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:
- 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.
- 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
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
Provided by AgeWell Middle Tennessee