Fraud initiated on social networks
Below are the top methods used to initiate fraud on social networks:
- Fake accounts
- Scammers will create their accounts typically using stolen photos and information from legitimate people.
- Social media bots
- This type of bot uses fake accounts to automatically generate and amplify specific messaging, such as advertising and fake reviews. Since bots are automated, they work 24/7.
- Compromised accounts
When scammers gain access to social media accounts, they also gain access to all of the information associated to the account. They can use this information for:
- blackmail
- identity theft
- publishing fake ads
- targeting others on your contact list
- Advertisements
Scammers recognize that consumers spend a lot of time on social media and will try to trick people into giving them information by:
- posting ads for free trials
- promoting discounted merchandise
- offering fake job opportunities
How to protect yourself from fraud on social networks
- Do not accept requests from people you do not know.
- Complete a reverse image search to see if the same photo is being used elsewhere online.
- Fake accounts may have:
- a high follower count but low engagement
- an engagement rate that is too fast
- a large following but very few posts
- maxed out their following count
- only spam content
- Accounts that only push out information and do not engage in conversations likely have a bot behind them.
Learn more about protecting yourself from fraud on social networks.
Browse types of Internet scams.
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