Facebook Scams – Scam Alert!

Unfortunately, social media scams have become the most common in India. Among those, Facebook scams are on the rise. For the past several years Facebook users are facing the problem of getting trapped in such scams. As a result, they are ending up losing their sensitive information as well as their hard-earned money. 

Cybercriminals are targeting Facebook users because of the sheer volume of people using the platform. There are various tactics through which they try to trick people into their trap.  

However, Facebook users can easily protect themselves by knowing all the common scams happening in India through this popular social media platform. This article has all the necessary information related to it including its safety techniques. 

Most Common Facebook Scams That You Need to Know

Facebook has become a part of our lives but cybercriminals are constantly looking for the right situation to defraud us, by performing different types of scams. So, understanding those scams becomes necessary for every one of us. Let’s quickly review them. 

1. Giveaway Scams: First, scammers can target you through fake giveaway schemes. In this fraud, scammers use malicious software through which they can easily steal your sensitive information.

          Warning signs that you can look for:

• The person offering the giveaway will ask for your most sensitive details such as your CVV, credit card details, OTP, etc. 
• And the prize offering an unrealistic.

2. Romance Scams: These days, these scams become more common on Facebook. It usually starts with an unknown friend request. Fraudsters, spend their time sending messages to build your trust in them. So, that they can soon request money for a specific reason. 
3. Phishing Scams: Con artists send phishing messages with malicious links in them. If you click those links you might be redirected to a fake website that resembles the Facebook login page, it is part of the suspicious activities. That malicious website is created to steal your login details. 
4. Job Scams: Con artists can send fake work-from-job offers to you intending to steal money or personal information. You can protect yourself by verifying the company.
5. Bogus Apps: Scammers frequently publish fake advertising on Facebook that offers fantastic discounts or promotions in exchange for installing an app. However, take cautious before clicking any offers that look too good to be true because they often include malware and the discounts themselves are fake.
6. Fake charities: Cybercriminals create a fake Facebook account for a charity, to provide the impression that their organization is real and try to con people. Through Facebook scams they not only steal money they also play with your emotions. 
7. Games and Quizzes: Playing games and Quizzes is fun for everyone, but sometimes fraudsters try to trick you through this. Con artists send malicious links to exciting games and fake quizzes. If you click on those links you might be the next victim of this fraud.
8. Shopping Scams: In this scam, cybercriminals create a fake shopping website. Then, they try to sell the products at the lowest price through which you can get attracted towards it and get tricked into their trap.
9. Fake Coupon Codes: The con artist will publish a discount code with exciting offers. But before using it, scammers ask for your personal and financial information. Think twice before sacrificing your essential data.
10. Fake Accounts: Cybercriminals create fake accounts through which they can easily defraud you in Facebook Scam. As a result, it leads to heavy monetary loss for you.
11. Lottery Scams: In this, fraudsters ask for financial information or instruct you to click on external sites that might lead to compromised accounts. Therefore,  protecting yourself from this scam is important.
12. Cryptocurrency Scams: This fraud, seeks your personal information that might be used against you or involve strange logins.
13. Loan Scams: Here, Scammers send messages or create fake posts offering immediate loans at a low-interest rate by paying a small fee. They suggest that you use the loan for several purposes such as paying off student fees, buying a new car, etc. But don’t trust any loan offer without proper verification about it. Always remember that legitimate loan sources never ask for any fee.  

In this section, we talked about every single scam that is happening through Facebook. But knowing the prevention techniques is much more important for you.

How Do Users Prevent These Facebook Scams?

Here are some of the important safety precautions that you can follow to stay safe.

1. Don’t click on any suspicious links.
2. Make sure to secure your account by creating a strong password.
3. Enable two-factor authentication.
4. Always verify the company before purchasing its products.
5. Remember not to share your personal or financial information with unknown person. 
6. Don’t accept unknown friend requests.
7.  Never pay any registration fee for work-from-home jobs
8. Get suspicious login alerts. For activation of this feature go to Account > settings & privacy > settings > security and login > security and login > apps & websites. Click on Remove 

Now, in the next section, let’s talk about how you got scammed into this scam and then how will you contact Facebook about the incident. 

How Can You Contact Facebook About the Scam?

The following steps will guide you: 

1. Firstly, go to the profile or page of the scammer ( through which you have been scammed)
2. Secondly, Click on the button that includes 3 dots.
3. Then click on the “find support or report profile” and follow the prompts to file a report with Facebook.

The Bottom Line

Be cautious while using Facebook, because as you know that cybercriminals are targeting Facebook users by performing different scams. Make sure to follow all the safety measures that are mentioned above in this article. Stay safe! & Stay cyber-aware!