Cybersecurity Awareness Month – Protect yourself, your family, and your business.
The internet is a glorious playground…unless you run into some of its more questionable characters. Scammers are everywhere—from social media creeps to self-proclaimed royalty in your inbox. Get ready to laugh, cringe, and learn as we take a wild ride through common web scams—and how you can avoid being their next victim.
Criminals love the Internet for its anonymity and ability to hide from law enforcement. Many criminals aren’t even on this continent! They live in foreign countries, where it is hard to find these people and even more difficult to prosecute and extradite them if they are caught.
The best thing you can do is be aware that there are bad people out there and protect yourself and your loved ones – as well as your business.
This Week’s Action Topic: Scammers
Catfishing: “The Tinderella Nightmare”: Catfishing isn’t about fishing for real cats or even for catfish. It’s when someone pretends to be someone else online and tries to strike up a relationship—usually on dating apps, social networks, or gaming platforms. They steal photos, invent life stories, and play with hearts until someone is sending money, pictures, or videos.
Red flags:
- Lies, contradictions, changes in their story.
- Refusal to video chat or meet in person.
- Sob stories asking for money or emotional investment – which leads to money.
- Profiles with suspiciously sexy photos.
419/Nigerian Prince (aka “Help Me and I’ll Make You Rich!”). We’ve all seen that email. A supposed prince (sometimes a princess) promises millions if you help him/her transfer funds out of his/her far off, war-torn country. You’ll just need to front a “tiny” fee for ‘administrative” purposes, share your bank details, and you will get a giant windfall! —or not.
How it goes:
- A story of massive wealth that needs your help to escape
- Requests for processing fees, personal info, or bank account numbers
- Promises of lavish rewards if you just play along
Other Scammy Favorites
Phishing: Emails or texts mimicking well-known companies— “click this link, update your password!”—but they take you to fake sites and steal your credentials.
Romance Scams: Beyond catfish, these scammers build long-distance relationships, shower you with affection, and then ask for cash when a “crisis” hits.
Lottery & Prize Fraud: “Congratulations”! You’ve won The European Lottery!” You’ll just need to pay some taxes upfront to claim it.” And, of course, there is no prize.
Tech Support Scams: Random calls or pop-ups claim your computer is infected. They’ll “fix” it…after you pay them or give remote access (say hello ransomware).
How NOT to Get Scammed
- Never send money to someone you haven’t met in real life.
- Avoid clicking suspicious links or sharing personal info via email, DMs, or popups.
- Verify profiles, websites, and emails before responding.
- Use strong, unique passwords and consider multi-factor authentication.
- If it’s too good to be true…it probably isn’t.
Final Thoughts:
Scammers are creative, relentless, and sometimes hilarious in their desperation. Laugh at their bad spelling but take them seriously. Protecting your info and money isn’t just smart; it’s essential.
Stay safe, stay skeptical, and don’t let any fake prince—or dreamy stranger—take you for a digital ride you won’t recover from!
Cadra can Help
Cadra helps small businesses and solopreneurs build cybersecurity confidence with affordable, practical solutions tailored for non-techies. Protect your business and protect your future. Call Cadra today. www.cadra.com
By Lori Crooks & Kelly Higgins
