With the increasing prevalence of digital communication, scammers have discovered new ways to target unsuspecting victims. One of the most common scams is known as the “Skype scam.” In this blog post, we will discuss what Skype scams entail, whether they are illegal, and how you can protect yourself from falling prey to them.

What is Skype Scam?

Skype scams involve fraudsters using Skype to make fake promises or even extort money from their victims. Listed below are some of the most common Skype scams:

Sextortion Scams

This is the most common type of Skype scam that involves fraudsters on the popular video calling platform being used to extort money from its victims. It typically can begin with a conversation that could have started on a dating application like Hinge, Ashley Madison, etc. then moves over to Skype this is so they can quickly unmatch your dating profile, allowing them to not be reported on the site.

Once trust has been gained the conversation turns sexual and videos, pictures, and explicit information can be exchanged. What feels like harmless fun dramatically turns violent and the scammer then will use your explicit information against you to obtain money from you. This is just one of the popular scams floating around on Skype.

Phishing Scams

A phishing scam involves tricking people into giving up their personal information such as passwords, credit card numbers, and bank account information. This type of scam usually involves sending a link in a chat conversation that leads to a website that looks like it belongs to a legitimate company but is designed as a fake website to steal your personal information when you enter it into the form on the site.

To avoid falling victim to this type of scam, be sure not to click on any suspicious links sent in chat conversations and always double-check that the website URL is legitimate before entering any personal information into it.

Fake Job Offers

Another popular type of Skype scam involves offering fake job opportunities via chat messages on Skype. The scammers will typically offer you a job and then ask for payment upfront to secure the position. Be wary if someone offers you a job out of nowhere – legitimate companies don’t usually operate this way! Also, never pay anyone upfront for a job opportunity – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

Is it Illegal to Scam Someone on Skype?

Scamming someone online is illegal, regardless of whether you use Skype or another platform such as email or social media. The reason for this is that online scams are considered fraud, which can be punishable by law. Depending on the severity of the scam, punishments may range from a warning or small fine to jail time and restitution costs.

How to Avoid Skype Scams?

Fortunately, there are several simple steps you can take to protect yourself when using Skype.

• First and foremost, always be wary of any messages or requests that seem suspicious and from an unknown account.
• Additionally, it’s always a good idea to double-check any links sent via message before clicking on them as they could contain malicious code that can infect your computer with malware or spyware.
•  Finally, if you ever receive an unexpected request for payment or personal information through Skype do not comply; this is likely a sign of fraud and should be reported immediately.

If you are facing a dangerous threat of Skype blackmail reach out to Digital Investigation right away! Specializing in providing both security solutions and investigative services for businesses and individuals alike that are affected by Skype scams. They are experts in identifying threats and finding out who is behind them, allowing them to better protect users from falling prey to cybercrimes like these.  Reach out to their blackmail helpline immediately!

Summary

In conclusion, it is very much illegal to scam someone using Skype or any other online platform. By taking precautionary measures such as being aware of suspicious messages and avoiding unexpected requests for payment/personal information you will greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim of an online scammer on Skype.  Be smart about whom you communicate with when using services like Skype and always stay safe online!