September 2023 Scam: Social Media Scams
No one can deny that social media has transformed how we communicate and interact with family, friends, businesses, and even strangers. Unfortunately, scammers have used social media platforms as a forum for their frauds. Education is key and being able to identify how to spot a scam on social media is crucial to avoid falling victim to scammers' tactics. Here are a few common scams found on the different platforms:
Romance scams
Bogus products and/or services
Giveaway scams
Blackmail scams
TikTok
Online purchasing scams
Fake influencers with quick cash opportunities
Deep-fake technology
X (Twitter)
Impersonation
Fake surveys for phishing scams
Links to fake websites that contain malware
Fraudulent job postings
Fake services like resume writing, professional development courses, etc.
Bogus profiles to help the scammer seem legitimate
Investment and cryptocurrency scams
Fraudulent purchases using Marketplace or community buy and sell groups
Quizzes and games with the intent to collect information
Scammers compromise accounts to reach out to a network of friends and family
Fake charities, emergencies, emotional situations, etc.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently released an article with insight on how to avoid scams on social media.
Be wary of impersonation and compromised accounts
Shop safely online
Set your profile to private
Be mindful of what you share
Source: BBB.org and norton.com
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