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Social media scams

Social media has become a goldmine for scammers, with unique attack vectors that exploit trust, connections, and the casual nature of these platforms. In this chapter, you’ll learn to protect yourself across all major social networks.

The Social Media Threat Landscape

The numbers are staggering:

• $1.9 billion lost to social media scams in 2024
• 70% of people reported losses when contacted via social media
• 44% of social media fraud loss reports involve shopping scams
• 53% of investment scam losses occur via social media
• 50% of romance scam victims met scammer on Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat
• Meta users exposed to 15 billion scam ads daily
• 10% of Meta’s 2024 revenue ($16bn) projected from fraudulent ads
• 42% increase in influencer-led scams in 2024

Why Social Media Is Perfect for Scammers

Trust Through Connection

• Friend requests create false familiarity
• Impersonation of known contacts
• “Friend of friend” exploits network trust
• Social proof through likes/comments

Personal Information Goldmine

• Birthdays, locations, family details
• Interests and hobbies
• Vacation schedules (empty homes)
• Professional information

Casual Environment

• Less formal = less suspicious
• Direct messages feel friendly
• Sharing culture lowers guards
• Visual content distracts from details

Algorithmic Amplification

• Scam ads reach millions
• Fake giveaways go viral
• Fraudulent posts appear in feeds
• Platform algorithms can’t catch all scams

Platform-Specific Threats

Facebook / Meta

Most Common Scams:

1. Marketplace Scams

• Fake listings for items
• Payment before pickup
• Counterfeit goods
• Overpayment scams

Statistics:

• 44% of social media fraud involves shopping
• Facebook Marketplace particularly targeted
• Payment app scams (Venmo, Zelle, Cash App)

Red flags:

• Too-good-to-be-true prices
• Seller wants payment before viewing
• Requests to move off platform
• No reviews or new accounts
• Urgent need to sell

Safe practices:

• Meet in public places
• Inspect before paying
• Use platform payment systems
• Check seller history
• Bring a friend

2. Friend Impersonation

• Duplicate accounts of your friends
• Hacked accounts sending messages
• Emergency money requests

Example:

“Hey! This is my new account - old one was hacked. Can you help me out with a quick favor? Need $200 for emergency…”

Red flags:

• New friend request from existing friend
• Messages asking for money
• Different communication style
• Won’t video call
• Urgent emergency

Verification:

• Call friend directly
• Check if they have two accounts
• Ask question only real friend would know
• Video call to confirm
• Never send money without verification

3. Fake Giveaways

• Pages impersonating brands
• “Share to win” contests
• Requires personal information
• Advance fee for prizes

Example:

“Amazon 25th Anniversary! Like, share, and comment to win $500 gift card! 100 winners selected tomorrow!”

Red flags:

• Page created recently
• Low follower count
• Verified checkmark missing
• Grammar errors
• Requests personal info to claim

Verification:

• Check official brand pages
• Look for verification badges
• Research giveaway legitimacy
• Legitimate contests have official rules

Instagram

Most Common Scams:

1. Romance Scams

• 50% of romance scams start on Instagram
• Fake profiles with stolen photos
• Builds relationship then asks for money
• “Pig butchering” - romance + investment

Example progression:

1. Attractive profile follows you
2. Likes/comments on posts
3. Slides into DMs
4. Builds relationship over weeks
5. Introduces “investment opportunity”
6. Requests money for emergency
7. Disappears after receiving funds

Red flags:

• Too-attractive profile
• Few personal posts
• Generic photos (reverse image search)
• Moves fast to profess feelings
• Won’t video call
• Works overseas
• Eventually needs money

Protection:

• Reverse image search profile photos
• Insist on video calls
• Never send money to online relationships
• Be wary of investment tips from romantic interests
• Trust your instincts

2. Fake Influencer Sponsorships

• Scammers impersonate brands
• Offer free products for promotion
• Steal your information
• Request payment for “shipping”

Example:

“Hi! We love your page! Nike wants to send you free products. Just pay $15 shipping and provide your address and card info.”

Red flags:

• DMs from “brands” you never contacted
• Poor English/grammar
• Requests payment information
• Not from verified account
• Too-good-to-be-true offers

3. Fake Investment Gurus

• Luxury lifestyle posts
• “DM me to learn how”
• Cryptocurrency/forex trading
• Pyramid schemes

Red flags:

• Rented luxury cars/houses
• Vague about actual method
• Requires upfront payment
• Promises guaranteed returns
• Pressures to join quickly

LinkedIn

Most Common Scams:

1. Fake Job Offers

• Too-good-to-be-true positions
• Remote work with high pay
• No interview process
• Requests payment for training/equipment

Example:

“Exciting remote opportunity! $8,000/month, flexible hours. Just need $200 for software license and background check.”

Red flags:

• Immediate job offer
• Requests money upfront
• Poor company profile
• No interview or vetting
• Communication via personal email
• Vague job description

Verification:

• Research company thoroughly
• Check company website independently
• Verify recruiter identity
• Legitimate jobs never require payment
• Interview via official channels

2. Fake Recruiters

• Impersonate real recruiters
• Steal personal information
• Identity theft
• Data harvesting

Protection:

• Verify recruiter at company
• Check LinkedIn profile authenticity
• Don’t share sensitive docs until verified
• Research company independently
• Be wary of immediate offers

3. Business Opportunity Scams

• Investment opportunities
• MLM/pyramid schemes
• Fake franchises
• Partnership fraud

TikTok

Most Common Scams:

1. Fake Links in Bio

• Links to phishing sites
• Malware downloads
• Fake giveaways
• Cryptocurrency scams

Red flags:

• “Link in bio for free money”
• Suspicious shortened URLs
• Unofficial brand accounts
• Grammar errors in posts

2. Get-Rich-Quick Schemes

• Day trading courses
• Cryptocurrency “secrets”
• Dropshipping scams
• Amazon FBA fraud

3. Influencer Scam Promotions

• 42% increase in influencer-led scams
• Fake product promotions
• Undisclosed paid promotions
• Fraudulent investment schemes

Twitter/X

Most Common Scams:

1. Cryptocurrency Giveaways

• Fake celebrity accounts
• “Send 1 BTC, receive 2 back”
• Impersonation of Elon Musk, others
• Verified checkmark confusion

Example:

“@ElonMusk: To celebrate Tesla’s success, I’m giving back! Send 0.1 BTC to [address] and receive 1 BTC back!”

Red flags:

• Too good to be true
• Requests cryptocurrency first
• Slightly different handle
• Recent account creation

2. Fake Support Accounts

• Impersonate company support
• Respond to complaints
• Direct to phishing sites
• Request login credentials

Protection:

• Verify blue checkmarks
• Check account creation date
• Never send crypto to “double it”
• Contact support through official channels

Snapchat

Most Common Scams:

1. Romance Scams

• Quick friend adds
• Attractive profile photos
• Moves to personal conversations
• Eventually requests money

2. Fake Premium Snapchat

• Promises exclusive content
• Requests payment
• Never delivers
• Steals payment information

Common Cross-Platform Scams

1. Advance Fee Scams

How it works:

• Promise of money, prize, or opportunity
• Requires payment first
• For processing, taxes, shipping, etc.
• Scammer disappears after payment

Applies to:

• Lottery winnings
• Inheritance claims
• Job offers
• Prize giveaways

2. Phishing via DMs

How it works:

• Message claims account issue
• Links to fake login page
• Steals credentials
• Takes over account

Example:

“Your account has been reported for copyright violation. Verify here within 24 hours or account will be deleted: [link]”

Red flags:

• DMs about account issues
• Urgent deadlines
• Links to verify
• Not from official accounts

Protection:

• Social platforms don’t DM about violations
• Check notifications in-app
• Never click DM links
• Report suspicious accounts

3. Fake Shopping

How it works:

• Ads for products
• Too-good-to-be-true prices
• Payment processed
• Never receive product

Statistics:

• 44% of social media fraud involves shopping
• 15 billion scam ads daily on Meta

Red flags:

• 70-90% discounts on luxury items
• Recently created business pages
• No reviews or all fake reviews
• Payment methods: wire transfer, crypto
• Pressure to buy immediately

4. Investment Scams

How it works:

• Fake investment opportunities
• Cryptocurrency schemes
• Forex trading scams
• Promises of guaranteed returns

Statistics:

• 53% of investment scam losses via social media
• Often combined with romance scams (“pig butchering”)

Red flags:

• Guaranteed high returns
• Pressure to invest quickly
• Vague explanations
• Celebrity endorsements (fake)
• “Exclusive” opportunities

Protecting Your Social Media Accounts

Privacy Settings

Facebook:

• Limit post visibility to friends
• Hide friend list
• Disable face recognition
• Review tagged photos
• Limit past posts

Instagram:

• Private account
• Limit story viewers
• Hide online status
• Disable activity status
• Review tagged photos

LinkedIn:

• Control profile visibility
• Limit network visibility
• Review profile views
• Adjust activity broadcasts

Security Practices

1. Enable Two-Factor Authentication

   • Use app-based (not SMS when possible)
   • On all platforms
   • Backup codes stored securely

2. Strong Unique Passwords

   • Different for each platform
   • Password manager recommended
   • Change after suspected breach

3. Review Connected Apps

   • Remove unnecessary permissions
   • Check third-party access
   • Revoke old app connections

4. Monitor Login Activity

   • Check active sessions
   • Review login locations
   • Sign out unused devices

5. Be Careful What You Share

   • Avoid personal details (address, phone)
   • No vacation announcements (empty home)
   • Limit birthday/family info
   • Think before posting

Red Flags Checklist

❌ Profile red flags:

• Recently created accounts
• Few followers/connections
• Generic profile photos
• Incomplete profiles
• Stolen photos (reverse image search)

❌ Message red flags:

• Unsolicited contact
• Too-good-to-be-true offers
• Requests for money
• Pressure to act quickly
• Won’t video call
• Poor grammar/spelling

❌ Post/Ad red flags:

• Extreme discounts (70-90% off)
• Fake urgency (“Only 2 left!”)
• No company verification
• Requests payment off-platform
• Grammatical errors

If You’ve Been Scammed

Immediate actions:

1. Stop all contact with scammer
2. Don’t send more money
3. Screenshot everything - Conversations, profiles
4. Report to platform - Use reporting features
5. Report to authorities - FTC, FBI IC3

Financial losses:

6. Contact bank/card company - Dispute charges
7. Report to payment app - If used Venmo/Zelle/etc.
8. File police report - For identity theft
9. Contact credit bureaus - If identity compromised

Account security:

10. Change passwords - All accounts
11. Enable 2FA - If not already active
12. Review account activity - Check for unauthorized access
13. Alert friends - If account was compromised

Key Takeaways

• $1.9 billion lost to social media scams in 2024
• 70% of victims lost money when contacted via social media
• 50% of romance scams start on Facebook/Instagram/Snapchat
• 44% of fraud involves shopping scams
• Always verify friend requests from existing friends
• Never send money to people you’ve only met online
• Enable privacy settings on all platforms
• Two-factor authentication is essential
• Reverse image search suspicious profiles
• Report and block suspicious accounts
• If it seems too good to be true, it probably is

Remember: Social media’s casual, friendly environment is exactly what makes it dangerous. Scammers exploit the trust we place in our networks. Always verify unexpected requests, even from “friends,” and never let social proof override your judgment.

Next chapter: We’ll explore banking and financial scams - how attackers target your financial accounts and payment apps.