Here’s a not-so-fun fact for this Fraud Friday: About one in four people who’ve lost money to scams since 2021 said it all started on social media. Another fact: Most people we know are on some form of social media. Let’s be honest, some of these people are on social media quite a lot. That means we have to be more diligent than ever to dodge social media scams.
Want to steer clear of scams on your social media feed? Take a moment to keep reading.
If you follow your favorite businesses on social media for updates on events or deals, you’re not alone… You know who’s right there with you? Scammers. They keep their eyes out all over social media for easy opportunities to take advantage of unsuspecting people. Social media giveaways are classic cases of common scams these days.
Picture This
For example, say a favorite local musician of yours is offering up free tickets to their next concert. You enter to win by liking/following their social media page, tagging friends, and sharing the post. Then, someone who looks a lot like that musician replies to you and says you’ve won. They send you a link and ask for your info to claim your prize. What should you do next? As exciting as it may seem, always take the time to pause and evaluate – especially before clicking ANY links.
Investigate
Scammers are great at changing names and photos to mimic other profiles. There are always small differences though. Some tell-tale signs include: different URLs; new accounts or profiles; no posts; different way of wording things in online conversations. Put on your detective hat and take a closer look at the profile that messaged you before engaging with it or anything they’ve sent it.
Think it Over
Does a business, company, or person really need your credit card info for a free prize? No way. Get in touch with the business or individual that contacted you by using a phone number or email you know is real. Ask if they sent the message. If not, report the post and let them know their account might be hacked.
A great way to help keep your friends safe on social media is to share this Fraud Friday article on social media! Keeping these tips of mind will help you and your loved ones steer clear of social media scams. Stay alert and spread the word!