Have you ever been talking to someone over social media and felt like something is off? It can pay off to trust your gut with these kinds of intuitions.
A great example of how someone can gain people’s trust and then trick them into lending them money is an infamous Tinder Swindler protagonist – Simon Leviev. He used Tinder to match women and manipulate them into supporting his lavish lifestyle.
While not all social media scams involve a romantic aspect, most still rely on the human element.
We’re here to help you identify the most common social media scams and learn how to avoid them.
Let’s go!
#1. Romance Scams
A romance scam is when you find yourself talking to someone online who you’ve never met and believing you are in a romantic relationship with them.
While it’s not a guarantee that an online relationship is a front for a scam, there are plenty of instances where that has been the case. Just look at Manti Te’o story to get the idea.
While it can be fun and romantic to get to know a person online, one of the main things to be aware of is if they start asking for money from you. For example, they could be asking for money to buy a plane ticket to come and visit you.
If they become irritated and threaten to end the relationship when you decline to do so, this is a clear sign of a scam.
What do you do then?
Avoid sending money to anyone who you don’t personally know. Despite how strong you may feel about this person, it’s always better to keep your money to yourself until you actually know them and they gain your trust.
In 2021, over 95,000 people reported losing around $770 million in scams that were initiated on social media platforms. It can happen to anyone, but don’t let it happen to you.
#2. Data Breaches
Some personal information is intrinsically tied to your social media accounts. Such information is called “sensitive” or “private”, and it includes any data that can lead a scammer to identify you as a person. This can include your:
● Name;
● Email address;
● Date of birth;
● City of residence;
While you may not have all this information available to everyone who views your profile, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s impossible to obtain.
One of the common ways for them to do it is by “phishing”.
Phishing is when you receive correspondence (often a text or an email) that is made to look like it’s from an official source. For instance, it may look like you’ve got an email from your bank or your local GP (general practitioner).
You may be asked to fill in the fraudulent form created by a phishing scammer by clicking on the link in the email. By doing so, you could be inadvertently handing over the credentials to your social media profiles.
Check the authenticity of a message closely before handing over any of your precious details. To do so, check on the most common phishing email signs:
● The sender's email and if it’s correctly spelled;
● If the text in the email contains grammatical errors;
● If the email contains suspicious attachments or links.
#3. False Or Hidden URLs
These can be especially common when looking for an “unofficial” stream of a sports event or other live occasion. Some Twitter accounts, for example, can post links where you can watch these gigs.
Unfortunately, some of these links could take you to a fraudster source which will automatically enable downloading viruses on your device. So, if your device has an internet connection, it can be infected with malware.
You can protect yourself against that by only viewing official streams. Additionally, you could install a Virtual Protection Network (VPN) on your device. If you’re wondering, “what is a VPN?” then we’re here to explain. A VPN makes your browsing experience more secure. It masks your IP address and helps keep you safe when using public WiFi hotspots.
#4. Identity Theft
Social media can be a great way to share special moments in your life with family and close friends.
However, some scammers may use this against you. When you post, you could include certain information about your life that scammers can use to assume your identity as a cover for their own scams.
For example, you may accidentally or unknowingly reveal your:
● Place of work;
● Partner or spouse’s name;
● The location of your house or apartment;
● Where your kids go to school, etc.
All these bits of information can help someone steal your identity and perform actions on your behalf online. To avoid this, always double-check what information is visible on the photos you share, avoid over-geo-tagging, and keep your kids’ location disclosed.
#5. False Advertisements
False advertising is a form of fraud. There were 2.8 Million fraud reports from consumers in 2021, with $5.8 billion lost to fraud. So, you have to be alert when using social media.
For instance, seeing an advertisement on a social media platform doesn’t mean that an ad isn’t a scam just because it’s on Facebook or another social media app.
As a rule of thumb, “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is”. In other words, look out for deals and opportunities that offer a lot while asking for very little in return - they could be a front or a scam.
In short, keep your wits about you when you're using social media. Be protective of your information. Be wary of anyone or anything that seems suspicious.
Follow these tips, and you stand a greater chance of avoiding social media scams.
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