meant the global market has grown exponentially and has created a new opportunity for criminals to exploit their victims. With so many new platforms and countless techniques at their disposal, it is important to be aware of the most popular scams in Cambodia.
Many people in Cambodia fall for these scams because they are looking to make money or improve their lives. The problem is that it’s only going to get worse as more people have access to the internet and connected devices.
What are the most common online scams?
Every day, people are exposed to phishing scams, malware attacks, and more. Cybersecurity threats have become a major concern for everyone from business owners to consumers. In the US alone, there were over 23 million victims of cybercrime last year. To help you stay safe online, we’ve compiled a list of the most common online scams below:
What are Phishing Scams?
Phishing scams are a common way hackers attempt to steal your information or money. If you fall prey to this type of scam, you could lose all the money in your account and have your identity stolen. When someone sends you an email that appears to be from a bank or other service provider asking for you to verify account details or personal information, it’s likely a phishing scam.
These emails usually look official, but they’re not. They may ask for personal information like social security number, date of birth, address, phone number, mother’s maiden name, etc.
If someone asks for this type of information from you over email and agrees, then it’s likely that they’re on the same scamming scheme and think they can trick their victim into sending or giving them money or personal information.
That being said, if you receive suspicious emails such as these:
– Mailing lists requests
– Addresses listed by FedEx who want to send out free samples
– Requests for financial transactions (payments) through online banking portals
It’s likely that these are legitimate spam attempts rather than phishing scams.
What is a Malware Attack?
A malware attack is when someone installs malicious software onto your computer or device without your knowledge or approval. You might not even know that it’s happening until you see the pop-up window telling you that a virus has been detected on your device.
The malware could be used for ransomware, where the hacker will demand a certain amount of money in order to unlock your files, or it could have other malicious purposes like stealing personal information at home or work.
There are many types of malware, and some are even made as part of a cyberattack. Malware can also be classified by its purpose, like banking trojan which only targets financial institutions.
How do you protect yourself from scams?
One of the best ways to protect yourself from scams is to be smart about what you click on. Start with a few simple rules for avoiding phishing scams:
1. Always check the email address before clicking on it. 2. Keep your eyes open for spelling mistakes or grammatical errors in the email’s text. 3. If it doesn’t look like an email from your bank or service provider, don’t click on it! 4. Think twice before clicking on a link in an email if there is no “referral” box at the bottom that lets you know where the link will take you. 5. Don’t ever send personal information via email!
These simple steps can help keep you safe and secure online!
Conclusion
All it takes is one click to have your personal information stolen, your identity stolen, or worse. If you are not careful with what you do online, online scams could be lurking around every corner.