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THEY ASK FOR GIFT CARDS
Generally speaking, gift cards are
untraceable which makes them a popular
tactic among scammers. To persuade a
victim, scammers may impersonate an
authority or someone you personally know,
like your boss or family member.
Once a gift card is redeemed by a scammer,
you can’t get your money back. So be
cautious whenever someone asks you to
buy or pay via gift cards. Double check their
contact information and verify their identity.
THEY PRESSURE YOU TO ACT
IMMEDIATELY
Scammers often create a fake sense of
urgency so victims don’t have time to think
things through. Watch out for phrases like
“You have 24 hours tomake payment”, “Offer
ends today!” and “Failure to respond will
result in legal action”.
Be suspicious of anyone who claims to
be from the authorities, especially when
they lack the credentials. Scammers often
impersonate figures of authority to assert
pressure on victims.
ONLINE SELLERS WHO
REFUSE MEETUPS AND CASH
PAYMENT
Instagram and Facebook Marketplace are
rampant with online shopping scams. Watch
out for online sellers who insist on online
payment without letting you inspect the
goods in person. These scammers usually
cut off contact once victims make payment.
Unless you’re dealing with an established
business, be cautious of online sellers with
a suspiciously high number of followers but
very little engagement with buyers. Social
media followers can be bought so don’t use
it as metric of credibility.
WHEN IT COMES TO MONEY,
IT PAYS TO BE A SKEPTIC
Google everything! Be cautious whenever
you receive a message or phonecall from
an unknown number asking for personal
information. A quick google search will let
you know whether you’re dealing with a
legitimate representative of an organisation
if the contact details match.
Never ever
share your bank details with people you
don’t know.
For financial services such as money
changing, remittance, loan and investment,
make sure you
only deal with licensed
financial institutions.
You can find the list
of licensed financial institutions on theBrunei
Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB) website.
You can also find the BDCB Alert List for
suspicious and unlicensed/unregulated
entities.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU FELL FOR
A SCAM
Report immediately to your nearest police
station or call 993, and let your bank
know immediately. Print out all records of
communication and any evidence related to
the scams such as screenshots ofWhatsapp
messages, emails and transaction details.
Most importantly, don’t let any scammer trick
you again. Scammers will always be around
so chin up, stay alert, and scroll smart. Your
future self will thank you.
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