When it comes to deals online, especially social media, we're often told that if it's too good to be true, then it probably is. But whether you're buying a birthday gift or treating yourself in the January sales, there's a lot to consider before you press the button to pay.
Scammers are always on the rise and each year, they are getting smarter and sneakier with each scam looking more real and harder to tell apart from the fake ones.
To help people stay on top of this and to keep themselves safe, cybersecurity expert Liz Wegerer from VPNOverview has revealed the most common Facebook and Instagram scams of 2023 and how to avoid them.
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This is what they want you to know...
The most common Facebook scams of 2023
Facebook is one of the most used social media apps to date and of course, scammers are taking advantage with everyone of every age on the app.
Here are some of the most common ways they try:
- Phishing scams: Emails or direct messages with sketchy links that download malware or capture login credentials on spoofed websites
- Romance: Friend requests and direct messages that attempt to create a romantic interest with the goal to steal money from the victim
- Prizes or job offers: Claims designed to obtain personal information or money from the victim, including “You’ve won!” scams
- Quizzes and games: Designed to elicit personal information in the answers through the kind of information people may use to create passwords or answer security questions for their online accounts
- Charity pleas: Creating fake charities to get donations during times of disaster, using sites like GoFundMe
The most common Instagram scams of 2023
Another popular app, with more than one billion users, is Instagram.
According to the experts, it's the world’s fourth most popular social media platform and with this, it as we all know, means scammers will take advantage of this, and its users.
Cybercriminals know this and have several tricks to infiltrate your account and steal your personal information.
These include:
- Fake investment offers: Scammers promise you a great return for just a small investment
- Bogus brand collaboration requests: Fraudsters offer to pay you for promoting their products then steal your financial data when you provide them
- Selling followers and likes: Ask you to pay a nominal fee in exchange for like or follow packages, but your financial data gets stolen when you send financial details
- Giveaways: Entice you to try and win a prize, but then you will be asked to provide personal information or payment to claim your winnings
- Imposter brand accounts: Sell counterfeit goods (or never deliver the promised goods at all) under the guise of a popular brand to drain your bank account
How to avoid scams on social media
1. Lock down your privacy settings
To add an extra layer of security and privacy to your account, change your settings from a public to a private account.
On Facebook, while you can never hide your profile pictures or cover photos, you can hide almost everything else from those outside your friends list through your settings.
2. Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication
One of the best ways to prevent unauthorised access to your account is to use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication for another layer of security. This means that when someone tries logging in from an unrecognised location or device, they will also have to enter a one-time code in addition to your username and password sent to your phone, usually your e-mail or phone number.
3. Keep track of third-party apps
Every now and again, you should be checking which apps have access to your account.
Over the years, it's likely that you have connected several third-party applications to your Instagram account which can see who you follow, your personal information and more. If you are no longer using the app, revoke access and keep your account secure.
4. Only buy from verified profiles and brand accounts
Before you buy anything on social media, check to make sure the account you are dealing with is verified. All legitimate brands on Instagram and Facebook are verified with a blue circle checkmark next to their name. if in doubt, it's best to stay clear.
5. Search regularly for accounts in your name
To avoid the damage of someone cloning your accounts and using these fake accounts maliciously, get into the habit of regularly searching Facebook and Instagram for your name. This only takes a minute and is an easy way to identify and report imposter accounts.
6. Decline friend requests from anyone you do not know
Do not accept friend requests from anyone you are not familiar with. The more friends you have that you do not know, the higher the risk you will be approached with a scam.
7. Never click on suspicious links sent to you or respond to unsolicited messages
Whether it is a phishing email or a private message from a friend, avoid clicking on unsolicited videos or links. If you think a friend sent you something, double-check with them before clicking. Especially when what they sent you involves compromising information about you or says something like, “OMG! Is this you?” or “Have you seen this yet?!”.
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