Types of online fraud: popular scams and how to protect yourself

In this article, together with Yevhen Kasyanenko, we will go over the most common scams on the Internet and provide short, practical rules for protection: what to do right now to block 80% of attacks, and what to do if you do click on the wrong link.

The main types of online fraud

Below, we have compiled clear descriptions of popular online fraud schemes and short, practical rules for protection that really help. By understanding the simple essence, many will be able to protect themselves.

Phishing – a trap for trusting users

It’s simple: attackers send emails or messages pretending to be from a bank, postal service, or colleague. The email contains a link to a cloned website where you are asked to enter your login, password, or card details. If you click on the link, the scammers will have access to your account, profile, or banking details.

To prevent them from succeeding, follow these simple rules and protective habits:

• Do not click on links in emails; it is better to enter the website address manually.
• Check the domain: real banks use their own domains and never ask for passwords in emails.
• Enable two-factor authentication—this makes it more difficult to hack into your account.

Fraud in online stores and marketplaces

Big discounts, beautiful photos, and the promise of instant shipping are classic tactics. Fake stores attract customers with super low prices, take prepayment, and don’t ship the goods. Or they sell fakes under the guise of originals. On marketplaces, fraudsters usually ask for direct payment, bypassing secure services—this is their trademark.

To ensure your purchases don’t turn into a loss of money, follow these simple rules:

• Check reviews, TIN, and seller contact information.
• Pay through secure methods and platforms, not directly.
• If the price is too good to be true, it’s a reason to be wary.

Pyramid schemes and pseudo-investments

Flashy landing pages and promises of risk-free super profits are a red flag. In such schemes, money from new investors goes to pay old ones, and there is often no real business.

To avoid falling into the trap of getting rich quick, keep a simple check handy:

• Check the licenses and the real economy of the project.
• Avoid guaranteed high returns and referral schemes, because investing is always a risk and profits cannot be guaranteed.
• Look for independent reviews and documents about the business.

Hacking social networks and fraud via messengers

After hacking a social network profile, fraudsters ask friends to urgently transfer money or follow a link, playing on trust and emotions. This is often enough to spread the malicious link further or to transfer some amount of money to the scammers.

To avoid becoming a target, remember these simple measures:

• Complex passwords and 2FA for social networks are a must.
• If someone asks you for money, call them back and check personally.
• Do not click on suspicious links, even if they were sent by a friend.

Employment scams: “easy money”

Scammers offer lucrative jobs, but ask you to pay for access to a database, buy some kind of tool, or make a deposit as a guarantee that you will do the work, etc. After payment, they either cut off contact or try to lure out even more money under various pretexts.

To avoid paying for nothing, act wisely, keeping the following in mind:

• An employer should not require prepayment.
• Check companies using official data and reviews.
• If the conditions are too good with minimal requirements, this is a red flag.

Phone number theft (SIM swap)

Scammers call on behalf of a mobile operator and ask for a code from an SMS, supposedly to confirm ownership of the number or something similar. Once they have the code, they link the SIM card to another device and gain access to the victim’s bank accounts. Everything happens quickly and quietly.

To make it harder for them, take these measures:

• Do not disclose SMS codes to anyone.
• Sign up for contract service or call protection with your operator, and link your account to your passport.
• If you have problems with your SIM card, contact your operator and bank immediately.

Lotteries, sweepstakes, and “lucky wins”

With this type of online fraud, users are usually sent a notification of a win and asked to pay a ‘tax’ or “delivery fee” to receive the prize. Of course, nothing ever arrives.

If you want to save your money and your nerves, do the following:

• Ignore messages about winning if you did not participate.
• Real lotteries do not require prepayment, and taxes must be paid to the tax authorities, not to the organizers of the draw.
• Check the sender and look for information about the company.

“Many attacks can be prevented by basic digital hygiene—being careful with links, using strong passwords, 2FA, and checking counterparties. Take these simple steps and you will block most threats,” emphasizes Yevhen Kasyanenko.

How can you protect yourself from online fraud?

We’ve already looked at the schemes, now here are five practical habits that logically follow from what we’ve seen and really change the balance of power with fraudsters:

1. Pause for a second and check the source—any urgency, request to click or transfer money requires a pause and basic verification (search for the company, call the official number, manually enter the address in the browser).
2. Separate access – unique passwords + a password manager and a second factor via an app or key make accounts too expensive a target.
3. Verify the identity of the person you are talking to through an independent channel – call back, use official support in the app, do not respond to requests from unknown numbers or emails.
4. Pay only through secure mechanisms and record transactions – escrow, marketplace protection, and official gateways eliminate most stories with hasty requests, such as “transfer to a card.”
5. Prepare for the worst in advance—system updates, antivirus software, and regular backups reduce the consequences of a hack and allow you to recover quickly.

“These rules are not a panacea, but discipline. The habit of checking, separating access, and having a recovery plan closes ‘easy doors’ for fraudsters and saves you time, money, and nerves,” our expert likes to repeat.

Conclusion: why is it important to consult cybersecurity specialists in a timely manner?

Five basic habits significantly reduce the risk of personal loss, but when company data, financial flows, or reputation are at stake, simply following cyber hygiene is no longer enough. In addition to the common scams described in the article above, modern attackers are moving to targeted attacks: they impersonate suppliers, exploit software vulnerabilities, and combine social engineering with technical exploits. In such cases, systematic protection is needed—not a one-time configuration, but a set of measures that close threat vectors and provide an action plan in the event of an incident.

KISS Software experts offer practical solutions tailored to real business risks:

• configuration and integration of protection systems—from access policies to encryption and privilege management;
• security auditing and testing—penetration tests, configuration checks, and searching for hidden vulnerabilities before attackers find them;
• monitoring and rapid response—round-the-clock event collection, anomaly analysis, and incident response to minimize damage;
• corporate data protection and backup – encryption, DLP, and regular backups with recovery verification;
• employee training and process verification – scenario training, phishing simulations, and instructions for real-life situations.

It is easier to prevent an attack than to deal with its consequences – this rule applies to all industries. Yevhen Kasyanenko emphasizes:

“A sensible investment approach to security pays for itself in less than the cost of a single serious incident.”

If you wish, we can prepare an express audit and a plan of priority measures for your company. Just submit a request for a consultation, and we will discuss the details.