How to avoid online scams and what to do if you become a victim

Cybercrime is on the rise, but even the best antivirus software can’t thwart scammers who target the human psyche.

Some of the most damaging and costly scams involve what’s known as “social engineering.” That’s when fraudsters use time-tested techniques of deception and emotional manipulation, tricking people into divulging personal or financial information, or even granting remote access to their computers.