Have you ever Google searched for coupons or promo codes? You’ll probably waste 15 minutes putting in codes that don’t work. At worst, you’ll end up on a malware-infected site.

Streaming is expensive, so you might be tempted to look up free TV shows or movies. Don’t do it. There are seriously sketchy sites out there.

Google anything and you get pages of search results. At the very top are the “Sponsored Results.” These are paid ads businesses use to drive traffic to their websites.

Google doesn’t vet everyone who buys an ad. Cybercrooks can buy ads just like trustworthy companies – except they hide nasty malware on their sites. Scammers are getting good at search engine optimization, so their malicious search results are at the top of the organic results.

Beware These Bogus Terms

So, what terms should you avoid? Sadly, there’s a whole lot. Let’s focus on five that could do some real damage.

1. Free credit report

There are legitimate ways to get a free credit report. But cybercriminals go after the juiciest search terms and think about all they can get their hands on if you think it’s a site you can trust.

2. Tech support phone numbers

Fake numbers are a classic. If scammers can figure out how to get your bank’s name to appear when they call, you can bet they can get their numbers high in searches.

3. How to make money online

There is certainly money to be made at home, but if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Also, be wary of contract or part-time jobs that come with many unusual perks. This could be a part-time office support job you’re doing remotely with a surprisingly generous bonus compensation plan. Or especially a job offering you a much more flexible schedule than expected.

4. Free people search

People finder, people search, people lookup – no matter what you call these sites, they are notorious for ripping people off.

You’re curious about a new love interest, business contact, or old friend. There are (free) ways to dig up dirt, but these sites are simply trying to reel you into an expensive subscription.

What to do instead?

• Check out publicly available info like government documents, arrest records and property information.
• Do a thorough Google search. There’s an art to this.

5. Crypto wallet

Have some money in crypto or trying to get in while prices are low? That search is not the way to find a wallet to store your digital currency. It’s a road to disaster.

When you buy cryptocurrency on an exchange like Coinbase, a wallet is created for you – one that the exchange controls. This is called a custodial wallet. To move your crypto, buy things with it or stake it to earn money, you need to move to a self-custody wallet. That means you have complete control over the wallet and everything inside it. It also means people are more at risk of being scammed out of their funds.

Pro tip: Every wallet has a “seed phrase” made up of typically 12 to 24 random-seeming words. Never, ever give this out. It is the key to open your wallet from any device.

Article by Kim Komando

Source: USA today©