The internet is full of attention-grabbing headlines and flashy ads designed to make you click.

Sometimes, these are just harmless exaggerations, but other times, they’re traps set by scammers.

One of the most dangerous tricks is clickbait scams, which can lead to fake virus warnings, tech support scams and stolen money.

Understanding how these scams work can help you avoid falling victim to them.

Let’s take a closer look at how clickbait tricks people and what you can do to stay safe.

What is clickbait?

Clickbait is like a flashy fishing lure — it’s designed to grab your attention and make you ‘bite’, but what you get isn’t always what you expect. Think of a newspaper with a headline that shouts, “Secret Cure for Ageing Discovered!” but when you read the article, it just says, “Eat more vegetables.”

On the internet, clickbait works the same way. Websites, social media posts and YouTube videos often use exaggerated or misleading titles to get you to click. For example, “This One Trick Will Make You Rich!” might just tell you to save money — something you already knew! The goal is simple: more clicks mean more money from ads.

Some clickbait is just harmless hype, but some can be misleading or even dangerous. One of the worst tricks is when you click a link, and suddenly your screen is taken over by a scary message:

“VIRUS DETECTED! Call this number immediately!”

These fake alerts are designed to scare you into calling a phone number. The scammers on the other end will pretend to be from a trusted company and insist they need remote access to your computer. Once inside, they’ll run normal-looking commands to trick you into believing hackers are already in your system.

What should you do?

If you ever see a message like this, don’t panic, don’t click anything, and don’t call the number! Close your browser or restart your computer if needed. Real tech companies will never contact you this way. If you’re unsure, ask someone you trust before taking any action.

What happens if you call the number?

If you call the number, the scammers will pretend to help but are really just trying to steal from you. They will ask you to enter your credit card details on your screen, claiming it’s to pay for virus removal software. In reality, they are recording your card information to charge you for useless or fake software.

If you later realise it’s a scam and ask for a refund, they might trick you again with a refund scam. They’ll pretend to send you your money back but will “accidentally” refund too much. Then, they’ll pressure you to return the extra amount — only to steal even more from your account.

Conclusion

As always, I hope you learned something new. Stay safe out there, and remember — the internet is full of bait, don’t get hooked!

Feel free to reach out to me at askatech@mmg.com.au if you have any questions.

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Thursday, 24th July 2025

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