Social media is a great place for reconnecting with old friends or even meeting new ones — as long as you’re careful. Not every online “friend” has good intentions. Here’s how to spot fake friends on social media and prevent yourself from getting scammed.
In this type of fraud, scammers create fake social media profiles, posing as businesspeople, military members, or other trusted occupations. They craft profiles that look legitimate, use convincing photos, and post details to match their cover story. Through messaging and posting, they build trust with their online “friends” over time. If those friends want to meet up in person though, the scammers always have an excuse for why they aren’t able to.
Sooner or later, the fake online friends ask their targets for money. They often claim it’s for travel, family emergencies, or personal struggles. Scammers usually have a specific way they want you to send the money — this is usually via wire transfer, gift cards, payment apps, or even cryptocurrency. They love these methods of payment because they’re hard to trace, and even harder to recover once the money is gone.
Here’s how to protect yourself from getting scammed by fake friends on social media:
- Talk to someone you trust. Ask a friend or family member what they think of the situation.
- Do some digging. Search the person’s name and story along with the word “scam” to see if others have reported something similar.
- Try a reverse image search. You might find their photo is linked to a completely different name or profile. Or their photo may appear often in the search, indicating it’s a commonly used fake photo.
- Never send money. If you haven’t met someone in person, you shouldn’t be sending them money. No matter how real the relationship feels, if they’re asking for cash, it’s likely a scam.
If you suspect you’re dealing with a scammer posing as a “friend,” cut contact with them immediately. Report their profile to the social media platform and let the FTC know at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Stay vigilant out there on social media and be on the lookout for these fake “friends” looking to scam you. Share this Fraud Friday with a real friend to keep them safe too.