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How to avoid scams

🔐 Online & Email Scams

  1. Think Before You Click – Don’t open links or download attachments from unknown or suspicious emails.

  2. Check the Email Address – Scammers often use email addresses that look similar to legit ones (e.g., amaz0n.com vs. amazon.com).

  3. Look for HTTPS – Ensure websites use secure connections ("https://" and a lock icon in the browser).

  4. Don’t Share Personal Info – Never provide sensitive info (like SSNs, passwords, or banking details) through email or unsecured forms.

  5. Use Strong Passwords – Use unique, complex passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) where possible.

📱 Phone & Text Message Scams

  1. Don’t Trust Caller ID – Scammers can spoof numbers to appear legitimate.

  2. Hang Up and Call Back – If you receive a suspicious call from your bank or a service provider, hang up and call the official number yourself.

  3. Avoid Clicking on SMS Links – Scam texts often contain phishing links or malware.

🛍️ Shopping & Financial Scams

  1. Beware of “Too Good to Be True” Deals – Extremely low prices for high-demand items can be bait for scams.

  2. Use Secure Payment Methods – Pay with credit cards or trusted services like PayPal, not wire transfers or gift cards.

  3. Verify the Seller – Check reviews, ratings, and if the website is reputable before purchasing.

🧑‍💻 Social Media & Job Scams

  1. Be Skeptical of DMs Offering Money or Jobs – Legit offers don’t usually come from random strangers.

  2. Avoid Over-Sharing – Don’t post personal data like your birthday, address, or travel plans.

💡 General Tips

  1. Keep Software Updated – Update your operating system, antivirus, and apps regularly.

  2. Educate Yourself & Others – Stay informed about common scam tactics and share this info with friends and family.

  3. Report Suspicious Activity – To your bank, IT department, or a local authority (like FTC or Action Fraud depending on your country).

Affiliate Disclosure: This blog may earn a commission from purchases made through affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. Your support helps keep this blog running and allows me to continue providing valuable content. Thank you!

Excellent business and economics books: 

The New Retirement by Sherry Cooper

The Yankee Years by Joe Torre and Tom Verducci

The Book on The Book: A Landmark Inquiry into Which Strategies in the Modern Game Actually Work by Bill Felber

The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron by Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind

Blackberry Town by Chuck Howitt

Poor Charlie's Almanack by Charlie Munger

The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham

The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns by John C. Bogle

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