Around 4.66 billion people use the internet daily as of 2022, and these numbers are ever-growing. Many businesses have moved into the online world because you almost don’t exist these days if you aren’t online.

You may have heard about online frauds more than once. Cybercrimes have been rising in recent years, especially since many people hopped onto the internet when the world’s COVID situation struck. And this is when the rise of online fraud became the most evident.

But if the internet is so dangerous, with the possibility of losing your money instantly, or in other scenarios, should you use the internet? Or is it possible to stay safe online? It is, but the most important thing is understanding how these frauds occur.

Why Online Fraud Is On The Rise

Online fraud is on the rise due to the negligence of online users, for the most part. For example, many businesses don’t train their employees in understanding and identifying online risks. This is where hackers and cybercriminals win the most.

For example, if you were to work in a company and receive a weird email from your employer, you would most likely open the email and click or download the attached files without question. However, if you do it, this is when your PC will get infected with malware. This is called a phishing attack, where a hacker pretends to be someone else in the hopes of scamming you.

Once you deal with this situation, you won’t likely fall for it a second time. Some companies train their employees in such cases, but unfortunately, not many do this hence why the statistics are so dire.

The internet is mostly a safe place, and online attacks aren’t as direct as portrayed in the movies. In most situations where you hear people getting scammed, it is likely their fault rather than a direct attack from a hacker.

People are too trusting in the online world, which is why so many fall victims to cyberattacks. In the real world, you won’t be so easily tempted to do what someone says as in the online world. However, it’s not just our trustful nature that gets us.

A Crisis Creates a Crisis

Since so many people had to rely on online shopping due to the pandemic suddenly, they were easy targets for illegitimate websites. When you order something online, you have to insert some personal information. If hackers or scammers conduct the website, they will steal that information. Many people hopped onto these websites without checking reviews or focusing on certain red flags.

On the other hand, many people have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. This undoubtedly forced some to turn to cybercrime and steal from others, which contributed significantly to the rise of online fraud.

How To Stay Safe Online

No matter how dangerous the internet may be, we can’t live without it. And there are ways of staying safe online. Here are a couple of tips!

Use a VPN

A virtual private network encrypts your online data and ensures your privacy online. A VPN is software that can hide your actual IP address with a fake one. This way, websites, your internet provider, and even the government won’t be able to track you and access your online data. If you want to ensure your VPN is turned on, check some “What is my IP” websites and compare different IP addresses with and without a VPN.

Hackers and other would-be attackers won’t be able to target you anymore once you use a VPN. However, you should still avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading suspicious files.

Double Check Emails

No matter who sends you an email, read it twice. It can be a trap. If something seems off with an email from someone you know, it’s best to call that person and check to see if they genuinely sent it.

Use Antivirus

Antivirus is often updated to identify the newest threats and harmful websites. It will instantly alert you if something is wrong.

Avoid Suspicious Links and Files

Links that you aren’t accustomed to should be avoided. Files, on the other hand, are even more significant threats. You might be tempted to pirate a movie, game, photo, or anything else. However, malware and other viruses might be attached to these files.