From phishing emails and text messages to fake websites and bogus charities, cyber thieves are taking advantage of people online. There are many schemes to be on the lookout for especially with many online transactions and virtual communication.

Don’t always believe an email is from who it says it’s from. Scammers will pretend to be trusted organizations and ask recipients to visit an “official” (malicious) site, open an attachment or send donations.

Watch the spelling! “Typosquatters” or “URL hijackers” create scam sites at addresses that are one or two letters different from other popular sites. While some may look like the “real” site and trick you into entering information, others may simply trigger “drive-by downloads” of malware just for visiting the site. Always double-check a site to make sure it begins with “https://”; the “s” stands for secure.

Scammers are calling! Bogus text messages and calls regarding undeliverable packages, bank statements, and fake job postings convince recipients to visit bogus websites, loading ransomware or malware onto their devices and tricking them into entering financial or other personal info.

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Social media sites are full of ads for fake shopping sites “closing out” items for ridiculously low prices. Although it seems like you will save a lot of money, the risk is not worth the reward. Stick to trusted sites and be cautious of certain discount/coupon codes that may require you to input your information. Don’t fall for it!