Tips to help you avoid internet scams

PRINCETON, WV (WVNS) – Are you secure in your internet presence?

Every day, people fall prey to online scams. Lieutenant Steven Sommers of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department said that people should keep in mind where they are going on the internet and where they are being directed to. If something seems off, he says the best course of action is to shut everything down.

He also gave advice pertaining to social media scams.

“Just remember, if it sounds too good to be true, whether it is a financial scam, it is a romance scam, it is too good to be true. If right out the gate, or within a couple weeks, they are asking for money so they can fly to see their mother in Florida or fly to see you, I probably would not engage in that behavior because, more than likely, it is a scam,” said Lieutenant Sommers.

Lieutenant Sommers urged people to be protective of their bodies online. That is just another way that scammers can take advantage of you.

In terms of online shopping, he advised that pay-as-you-go cards are much better than debit or credit cards. This way, people can protect their identities and banking information much easier.

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