The Most Common Online Scams of 2025 and How to Protect Yourself - Welo Badge

Cybercriminals use increasingly advanced techniques to deceive people, relying on trust, inattention and lack of specific knowledge in the field of cybersecurity.

Evolved Phishing

‍Phishing continues to be one of the techniques most used by fraudsters, but in 2025 it comes in even more deceptive forms. Emails and messages that appear to come from banks, e-commerce companies or digital services try to convince victims to enter their credentials on fake sites. Attacks are increasingly personalized, thanks to the use of artificial intelligence that allows you to create emails and messages tailored to the victim, increasing their credibility.

Not clicking on suspicious links, always verifying the sender's address and enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts are the main measures to avoid falling victim to this type of scam. In addition, it is advisable to check the URLs of the sites before entering credentials and, if in doubt, contact the company directly through its official channels.

Fake Investment Scams

‍The promises of easy earnings continue to claim victims. Non-existent cryptocurrencies, Ponzi schemes, and fraudulent trading platforms attract investors with promises of high, risk-free returns. In 2025, these scams are even more sophisticated, with well-constructed websites, fake reviews, and even fake financial advisors contacting victims to convince them to invest.

Wary of investment opportunities that seem too good to be true is crucial. Before investing, always check the registration of the platforms with official bodies such as CONSOB or other regulatory authorities. Also, avoid relying on financial advice received through social media or unsolicited emails.

Deepfake and Falsified Identities

‍The use of artificial intelligence to create falsified video and audio is becoming a growing problem. Fraudsters use deepfakes to impersonate business executives or relatives and request urgent payments. These videos are so realistic that they are difficult to distinguish from the authentic ones, causing many people to fall into the trap.

Paying attention to unusual requests, verifying with multiple communication channels and not making payments without certain confirmations are essential actions to protect yourself. In the business environment, it is useful to implement strict verification protocols for money transfer requests.

Fraudulent Marketplaces

‍More and more users are falling victim to fake online stores that sell non-existent or counterfeit products, often at bargain prices to attract buyers. These sites often mimic famous stores or use similar names to trick customers. After making the payment, the product never arrives or, at best, you receive a poor quality item.

Checking reviews, verifying the existence of customer service and using secure payment methods, avoiding direct transfers, are effective strategies to avoid scams of this type. In addition, it is useful to verify the presence of reliability certifications such as the Welo Badge, which guarantees greater security to buyers.

Subscription Services Scams

‍Many users are deceived by apparently free services that, in reality, activate expensive subscriptions hidden in the terms and conditions. This phenomenon, known as a 'dark pattern', exploits the lack of attention of users during the registration process to automatically activate recurring payments.

Reading payment details carefully before subscribing to any service and monitoring your account statement regularly are essential precautions. In addition, avoiding entering payment details on unknown sites and preferring prepaid cards for online registrations can reduce risks.

How Welo Can Help You

‍Welo verifies the reliability of online companies and provides a certification badge that guarantees greater security for users. Check if a company is certified by Welo can significantly reduce the risk of falling into a scam. In addition, thanks to the Welo Page, users can access a detailed analysis of the security of a website, verifying authentic reviews and transparent information.

Protecting yourself online in 2025 requires attention and awareness. Knowing the most common threats and using reliable verification tools like Welo is the first step in navigating safely. Prevention is the key to avoiding falling victim to scams, and relying on recognized certifications can make the difference between a safe purchase and an economic loss.

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