It’s no secret that social media sites have invaded everyday life. It’s not uncommon to find people scrolling through their newsfeeds on a smartphone or tablet at all hours of the day. However, the social media world isn’t all about sharing what you did for lunch or how you’re feeling. It is a place where people can connect and network with others that share their same interests. These interests could be anything from a famous actor, to a football team, to a movie, or a company. This way hackers can follow your interests too. Learn about the most common social media scam in 2023 in our blog.
Social media is a place to connect, network, and discover individuals who share your interests. We typically give up our privacy in order to enter the digital world. Because of this, social media is the ideal venue for cybercriminals to gather personal data. From January 2021 the amount of cyber attacks on social media targets increased 103%. Social media is a common platform for threat actors to commit fraud and imitate well-known companies. They rely on the user making a human error by clicking on a dangerous link or downloading harmful software. So what are the most common cyber criminal tactics of social media scams?
What are the tactics of Social Media Scams?
Sending harmful links
Online dating requests
Forcing someone to send money
Encouraging the use of phoney investment websites
Surveys and tests to get private information
Impersonating companies and people
Scams on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger are just a handful of the methods threat actors employ to try to trick consumers into parting with personal information. The main focus is on social media. The entire network of links can be manipulated by identity theft or phoney profiles. The most frequent of these include job offers, charity requests, prize or lottery winning scams, and romance scams. Requests for brand partnership or giveaways are particularly popular on Instagram. So what are the most common types of social media phishing?
What are the types of Social Media Scams?
Romantic scam
You will receive a friend request from a threat actor, who will then start a dialogue with you in which they will demand payment.
Scam involving fake goods
Your order will be encouraged by a threat actor who will provide you with bogus items.
Giveaway scam
A threat actor can promote a giveaway of a free good to entice consumers to like or comment on the post. They will be able to gather personal data and infect people by spreading a malicious link to the article.
Crypto scam
An attacker will try to con the user into purchasing cryptocurrency.
Job scam
A threat actor asks a user to pay a small sum in exchange for the promise of high-paying employment.
Identity fraud
A threat actor will ask for names, dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, and other personal information in an effort to collect this data.
How to identify Social Media Scams?
8 Social Media Scam signs to look for!
Here is how to identify social media phishing and the most common signs to look for. Social media scams usually include:
- Spelling and grammar errors
- Social media accounts that are relatively new and have few followers
- Duplicated profiles
- Random messaging
- You’re prompted to send funds
- You’re asked to divulge private information
- You receive a “too good” offer
- You’re taken to a copy of a website
How to protect yourself from Social Media Scams?
- Check your privacy settings.
- Create a private profile.
- Remove your contact details from the account page.
- Limit who can view your images and access your account on social media by only adding individuals you know.
- Refuse any invitation from a stranger.
- Any request that asks for personal data or money should be rejected.
- Be on the lookout for limited-time content, deals, and discounts.
- When a romantic request comes in, check the person’s information.
- Use two-factor authentication, and make sure your login and password are unique.
- Be wary of attachments and connections.
- Increase one’s own awareness of the problem.
We hope you enjoyed our blog, and that you’re prepared for the digital environment in 2023! Follow us on social media for more useful information and tips!
