Beware of these common Facebook scams before they get you
Facebook is one of the world’s most popular social media platforms, with more than 2.8 billion users logging in every month. Unfortunately, scammers and cybercriminals often take advantage of Facebook’s huge user base to try to trick people into falling for various types of online scams and fraud. From fake giveaways and phishing attempts to malware distribution and identity theft, there are lots of sneaky Facebook scams you need to watch out for.
This article will expose some of the most prevalent Facebook scams doing the rounds right now. We’ll explain how they operate and what telltale signs to look for so you can avoid getting duped and protect your personal information, your money, and your devices from these devious online schemes. With a bit of scam awareness, some basic security precautions, and Scamio on your Messenger list, you can navigate Facebook safely and prevent these cons.
Did you know?
- Over $2.7 billion was lost to social media fraud in the US between 2021 and mid-2023 – more than losses from web scams and email phishing combined.
- More than a third of Facebook Marketplace ads could be scams, with UK customers potentially losing nearly £60 million in 2023
- 30% of people reported falling prey to online job scams via social media in a Good-firms survey.
The dangers of falling victim to a Facebook Scam
Falling for Facebook scams can have severe consequences, such as:
• Account Hijacking: Cybercriminals may take control of your Facebook account, access your connections, or access sensitive data, photographs, and videos for identity theft or extortion purposes.
Related: Hackers Could Have Taken Over Your Facebook Account Using This Trick
• Financial Losses: You could send money to scammers who post fake ads and Marketplace deals.
• Malware Infections: Hackers employ malicious links in Facebook direct messages (DMs) or phishing emails capable of infecting your device with malware or granting them remote access.
• Personal Data Compromise: Criminals may gather your personal information from Facebook and subsequently use it for identity theft or sell it on the dark web to other malicious actors.
• Emotional and Financial Loss: Romance and job scams can inflict both financial and emotional distress when victims realize their potential romantic partner or employment opportunity was fabricated.