Making New Year's resolutions? Watch out for scams!

New Year's resolutions are promises people make to themselves at the start of a new year, usually with the goal of achieving something meaningful in their lives and give up bad habit. Whether it’s getting healthier, starting a business, learning something new or just being more organized and productive, many people believe that making New Year's resolutions is an effective way to give them motivation and purpose heading into the coming year. Unfortunately, scammers are aware of this tradition as well and have devised clever ways to take advantage of unsuspecting individuals looking for help in fulfilling their goals.

What are New Year's resolution scams?

New Year's resolution scams are those that specifically target individuals who want to start the new year with positive changes and improvements. These latest scams can take many forms and often involve providing false information in order to get people to provide money or personal information.

Loose weight scams

One common scam involves offering free gym memberships or discounts on workout equipment in exchange for a payment upfront. The goal is typically to get the victim to pay for something that does not exist or will never actually be delivered.

Another type of scam involves offering free diet plans, "eat healthier" offers or “miracle” lose weight products in exchange for an advance payment. Again, these offers are usually too good to be true and victims are unlikely to ever receive any promised items.

Read the terms and conditions carefully and also pay attention to possible penalties for cancellation.

Online courses scams

Other popular New Year's resolution scams include fake online classes like language courses and college degrees that promise quick success without any real effort required from the student.

Save money scams

Scammers may also target people who are looking to save or make more money by creating special offers relating to credit cards, loans and insurance policies. This could be an offer for a "get rich quick" scheme or a job that claims the potential for large amounts of money without needing lots of effort. As part of these schemes, victims may be tricked into sending money upfront for fees associated with the scam before they realize what is really happening.These offers may seem genuine but they often come with hidden fees and high interest rates that make them far less appealing than originally presented. Read more.

Fake charities

Another common scam involves fake charities campaigns that claim to be raising money for a good cause but are actually run by scammers looking to take advantage of people's generosity. In some cases, these scams will use emotive language and imagery in order to entice people into donating money before they realize they have been duped.

Investment scams

In addition, scammers may also target those who are looking to start new businesses or invest in new ventures. Using promises of massive returns on investments and low-risk opportunities, victims can quickly find themselves locked into costly contracts with little chance for recourse afterwards. Find out more. You can find out more about crypto scams here.

New job scams

If your goal for 2023 is to find a better job, watch out for job offers that appear on social media at this time. They usually involve remote work and offer very favourable financial conditions without leaving home. Beware of people who contact you themselves offering your dream job. Find out more.

Holiday scams

Beware also of the rash of all sorts of offers encouraging you to relax in an exotic location or to buy a trip already for the holiday season at an extremely low price. Find out more in our other articles: "The ultimate guide for avoiding holiday scams this summer season", "The Most Common Airbnb Scams To Look Out For", "How to avoid falling victim to a TripAdvisor scam".

It is important for people starting the new year off with positive changes and resolutions to be aware of the potential risks associated with these types of scams so they can protect themselves against becoming victims of fraudsters’ schemes.

How do these scams work?

These scams typically target unsuspecting people who are making New Year's resolutions and looking to make changes in their lives. The main targets of the fraudsters are people who badly need a change and see the new year as a fresh start.

Scammers will use a variety of tactics to take advantage of them, such as offering fake services or products that promise to help quickly reach their goals. The way they work is very different. You can find out about these "great" offers, for example, through social media posts or advertising, advertisements in local newspapers or on the radio. It is also often the case that the scammers themselves approach their victims by email, message, telephone or even by knocking on the door.

Some scammers create sophisticated phishing campaigns designed to steal victims’ personal information or login credentials for various accounts such as bank accounts, email accounts, medicine package orders, etc. This is done by sending out emails disguised as official communications from well-known companies or organizations asking recipients to provide confidential information like credit card numbers and usernames/passwords in order to update their account detail

Overall, scams targeting those making New Year's resolutions can come in many forms and it's important for individuals to be aware that not everything they see online is legitimate. People should always do research before engaging with any type of service or product and never give out personal information unless they know exactly who they're dealing with. By keeping these tips in mind, individuals can avoid becoming victims of these types of scams and instead focus on achieving their goals safely and effectively as the year progresses.

How to avoid falling for a New Year's resolution scams?

As we approach a new year, it is important to remain vigilant and be aware of potential scams that may come our way. New Year's resolution scams are designed to take advantage of people's desire for change, leading them to make hasty decisions that can put them at risk of financial loss or identity theft. It is important to recognize the signs of these scams in order to protect yourself from falling victim to one.

One of the first things you should do when considering any type of offer related to a New Year’s resolution is research the company or website offering it. This includes researching their social media channels, checking customer reviews, and searching for any complaints or warnings posted about them online. Additionally, check the fine print before signing up or providing payment information, if something seems too good to be true, it likely is!

A common sign of a scam is an offer that requires an upfront payment before any services are provided. If someone contacts you saying they can help you reach your goals but requires payment beforehand with no guarantee they will actually deliver on their promises, this should be a red flag and tell you not to pursue the offer any further. Free trials are much more reputable than paying for something upfront and not getting anything in return.

Another indication of a possible scam is that someone tries to force urgency by creating limited time offers or making exaggerated claims about how quickly results will come about. Legitimate companies will never pressure someone into making quick decisions and won’t promise unrealistic results – often times scammers claim their services can bring about immediate success, which isn't realistic for most health-related goals like losing weight or quitting smoking.

If you believe you have been scammed as part of a New Year’s resolution offer, contact both your bank and local law enforcement immediately so they can investigate the situation further. Provide as much evidence as possible such as emails, texts, websites visited etc., so they have all the necessary information required in order to look into it fully.

As with any other scam, it is important to be vigilant and to keep all your bank, social media and other online accounts safe. Remember to use two-factor authentication, strong passwords, do not share this information with anyone, check your bank accounts regularly, and follow up with the media about any leaked passwords or other information. Above all, be pure and trust your intuition. Not every attractive offer is a scam, but always give yourself time to check everything and never make a decision on the spur of the moment.

By taking precautions when engaging with New Year’s resolution offers and being aware of potential signs of a scam, you can ensure your safety when attempting to achieve your goals this upcoming year. Researching offers ahead of time and understanding what type of promises are realistic will help protect you from falling victim to fraudsters who only care about making money off your hopes and dreams!

Note that the beginning of January is a rash of offers encouraging change. Even if they are completely legitimate and honest, ask yourself if that's what you need or if it's just stifling your conscience. If you know you're not going to start exercising anyway, eating healthier, reading more books, that you're not going to learn a new language - don't go for it. Instead, set yourself small goals, maybe monthly, maybe quarterly, and don't throw yourself in at the deep end. Overly excessive and unfulfilled New Year's goals can check you out and make you angry and frustrated with yourself. Take a smart approach and be honest with yourself.

Conclusion

It's essential to take proactive steps in protecting yourself from being taken advantage of and ensure you're not falling victim to these types of schemes. Be sure to do your research when considering a new resolution-related product or service, read reviews online if available, and ask questions before committing financially. With some simple precautions and due diligence, you can avoid becoming another statistic for cyber criminals looking to cash in on our resolutions. Happy New Year!