12 Dec 2023
Did you know that as an overseas Pakistani, you are at a much higher risk of having your personal information stolen? Why, you wonder? Simply because you frequently send money to Pakistan for your family through online financial services.
It is sad and alarming at the same time that such a simple task can get you into massive trouble. Today, it is more crucial than ever to exercise caution when sharing information online in the modern era. More than 95,000 people lost $770 million in online scams in 2021 alone.
Being naïve can make your personal information available to hackers, fraudsters, and identity thieves with just a few mouse clicks. But don’t worry; keep reading this blog to learn how you can stay safe and protect your hard-earned funds from scams.
The following are some risks associated with disclosing personal information online through social media or Internet banking.
Identity thieves can open new accounts, make transactions, or even file taxes using your personal information.
Thieves might con you out of money by using your personal information. For instance, they can ask for your personal information in an email that appears to be from a reputable business.
Scammers can exploit the information you provide to them to target you with scams. For example, they can phone you and make a fake government official request for your data to confirm your identity.
Cyberbullies can harass, threaten, or humiliate you online by using your personal information.
There are also many additional risks involved with disclosing personal information online, such as exposure to malware or being targeted by hackers who later steal your money.
Precaution is always better than cure. Hence, sending money to Pakistan with utmost care and alertness. Here are some tips that you should religiously follow to protect your finances.
Only disclose private information to those you can completely and utterly trust. Your name, address, contact information (phone, email, bank account, and credit card numbers), and Social Security number are all included in private information. If any of this information leaks, you can face heavy monetary losses in the form of theft or scam.
Use secure passwords, and switch them out frequently. A strong password has at least 8 characters, a mixture of capital and lowercase letters, digits, and symbols, and is at least 8 characters long. To create and keep strong passwords, you can use a password manager.
If you create an account on an online money transfer platform, you can learn here about how to use it safely.
As an internet user, you should only click on links that you know are coming from a trusted source. Hover your mouse over a link to reveal the complete URL if you are unsure about its validity. Do not click on a URL if it seems dubious.
Phishing scams are emails or texts that appear to be from a reputable organization but are actually from fraudsters or scammers aiming to steal your personal information. Phishing emails frequently include attachments that are infected with malware or links to scamming websites.
Do not click on any links or open any attachments in emails or texts that appear to be suspicious. Send the email or text message to the organization it promises to be from instead, as they can take legal action against them.
Social networking is a fantastic tool for keeping in touch with friends and family, but you should exercise caution when deciding what information to publish. Never post personal information on social media, such as your phone number or address. Moreover, you should also use caution while posting images to social media. Photographs can be used by hackers to locate you and identify you.
If possible, never rely on public Wi-Fi for internet access. However, if you need to connect to public Wi-Fi, use a VPN. By encrypting your traffic, a VPN makes it harder for hackers to obtain your sensitive data. Since public Wi-Fi networks are frequently unprotected, hackers can easily attack them. Use a VPN to secure your connection and ensure that your identity and funds remain safe.
ACE Money Transfer is the leading remittance provider to send money online to Pakistan which has operated in more than a hundred countries since 2002. ACE has millions of returning users who trust no other service to send remittances digitally. Here are some reasons why ACE is a safe and secure online financial service platform that is ideal for any ex-pat or traveler living away from home.
ACE Money Transfer encrypts your name, address, phone number, email address, bank account number, credit card number, and Social Security number using the most recent security technologies. As a result, hackers find it very challenging to obtain your information and commit any sort of fraud.
Credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers are just a few of the secure payment options that ACE Money Transfer provides. You can easily send remittances without disclosing any personal information.
ACE Money Transfer has a staff of fraud specialists who are always on the lookout for unusual activities. They will take steps to protect your money if they notice anything that appears to be a fraud.
It is your responsibility to keep yourself and your loved ones safe on the internet. Take smart actions and be wise enough to detect fraud through an eagle eye. Use ACE Money Transfer for safe and secure international transactions at unbelievable rates. Sign up for free to make your first money transfer to Pakistan with ACE.
Immediately contact your bank or credit card company. If you suspect increased danger, report the crime to the police.
If you do not take immediate action, even if it is just your intuition, you might have to face a huge monetary loss. Immediate action can help recover the loss in most cases.
You should immediately contact the local police and submit your complaint.
Only trust websites that have an established name in the industry for years with hundreds and thousands of positive testimonials.
It is advisable to use a mobile phone as it is a safe option. This is because this type of banking does not store any data.
