While social media is a fantastic way to keep in touch or interact with people, social media scams are everywhere.
Social media scams take many forms, and many are native to one particular platform as Facebook scams, Twitter scams, Instagram scams (separate categories), and more are operating and trying to fleece people of money or use their personal information for nefarious purposes.
Facebook scams include messages from fake profiles, malware hidden in Facebook apps and games that are part of phishing attacks, and classified ad scams in the Facebook Marketplace.
Twitter scams can include emails sent from “Twitter,” and links in messages that are part of phishing attacks.
Multi-Level marketing scams are also common on social media and their empty promises of easy riches.
Social media can be wonderful, but be careful. Keep your eye on this space, and learn about the scams on social media as they emerge.
Online Psychic Reading: How the Scam Works (with video below) Are you looking into a psychic reading these days? If yes, be careful about the Online Psychic Reading Scam, including numerologists, astrologers, tarot card reading, and fortune-tellers. Read below and feel free to report the scammers' names at the end of the article, under the … Psychic/Astrologer Readings Read More »
How the scam works: With the worldwide spread of the Internet, it is much easier nowadays to find talented people in all industries. Unfortunately, scammers are right on the ball in this aspect, too. It has been reported that several crooks create fake publishing contests, apparently organized by famous companies. One of the examples is … Publishing Contest Read More »
How the scam works: Let’s say you are an aspiring writer. Established publishers accept new books only if they are submitted by an agent. Meanwhile, agents don’t take any new writers under their wings unless they have a publishing record. When you approach them with a book, because you are new, most agents might tell … Referrals for Your Convenience Read More »
How the scam works: Similar to the Holiday E-cards scam, this one comes as a downloadable item on your computer or phone. You want a specific song to be your ringtone (or a picture to be your wallpaper), maybe during these holidays. That’s when you go on the Internet and look for it. Unfortunately, several … Ringtones and Wallpapers Read More »
See Who is Stalking You Scam: How It Works Either on Facebook or Tumblr you receive a message on your profile, as a recommendation coming from one of your friends. Your buddy suggests clicking on a link to see who is virtually stalking you. The text might be similar to this: "W000w!! I Cann0t blv that … See Who is Stalking You Read More »
How the scam works: If you are an aspiring singer or a band, one day you might get invited through e-mail, Facebook or MySpace to perform a concert either out of town or as an opening act for a celebrity. You are invited to confirm if you can make it. This is what you’ve been … Music: Celebrity Band Read More »
How the scam works: You see online advertising for an upcoming show featuring one of your favorite singers or bands. You want to attend and call the number listed to get tickets. The scam usually has two variations. Scenario 1. The headliner doesn’t perform that night, as he probably never knew his name was listed … Music: Celebrity Visit Read More »
Green Card Lottery Scam: How It Works Hundreds of thousands of people want to come annually to North America, so it is no surprise that opportunities such as the Green Card Lottery are used – as duplicates by the scammers – to lure people into giving away their lifetime savings. The fraudsters set up websites … Green Card Lottery Read More »
How the scam works: You are approached by somebody through e-mail, phone call, or fake e-mails, claiming to be a hit man hired to hurt you (or destroy your business, set your house on fire, etc). He says is hired by one of your enemies and asks if you can pay a bigger wage to … Hired to Hurt You Read More »
How the scam works: During the holiday season, we send and receive messages with all kinds of wishes– so you are not surprised when, one day, you receive an electronic card in your e-mail or your Facebook/ Twitter/ LinkedIn inboxes. You get the notification and are invited to open the card by clicking on a … Holiday E-cards Read More »
How the scam works: You come across somebody online who is in need of your help. She might say she is in a hospital in the Ivory Coast, London, or Amsterdam with cancer (some scammers even shave their heads). Meanwhile, her children might need to be taken care of (or need college money). The story … Hospitalized Patients Read More »
How the scam works: Many people fill out applications for US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on a regular basis. Because the process is not that simple, bogus service providers on the internet help fill out the necessary forms and have the victims send them an electronic check in the amount of the application fee. … Immigration Application Read More »
How the scam works: Every so often we hear about the killing or the arrest of an infamous person – from Osama Bin Laden and Gaddafi to Bernard Madoff. Scammers use this to their advantage and pose as former partners of the infamous character (someone from the Madoff’s Board of Directors) or soldiers who found … Infamous Person’s Fortune Read More »
How the scam works: You are a creative person and have had a long-life hobby – building gadgets and toys of all kinds. Chances are you probably have some good creations that are worth patenting. If you are considering this, beware of scammers who try to cash in on your work. It is expensive and time-consuming to patent … Invention Registration Read More »
IP Winner Scam: How It Works (with video below) You’re on a social networking site checking out what’s new with your friends when a pop-up ad informs you that you were selected as a winner of a free X-Box 360 or a gift card! It tells you that you were visitor number 100,000 or had … IP Winner Read More »
IQ Test Quiz Scam: How It Works (with video below) Scammers hack into your friends' accounts and post a link on your Facebook profile (or email), with titles such as: “Can you beat my IQ of 138? Click here”, "One of your friends sent you this IQ test" or “What is the next number … IQ Test/Text Quiz Read More »
How the scam works: You can’t wait for the grand finale of your favorite TV show, whatever that is (The Bachelor, Hell's Kitchen, Orange is the New Black, etc). A few days before the anticipated show, you get a message (e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter) notifying you that you could be one of those privileged to … Latest Movies/Shows/Books Read More »
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