*Buzz - Buzz* Who's there?

Hello everyone! In this post, you can learn how to safeguard yourself from Impersonators online. These methods were used in real-life situations and have been proved to be your best choice for your "First Line of Defense". 

This post is bound with an example impersonator. Let's call him, John Smith. 

One evening, when you're checking your messages, you see an unread chat in your chat list. You open it and inside,

John Smith Hey, how's it going?

A common mistake people make is REPLY.

John Smith Hey, how's it going?

Me Hello, I am fine.

❌❌❌

Instead of replying, follow the steps below to verify the messager

    1. Look at the profile picture. Is it someone you know? Is it a public figure? If you're unsure, take a screenshot and search for the picture on a search engine. If the picture belongs to a public figure, BLOCK the contact!

    2. If you cannot find matches, look at the contact number or username. Contact numbers contain the country code at the front if, the number is foreign. Check country codes with countries here. If you're unsure about the country of origin, BLOCK the contact!

    3. Still unsure whether to chat or not but still no evidence of impersonation? Seek advice from a friend, or a parent if you're a child.

Note: Keep a record of screenshots of unknown messages and their senders just in case.

If you're receiving a mass number of unknown texts, check your contact details on the web and complain to the CYBER CRIME DIVISION of your respective country. 

***

I hope you learned something from this post. If you have anything to say comment with your ideas below. Please consider supporting me via Buy Me a Coffee ☕

Stay Home, Stay Safe, Stay Safe Online!