One of the biggest threats to watch out for on social media is fraud perpetrated by people who aren’t who they claim to be. Here’s how to recognize them.
Some 4.5 billion people worldwide, or almost 55 percent of the global population, have at least one account with one of the big players. And global internet users spend around two-and-a-half hours each day reading news, sharing stories and swapping pictures on their social media platforms of choice. In other words, social media has had an immeasurable effect on our lives, including on how we engage and interact with other people.
Yet not everything is always as it seems on social media. As per the internet in general, these platforms have become a hotbed for scammers and fake news peddlers. The sheer volume of global users, the dynamic nature of user-generated content and the agility of malicious actors make policing these platforms extremely challenging for the providers.
That means users must take matters into their own hands.
Among the biggest threats to watch out for are friends and followers who aren’t who they claim to be. Scammers use these profiles, often registered and managed by automated bots, to spam users with too-good-to-be-true offers, clickbait stories, romance scams and more. It could range from a “who viewed your profile” link to a bogus cryptocurrency investment opportunity or a free gift card offer.
The bottom line is that they want your money and/or your data. They may be hoping you click on a malicious link, triggering a covert malware download, or that you voluntarily hand over personal information. They may even be reeling you in for a bigger scam like romance fraud or crypto scams.
Social media platforms are getting better at removing inauthentic profiles and accounts. But they’re nowhere near 100% successful. We all need to be more credulous about what we see on these sites. Here are some of the top ways to spot the scammers:
Some 4.5 billion people worldwide, or almost 55 percent of the global population, have at least one account with one of the big players. And global internet users spend around two-and-a-half hours each day reading news, sharing stories and swapping pictures on their social media platforms of choice. In other words, social media has had an immeasurable effect on our lives, including on how we engage and interact with other people.
Yet not everything is always as it seems on social media. As per the internet in general, these platforms have become a hotbed for scammers and fake news peddlers. The sheer volume of global users, the dynamic nature of user-generated content and the agility of malicious actors make policing these platforms extremely challenging for the providers.
That means users must take matters into their own hands.
Social media is a haven for scammers
Among the biggest threats to watch out for are friends and followers who aren’t who they claim to be. Scammers use these profiles, often registered and managed by automated bots, to spam users with too-good-to-be-true offers, clickbait stories, romance scams and more. It could range from a “who viewed your profile” link to a bogus cryptocurrency investment opportunity or a free gift card offer.
The bottom line is that they want your money and/or your data. They may be hoping you click on a malicious link, triggering a covert malware download, or that you voluntarily hand over personal information. They may even be reeling you in for a bigger scam like romance fraud or crypto scams.
10 tips for spotting the fakers
Social media platforms are getting better at removing inauthentic profiles and accounts. But they’re nowhere near 100% successful. We all need to be more credulous about what we see on these sites. Here are some of the top ways to spot the scammers:
The good news is that many social media gatekeepers like Instagram and LinkedIn, are continually looking at ways to improve account verification and boot inauthentic users and bots off their platforms. However, one of the best tools they have to spot fake accounts is their eagle-eyed users. If you come across a fake profile, here’s how to report it on four of the main social media sites:
If someone is pretending to be you, visit this page. If you spot a fake account, click the button with three dots at the bottom of the profile photo and then “Find, support or report” or “Report Page.”
Report here. Or click on the three dots beside the account name and then follow the instructions.
Click the three dots beside the account name then “Report.” Or click here to report an account impersonating you, your business or child.
Click “More” under account name and then “Report/Block” or “Report Abuse.”
The best antidote we have against scam followers is to make our profile private, and then thoroughly vet anyone wanting to follow. If life sometimes moves too fast to make this 100% viable, bear the above in mind to stay safer online.
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