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Social media scams
Did you know that social media is a hotspot for scams?
Find out what tactics fraudsters are using, so you can avoid being scammed.
Scams on social media
If you get a message on social media that seems to be from family or a friend who’s in need of help, it could be a fraudster.
Always be cautious and think twice before interacting with unknown profiles or clicking on suspicious links. If something feels wrong, trust your gut!
Common scams to look out for
Impersonation scams
Fraudsters impersonate social media users in different ways. They might set up a fake account of a real person or hack into someone’s genuine account.
They’ll message the real person’s friends or family saying they’ve lost or broken their phone and can’t get into their bank account. That’s when they’ll ask to borrow money – and they’ll say they need it fast.
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Impersonation scams can be difficult to spot and can happen on social media platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.
Here are some pointers on what to look out for:
- You get an unexpected message on social media from your friend or family.
- The messages are brief and don’t include any identifying information.
- You feel rushed to send money.
- If you ask for a phone call, they make up an excuse on why they can’t answer.
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If you get an unexpected message from someone you know on social media, try calling them on a number you trust. Ask them if they’ve messaged you to confirm if it’s them. You could also try to video call them, make sure it’s truly someone you know.
Fraudsters will make an excuse for why they can’t talk. The real reason is because they’re pretending to be someone else and answering the phone will give them away.
Report any suspicious messages on the social media platform. If you’re not sure, ignore the messages and block the account from contacting you again.
Buying on social media
You can buy things on social media channels like Facebook Marketplace and TikTok Shop, but you should be careful of scams.
When you’re buying something on a social media channel, you might be in contact with the seller. If they’re a fraudster, they could ask you to pay for the item outside the channel. They know that you’ll have less protection if you use an unsecure payment method.
The fraudster might tell you that the item is going to sell out soon to make you feel rushed to buy it. So, you end up sending them money without having time to think about it.
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Here are some things to look out for when buying on social media:
- The ad is for tickets to sold out events and shows – learn more about ticket scams.
- The profile has no friends and little to no activity.
- There isn’t much information about what you’re buying.
- Lots of negative product reviews.
- The item is much cheaper than everywhere else.
- The seller wants you to pay for it by bank transfer or outside the social media platform.
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Avoid making rushed decisions when buying things on social media, even if you think it’s a great deal. If it looks too-good-to-be true, it probably is.
If what you’re buying is local, large or expensive, ask to check it out in person. Real sellers will let you stop by to see it before you buy. If the seller refuses, they could be a fraudster.
Research the seller before you buy. For example, on the TikTok Shop, look for verified sellers with a blue checkmark next to their name.
And, if you’re paying online, always use a debit or credit card to protect your money. Or you can use a payment service that offers buyer protection - such as PayPal Goods and Services.
Competition scams
A business might post a giveaway or competition on social media to celebrate an anniversary since they first launched. Or an influencer might do a giveaway to celebrate 100,000 followers. Fraudsters use giveaways like this to scam people on social media.
They might message you if they’ve seen you’ve entered a real giveaway. They’ll tell you that you’ve won and that you can claim your prize by going to a link.
The link will ask you to enter personal information like your card details to verify your address. Or to make a small payment to cover the prize delivery. The fraudster now has your name, address and card details.
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- You get a message saying you’ve won before the closing date of the giveaway.
- You don’t follow the account that messaged – to enter a giveaway you usually have to follow the real brand account.
- The account that messaged you is private.
- To claim the prize, you have to give them card details.
- Real giveaways will only ask for your name, contact information and postal address.
- Fraudsters may set up a fake profile pretending to be a genuine business.
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If someone sends you a link out of the blue on social media, don’t click on it. Never give your personal information to strangers or share your bank details.
Report suspicious messages from accounts that say you’ve won a giveaway that you haven’t entered.
If you do enter a giveaway on social media, save the post. That way you can go back to it and double check if you’ve won.
Learn about other scams and how to protect yourself
Scam calls
Find out how fraudsters can use your details to win your trust.
Scam emails and texts
Fraudsters use scam emails and texts to steal your details.
Holiday scams
Don’t get burnt by offers that are too-good-to-be true.
Ticket scams
Beware of fake tickets that might not get you in.
Protect your identity
Fraudsters want to steal your personal and banking details.
Protect your devices
Do you know how to keep your devices safe?
