What It Is
On social media, scammers use fake accounts, hacked profiles, and misleading ads to trick people into sending money, sharing private information, or clicking dangerous links.
Warning Signs
- Messages from friends that don’t sound like them.
- Requests for money or gift cards through chat.
- Suspicious links in comments or direct messages.
- Fake giveaways that ask for personal details.
How to Protect Yourself
- Use privacy settings to limit who can see your posts.
- Be careful about accepting friend requests from people you don’t know well.
- Do not click links from strangers or odd messages from friends.
- Log out of social media when you’re done, especially on shared devices.
What to Do If It Happens
- If your account is hacked, change your password immediately.
- Use the platform’s “Report” tools for fake or harmful accounts.
- Tell your friends and family not to respond to suspicious messages from your profile.