The shapes of a scam

Scams change costume every year. But under the costume, you almost always find the same four shapes.

First shape: the fake adviser. He has a website, a logo, a Paris address, a number that answers.

The site is often a clone. Copied in an evening from a real company's, one letter off in the address.

The number shown can even be a real bank's. Fraudsters know how to make it appear on your screen.

So a call that seems to come from your bank proves nothing. The screen can lie.

Second shape, subtler: impersonating an authorised firm.

The fraudster takes the name, the authorisation number, sometimes a real executive's name. You check, and everything seems correct.

What does not match is the contact details. The email address, the phone, the account you are asked to transfer to.

The rule: contact the firm using the details in the official register. Never the ones you are given.

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Third shape: the romance scam. It does not start with money. It starts with attention.

Messages every day, for weeks, sometimes months. A real relationship, it seems.

Then comes a problem. A plane ticket, customs, a hospital. For the example, five hundred euros.

Then two thousand. Then eight thousand. Ten thousand five hundred euros, without ever having met.

Sometimes the person even suggests a miracle investment, which they say they use themselves.

The months of grooming are the fraudster's investment. He makes it pay.

Fourth shape: fake tech support. A window locks the screen: virus detected, call this number.

On the line, a calm person asks you to install software. He takes control of your computer.

The lever is fear. When you are afraid, you obey faster, and check less.

Real support does not call you, and does not lock your screen to make you call.

Four disguises. But look closely: each time, it is the fraudster who comes to you.

And each time, he himself provides the means to check him. The site, the number, the copied register.

The real reflex fits in one sentence: you are the one who chooses the channel. Always.