One of the most common characteristics of a scam is pressure to act immediately.

We may receive a message claiming that:

• our bank account will be closed;
• our payment card has been blocked;
• a suspicious transaction has been detected;
• we must make an immediate payment to receive a parcel; or
• a unique investment opportunity is about to expire.

The aim is to prevent us from taking the time to think, verify information or seek advice.

⚠️ Important: When someone pressures us to make an immediate decision, it is often wise to do the opposite: pause and verify the information first.

Another common warning sign is being asked not to tell anyone.

For example, we may be told:

• “Don't contact the bank yet.”
• “This is a confidential process.”
• “If you tell anyone, you will lose the opportunity.”

Legitimate organisations do not ask customers to keep transactions or security procedures secret.

Fraudsters often pretend to represent organisations or individuals we trust.

They may claim to be:

• bank employees;
• police officers;
• government officials;
• courier or delivery companies;
• technical support representatives; or
• investment advisers.

Their aim is to make us assume that the communication is genuine without verifying it independently.

💡 Remember: Regardless of who appears to be contacting us, we always have the right to end the conversation and contact the organisation ourselves using its official contact details.

Most fraudsters do not try to deceive our logic—they try to influence our emotions.

Sometimes they create fear:

• “Your account is at risk.”
• “You could lose your money.”

At other times they create excitement:

• “You have won a large cash prize.”
• “You have been selected for a unique investment opportunity.”

In both cases, the goal is the same: to encourage us to act without thinking carefully.

Investments that claim to offer:

• no risk whatsoever;
• exceptionally high returns in a short period of time; or
• easy profits with little or no effort,

should always raise concerns.

In the financial world, there are no guaranteed high returns without corresponding risk.

If an offer seems too good to be true, it deserves particularly careful scrutiny.

💡 Example:

Maria sees a social media advertisement claiming that she can double her money within one month with absolutely no risk. Before sharing her personal details, she researches the company and discovers that it is not authorised to provide financial services and that several warnings have been issued by the relevant authorities. Taking the time to investigate helps protect her from a potential scam.

Another warning sign is being asked to make a payment in an unusual way.

For example, fraudsters may ask us to:

• purchase gift cards;
• transfer money to a supposedly “safe account”;
• make payments using cryptocurrencies without a clear explanation; or
• transfer money directly to a personal bank account.

Legitimate organisations do not ask customers to make such payments in order to protect their money.

Many scams begin with a link or an attachment.

Even when a message appears genuine, we should avoid clicking on links or opening attachments from unknown or suspicious senders.

If we need to check an account, payment or transaction, it is always safer to visit the organisation's official website directly or use its official app.

Often, something may simply feel “not quite right”, even if we cannot immediately explain why.

When we have doubts, we should:

• stop;
• verify the information; and
• seek a second opinion.

A few minutes spent checking details is always preferable to making a rushed decision that could have significant financial consequences.

✔️ Fraudsters often try to pressure us into acting quickly.
✔️ They frequently claim to represent trusted organisations or figures of authority.
✔️ They exploit fear, excitement and trust.
✔️ Promises of easy, guaranteed profits should always raise concerns.
✔️ We should never open links or attachments without checking the sender first.
✔️ Whenever we have doubts, we should pause and verify.

👉 What’s next...

Now that we understand the most common warning signs, the next article will explore the most widespread forms of digital fraud, including phishing, smishing, vishing and technical support scams, helping us recognise them in practice.

🔗Useful Links:

• Understanding Financial Fraud
• The Most Common Digital Scams
• Investment Scams and Social Media Fraud
• Impersonation Fraud and Identity Theft
• Other Common Financial Scams We Should Know About
• What Should We Do If We Become the Victim of Financial Fraud?
• Building a Culture of Protection Against Financial Fraud