Top 5 Threads Scams and How To Avoid Them

Threads Scams: How They Work

Watch out for a series of Threads scams that are doing their rounds on this new social media platform. From cloned apps to impersonations, criminals found a new toy land.

Let me get right into it, but first, let's quickly look at a short intro. What's the newest attraction for criminals to create social media scams?

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Watch the video below to see the Top 5 Threads app scams, or keep reading:

What Is Threads?

Threads is a new social networking app developed by Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. It offers a conversation-based approach similar to X (former Twitter), allowing users to share text-based posts, photos, and videos.

The platform aims to create a friendly public space for discussions and sharing ideas. Threads has gained immense popularity, attracting millions of users within a short span. It has become the fastest-growing social media platform in history since its launch on July 5, 2023. To date, the app just surpassed 100 million users. No wonder fraud on Threads is trendy – same as the Instagram scams.

Let me expose the Top 5 scams at a glance below:

The screenshot above is from the real Threads app store, by the way.

Scam 1: Fake Threads Apps

Cybercriminals have created look-alike domains to deceive users into downloading fake versions of the Threads app, which can lead to malware installation and sensitive information theft. Here are a couple of interesting things:

1. In November 2023, Apple took down a fake Threads app in Europe, which was topping the charts of the most downloaded apps. The cybersecurity researchers found that the app was a fake version of Threads, which led to malware installation and sensitive information theft.
2. Researchers at Veriti have seen a surge of 700 domains related to the Threads app, and cybercriminals are using these domains to trick users into downloading fake versions of the app.

Be cautious of emails, websites, or ads that prompt them to download the new Threads app, as they could end up installing malicious malware on their devices.

Scam 2: Threads Profile Impersonation

Some scammers have created fake accounts on Threads, impersonating well-known individuals or businesses, which can lead to malicious links and data theft.

This works because the platform is brand new, and many celebrities still don't have an account on Threads yet.

Several high-profile crypto Twitter personalities have been impersonated on Threads. These attempts have been reported shortly after the launch of the app on July 5, 2023. Some of the notable examples include:

• Wombex Finance: The decentralized finance entity Wombex Finance shared a screenshot of a Threads account bearing its name, indicating an impersonation attempt.
• Jeffrey Huang, aka Machi Big Brother: Jeffrey Huang, a well-known figure in the crypto space, posted his Threads profile on July 6, only to have a follower point out that a fraudulent account was already mimicking his Twitter persona on Threads.
• Crypto Twitter Personalities: Several other Crypto Twitter personalities have also spotted and alerted about bogus accounts on Threads, which were crafted to mirror real accounts, including their own.

On the same note, this leads us to the following type of fraud:

Scam 3: Threads Crypto Investment

Scammers have targeted crypto-related content on Threads, using fake accounts to impersonate prominent crypto figures and trick users into sharing sensitive information or investing in fraudulent projects.

Some of the crypto scams on Threads include:

• Fake Crypto Giveaway: Scammers have been using fake Twitter accounts to promote fake crypto giveaways, which require users to send crypto to a wallet address in exchange for a more significant amount of crypto. However, once the user sends the crypto, they never receive the promised amount.
• Crypto wallet scams: Scammers have been tricking users into downloading fake versions of crypto wallets, which can lead to malware installation and sensitive information theft.
• Fake crypto projects: Scammers have been promoting artificial crypto projects on Threads, tricking users into investing in fraudulent projects.
• Bogus Famous Profiles: Scammers have been creating fake accounts on Threads impersonating well-known individuals or businesses in the crypto space (as mentioned above). It's easy to follow celebrities and invest in whatever they suggest. So, when you create a fake one, chances are you get a lot of following.

Scam 4: Threads Phishing Messages

Scammers have been sending phishing emails, texts, and messages claiming to come from Threads, Instagram, or Meta, often demanding payment or personal information.

They have set up phishing pages that mimic a web version of Threads, and there has been an increase in suspicious domain lookalikes with more than 700 domains registered. These domains include threads[.]ovh, threadsfollower[.]org, metathreads[.]social, threadsapp[.]shop, and threadsinstagram[.]app.

Scam 5: Personal Data Theft on Threads

Threads has been criticized for collecting more user data than other social media platforms, raising concerns about user privacy and data security.

At the same time, the forced linking of Instagram and Threads accounts could potentially result in users losing control over their data, violating privacy regulations.

Although Threads has some features that can help with cyberbullying and advertising, it is still essential to be cautious about potential risks.

To protect yourself from Threads scams, stay vigilant and cautious when using the app or any other social media platform. Always verify the authenticity of apps, be skeptical of unsolicited messages, and be aware of the data privacy concerns associated with the platform.

Last but not least, report the suspicious profiles. How?

How To Report a Threads Scammer

Warn your family and friends know about these five Threads scams. Feel free to share the article if it was helpful. However, you can report scammers on the platform and any suspicious activity officially to either Threads. More specifically, to Instagram.

Alternatively, you can report crooks tp the Federal Trade Commission (most important), the Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI Internet Complaint Center. Use the pages below:

Report To Threads
Report To The FTC
Submit Claim To The Office of the Inspector General
Report To The FBI Internet Complaints Center

How To Protect Yourself More

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Feel free to explore additional articles on Instagram-related fraud. You can find them listed below this paragraph, so that you know more about online security. Last but not least, if you had any bad experiences, make sure to use the comments section below to expose other Instagram or Threads scammers.

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