How to Watch Out for Online Scams & Protect Yourself
Remittance
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These days, most of us do many things online—sending money, shopping, chatting with family, etc. While the internet makes life easier, it also gives scammers more chances to trick people.
Some scammers are really good at pretending to be real companies or friendly customer support. That’s why it’s important to know how to spot a scam and what to do if you ever face one.
Scams for mobile remittance services
Scammers have created fake Facebook pages that look like they’re from Smiles Mobile Remittance and they often do this:
- Pretend to be real customer support members and message customers, notifying them there’s a problem with their account.
- Ask for the customer’s email address and try to log in to the Smiles app.
- To complete the login, they request the verification code sent to the real customer.
- If the customer shares the code, the scammer can change the password and lock them out of the account.
- In some cases, the scammer even asks the customer to deposit money “to test if the account works.”
This is how the customer loses access and money. If this happens, contact Smiles customer support right away.
Example of a fake page
How to know if something is a scam
Here are some warning signs to help you detect scams:
1. Scammers pretend to be from a real company
It’s unfortunate, but some scammers might use the name or logo of a company you know (like your bank or a money service). They want to make you trust them and think it’s a credible source. If you see any misspellings or the logo/name of a company is even slightly different, it’s a scam!
2. Scammers contact you from strange accounts
If someone messages you from an odd email, unknown Facebook page or strange number, be careful. Just ignore and report it if necessary.
3. Scammers say something bad will happen or offer a prize
They might say your account has a problem or that you’ve won something big. This is to make you panic or get excited so you’ll act fast. This should make you think that this is suspicious.
4. Scammers tell you to pay in a strange way
If someone asks you to pay with gift cards, cryptocurrency or a direct transfer, it’s most likely a scam. Official companies do not do this.
5. Scammers want you to hurry
Scammers often say, “This offer is for today only” or “Only a few items left! Buy now!” to make you act quickly without thinking. Make sure you read the situation carefully so you’re not scammed.
What to do if a scammer threatens you
In some cases, scammers try to scare people by sending threats. If this happens:
- Stay calm. Don’t panic.
- Don’t talk to them. Just block or ignore them.
- Keep proof. Take screenshots of the messages or calls for evidence.
- Protect your accounts. Change your passwords and turn on 2-step verification.
- Report it. Once the situation is proved to be a scam, notify your local police, your bank and the service (like Smiles) connected to the scam.
What to do if you think you’ve been scammed
If you gave your information to a scammer or clicked a dangerous link, act quickly:
1. Tell your service/Smiles and your bank
Let your service know what happened so they can help verify the situation and protect your account.
2. Change your passwords
Update your email, Smiles Mobile Remittance/service account and other important accounts with new and stronger passwords. Avoid creating passwords like your birthday or easy sequences like “123”.
3. Don’t talk to strangers online
Ignore or block messages that seem strange, especially if someone asks for money or personal information.
4. Watch your service/Smiles account
Check your account often to make sure no one else is using it.
Remember, if something feels strange, it probably is. Always double-check the content and situation before giving out your personal information or sending money.
Stay safe. Stay smart. Share Smiles!
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