In today’s interconnected world, the Internet offers numerous opportunities for learning, professional development, entertainment and social interactions. However, it presents significant risks, particularly in the form of scammers and internet fraudsters who prey on unsuspecting individuals, particularly teenagers. The Guardian newspaper (2025) records an increase in scam jobs among fraudsters who pose as TicTok employees to defraud teenagers with non-existent jobs.

As we mark World Safer Internet Day 2025, it is pertinent to understand online scams to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

Understanding Online Scam

Online scams may be defined as deceptive acts carried out over the internet. It aims to trick individuals into revealing personal, financial or sensitive information (Belcic, 2024). These scams take various forms, such as phishing emails, fraudulent websites, fake e-commerce platforms and deceptive social media messages (Guardian, 2025b). One major factor among online scams is their common use of social engineering tactics to device, manipulate and exploit victims.

A 2023 FCT report records that most fraud ms originated in social media than any method of contact. The report was based on the experiences of people who tried to buy items marketed on social media and sold at outrageous discounts. The items were mostly undelivered, with “no show clothing’s and electronics” topping the charts.

Apart from social media, there are other forms of scam prevalent in today’s digital world; understanding the latest scam can help you protect yourself, ensuring a safer and more secure internet.

Common Types of Online Scam

1. Phishing:
These are fraudulent communications that appear to come from reliable sources. They are often sent via email to steal sensitive data, such as login credentials. In 2022, phishing was one of the most common types of crime reported by the FBI. These forms of attack impersonate a trusted entity such as a bank and ask targets to click on bait links where they “fish” for private information, which they can use to commit identity fraud. Some phishing may take a generic form, like a broad sweeping message sent to several people, whereas others are precisely targeted at specific individuals, known as spear phishing. A common way to identify phishing emails or text is incorrect or inconsistent spelling and grammatical mistakes.

2. ⁠Catfishing and Dating scams:
This involves a fake romantic relationship, usually initiated through dating sites, apps or social media. The scammer lures the target to a fake online profile and establishes a fake relationship. Once the scammer has gained the target’s trust, they concoct a crisis and ask for money. It may also be in the form of a sugar daddy scam where the scammer poses as a rich person and then asks the supposed sugar baby for small financial assistance for a greater reward. When the sugar baby sends the supposed money, the scammer abruptly disappears.

3. ⁠Online shopping scams:
These usually take the form of e-commerce sites offering products at very low and unrealistic prices. They lure customers into making purchases which never arrive.

4. ⁠Investment scams:
These take the form of investment platforms promising high returns at little or no risk. In the first six months of 2023, more than half the money reported listed as fraud in social media went to investment scammers. To draw their targets, the scammers promote their own supposed investment success to make it look promising. They make massive assurances, and when people invest, they end up empty-handed. It often involves cryptocurrency or foreign exchange trading designed to exploit individuals seeking quick financial gains (Guardian 2024b).

5. ⁠Crowdfunding:
Crowdfunding platforms are usually used to raise money for various purposes, such as building creative projects or sponsoring a business venture. Scammers can abuse crowdfunding platforms by promoting fake projects designed to excite potential donors. They project fake visions, and even though they have collected a significant sum in donations, they cut off all communication and disappear.

How Do You Protect Yourself From Online Scam?

This article proposes a detect, avoid and report (DAR) approach. One rule of thumb is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers make bogus promises, so TRUST your instincts and DO NOT indulge.

The following are ways you can protect yourself by detecting, avoiding and reporting scams.

1. Verifying sources:
The first thing to do when you receive an email or website pop-up message is to check its authenticity before clicking on links or providing personal information. Look out for misspelt words or unnecessarily clustered and vague phrases.

2. ⁠Use strong passwords:
When scammers get hold of your personal details, they attempt to steal sensitive information such as your password. Use complex, unique passwords for different accounts to prevent easy entry, and consider using a password manager to track passwords.

3. ⁠Report suspicious activities:
If you encounter a potential scam, flag the page’s activities on the affected platform for escalation. You can also take steps to report to relevant authorities to prevent others from falling victim.

4. Educate and share knowledge:
Discuss online safety with family and friends, especially teenagers who are more vulnerable to scams. Please share this article and similar posts on this page to help them stay cyber-secure.

Conclusion

This year’s Safer Internet Day presents an opportunity to reflect on our online behaviour and commit to safer Internet practices. By staying vigilant and informed, we can promote a secure and safe cyberspace.

Be cybersecure, be cybersafe.
Happy Safer Internet Day

Blog post contribution by:

Ihuoma MaryJane Ihenacho 
Member, CyberSecPolicy Girls Initiative