Scammers Are Scamming Everyday!
In the vast abyss of the internet lies a dark side of individuals, feeding off the innocence of the unsuspecting internet user. I want to show you a number of ways that these scammers are using to trick you or plant harmful software on your computer; many times with out you even realising it. Avoid these Top 5 Social Media Scams.
Let’s think about this. Virus writers and other cyber criminals are going to flock to where the “cool hangouts” are; aka social media sites. Facebook for instance draws a cool 175 million logins a day! If I was running a shady ring of scam artists, I’m pretty sure that would be a good spot.
Let us do some simple maths. If they scam 1% of these people, that’s a cool 1.75 million bucks!
Scary Stuff. 
5. Chain Letters & Other Email Scams
If you have been around the internet for awhile, chances are you have seen this. Most of you wouldn’t even bat an eye lash or lift a finger for this one. But for the innocent youth this may be eye catching and seem like a quick way to make some cash.
Some of these chain letters if you have witnessed them. You send a buck or 5 buck to the people on the list and then you add your name at the bottom and take the top person off or vice versa. Then forward it on etc etc.
Other versions are “repost this and Bill Gates will donate x amount to charity” and some of them will have shady links, pointing to some sort of website; possibly with an opt in for your email(now they will sell or share your email for the next scam) and just all around bad news.
Other scams claim to be some sort of person from another country with a boat load of money and they need YOUR help to get millions of dollars to your country. K. But I have to pay them with my credit card in order to make the transfer go through and then I get a percentage of the millions of dollars. YEAH OK. Cause that makes total real and logical sense…..(where’s my sarcastic emoticon?)
Let’s be serious here. People who have money, know how to move money and know how to keep it *relatively* safe. Take that with a grain of salt if you wish. But I stand by that statement. SO therefore, they DO NOT need your help.
Scam Scam Scam all around this non-sense.
4. Cash Grab & Sob Stories (Becoming More Popular)
This scam has been going through a bit of a mutation. I will get to that in a minute. Social media has its benefits, right? Being able to connect with old friends and make new ones!
Here’s where we need to think about these new acquaintances and how well we actually know them, and how well our mutual friends know them.
Now for some perspective. This newly added acquaintance is suddenly in some sort of jam and needs money! Hrmm, k sounds like a cybercriminal to me. So I HIGHLY advise against sending any sort of cash to this newly found attractive “friend”.
The Mutation you ask.
Right. So now they have become more clever than we thought. I have noticed they used the previous tactic to befriend an individual. This one particular individual they copy and mimic their entire facebook profile and add YOU as a friend. Usually they state that their other account was hacked and that this is their new facebook or some sort of fancy story along those lines.
Now Imagine This: Your “friend” now send you an urgent message. Possibly in distress on a vacation. Lost their wallet or what have you. “Needs to borrow some cash till they come home”. Or “Needs some cash to get home”. So, you being the awesome person you are, send over some money right away via the instructions they provided.
*A little side note. Sometimes a friends computer or your own, is infected with malware. Thus a mass of messages is sent via your facebook contact list saying the same thing essentially or a variation thereof. You or your friend are not aware of this message being sent out at all seeing who would nibble. Scammer gets some cash, in most cases.
This comes down to be cautious and aware of the shady darkness lurking about the internet. In most cases people have their phones with them. If they really are on vacation a lot of people will use SnapChat, Whatsapp, BBM or iMessage via WiFi to communicate back home.
Do your due diligence and find a way to see if the request is real. Don’t forget. They can always call you collect! For the $1 it may cost you, it could save you hundreds more!
3. Online Quizzes/Surveys/Contests
“What Family Guy character are you? Take our quiz to find out now! Look at all your friends results!”
COW-DUNG
Wow, sounds cool. So you go ahead check this thing out. Enter all your info and cell phone number. Get a magical text with your results. Cool! I’m Peter Griffin! Who would of thunk?
Well that’s all fine and dandy till you see some magical charge on your phone bill for either a monthly subscription service of $10 a month OR the pile of messages that the “Griffins” sent you all came in at a whopping $3.99 per text!
These are HIDDEN CHARGES that they fail to show you or make the fine print REALLY difficult to unveil. You have to watch for these gimmics as they are becoming increasingly popular on social media websites!
2. Phishing Sites/Landing Pages/Emails
This one will just never quit or DIE for that matter. I still to this day get phishing type emails for banking companies here in Canada all the time. I mean ALL THE TIME.
These attacks and attempts come in a variety of shape and sizes. Some of the older most common ones are they pose to be your email provider and your account has been compromised or some other weird excuse. You willingly click the link, you come to the login page you login nothing happens. Or sometimes boots you to the real login page. They look identical but sometimes something is off or if you check the page source you can see the phishing code.
That first login attempt, well they just took all your info. They do the same with banking websites saying you have to login immediately to check a message, etc. Same idea first login they got your stuff the second one you logged into the real deal so you think nothing actually happened and you just mistyped something. But notice how there was not a login error?
Sometimes an email or another social media site message and be like “You got to check out this video/pictures uploaded of you!”. Click the link fall onto a fake landing and login page and oops! They got your stuff. These are people are quick and crafty and sometimes have changed your password within seconds of you giving them the info so now you’re really in a pickle!
I advise some anti-phishing defenses as well as not trusting links in an email. Want to login somewhere? Use your bookmark that you have made safely before or google the name of the site or type it in manually.
1. URL Shortening -> Hidden URLs
This one is so tricky. So many social media platforms and other services such as Google, use a URL shortening service. Problem is clicking the link from an non-trusted source could be sending your browser on a furry of websites all planting malware and spyware onto your computer. Silently installing it in the background and then getting you to the intended site in which you clicked the link for!
URL shortening can be a blessing in disguise for many of us on the internet. But please make sure you are protected in some fashion with up-to-date and real-time protections from virus’, malware, spyware and other potential online risks to your computer!
Bottom Line on how to avoid these Top 5 Social Media Scams
The scam artists out there are smart and changing tactics everyday. First line of defense is being forever cautious and skeptical. You next best line of defense after you is some sort of software to protect you!
There’s been a debate for years now on what virus software to use. Now a days I use BitDefender or Norton. Depending on which device I am on. I run a pretty crazy fast laptop so I run Norton on that and on my phone. BitDefender I run on my older computers as it seems to not hog resources as much.
Either way both offer the same degree of real-time protection, anti-phinshing defense, virus definitions, malware and spyware protection.
Hope you enjoyed this post! If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask!
Petey
I like it! This is a really great article. Thanks for sharing!
Afsh
Can’t believe chain letters are still doing the rounds more astonishingly people still fall for this dodgy technique.
I’m 34 now and can remember seeing these when I was about 25.
I understand why they scam its quick money but they ruin the experience for everyone especially people who are legit at selling products online or even affiliate marketers.
Steven,
I hear ya there. I actually spend time sifting through my spam folder at times, just to see the kind of things that are still being sent around. It blows my mind. I feel sorry for those who fall for it.
I’ve had to show my 85 year old grandmother what to watch out for! She forgets that people try to deceive on the Internet and not everything is as pure and honest as one would like to think.
In every basket we can always find a bad apple. You are right, they ruin the experience for so many other people.
Pete
Hey Peter,
Great information, and very well written. There definitely needs to be more public awareness on these important issues. Scams are pretty much everywhere. Heck, I just used my credit card last night at a popular restaurant and get alerted later that night it’s being used fraudulently. I will definitely be passing this information along to friends and family in hopes that don’t fall prey to this type stuff..
All the best,
Paul
Hey Paul!
Thanks for the comment!
I too have experienced credit card theft or a compromise of my credit card at both a point of sale at a store and an ATM! Scammers are relentless!
Thanks for passing this along. Awareness starts by spreading the word.
All the best to you as well!
Pete
Holy!
I must be really thankful that I have not fallen into any of these scams, even though I am totally clueless about them before I read your post; but I am guilty of point no 3, as I am a fan of doing online quizzes to find out about things like horoscope readings and whatnot.
Really scary to think that every single time I click one of them, I am drilling my hole in my wallet :/ I will certainly be more careful with what I do online and when submitting my personal info for stuff that I am not sure of.
Thank you for sharing!
You are very welcome!
Not all the quizzes and what not will scam you. But if you have to enter your cell phone number I would highly advise against it!
Pete
Hi there, thanks for such a valuable information. I am quite scared about something that happens to my wife recently. She holds a separate account, and a few weeks ago she got a phone message from her bank to confirm she was the owner of the card. Somebody made a £30 purchase with her card and we have no idea how that happened. We suppose someone a hacker found the details somehow through her computer. It had no antivirus running, so I guess that might be. A strong reason. in this day and age, people must have an anti virus and anti malware installed. Do you think McAfee is also a good antivirus? Thanks a lot
Hi Stefan,
That sounds terrible! Also keep in mind the crooks have also made devices to steal a cards info from a bank machine or another point of sale device. I believe the term is “skimming” and they take the info and then make a copy of the card and use it once or several times.
As for antivirus software. McAfee and Symmantec have been battling for over a decade to be the best virus scanning software and security software. As of lately I am a user or Norton. I say this because I tried both. I examined the amount of computer resources used, ram, CPU, storage, etc. I tested on three of my computers. I found that even on the older computers Norton from Symmantec is performing better and I mean a lot better and does not slow down any of my computers. As for virus definitions and what not they both provide very good coverage and both have good communities keeping everyone informed of the newest, bad threat.
Hope this helps!
Pete
Hey Pete,
First off, I want to thank you for reminding us that chain letters being sent through emails is something that is still pretty popular among scam artists. As an adult, this is something that I am aware I need to watch out for; but it’s something someone like my little sister might presume as innocent and share it with me accidentally.
I need to learn to be careful though. I am always looking for new articles to read on social media, and some of these are shortened links. It scares me that by clicking on one of these links that I hope are going to provide me with value, I can end up losing money.
Thanks for the warning and looking out for us,
Diana
Hi Diana!
We have to look out for the new comers on the internet! It is very important. We have the experience and knowledge so we must pass it along!
The short links can be scary for sure if you do not know who is sending it to you or providing it.
You’re welcome!
Petey
There is a lot of info on here that I never thought of, even though I consider myself to be quite literate with computers. I have a questions though, there are some pictures on FB that people circulate about having terminal illnesses and sharing and donating will help them, pictures of children losing parts of their bodies or on an operating table. How do I find out whether those are legit? I like helping those in need but I also want to know the money is going to the right people.
Hey Reyhana,
Charities are often exploited by individuals looking for free cash, by making a heart felt person “donate” their money to what seems like a good cause. Sometimes simple research on google or a phone call or an email can help get to the bottom of authenticity. Also as we know there are many charitable organizations that a fairly well known. In any case due diligence is key. If you can not find if its authentic, maybe find a well known organization that is helping in that area, or the specific terminal illness, etc.
Hope this helps!
Petey
Yeah, what you say certainly make sense. Thanks for giving me alternatives to find what’s legit and what isn’t. I now know what to do in those situations.. 🙂 You’ve been a great help!
Thanks Reyhana! Come by anytime and hopefully I can continue to help you out! =)
Petey
I didn’t even know about the first four. I’ve only heard about scams and dangerous content hidden behind shortened URLs. Thank you for shedding some light to me on the subject and warning me on what I should watch out for.
More and more people get scammed and that’s sad, I really hope more people see your post.
Thanks Aless!
Help me spread the word! It would be greatly appreciated.
Petey
Hi, Petey. I enjoyed your post. I agree that there are so many new SCAMS online it’s often hard and growing increasingly harder, to know what is and what’s not! I blog about WAH jobs and often uncover scam sites to my readers. I have to say that the hackers are getting better and better at phishing! They can get into your email contacts too and send messages as if they are from acquaintances. Great post! 🙂
Hey!
If you have anything I should add, please let me know! I would gladly like to update my posts to keep people informed.
Petey
Hey Petey, thank you for alerting us on these unscrupulous scamming methods, especially those survey/content sites that catch many off guard.
You reminded of one time when “an attractive woman” out of nowhere wanted to be friends with me on a social site. Somehow, I can’t quite remember, I caught this joker in a couple lies and he ultimately fessed up that he was scamming from some country in Africa.
Thank you for reminded me to be careful out there in the space!
Wow Nathan!
That’s quite the experience! Thank you for sharing!
Petey
Petey,
Thank you so much for sharing these scams with us. I knew a number of them, but a few of them were new to me. The one about the url shortening is pretty scary. As the internet continues to grow it seems like there are more and more ways for scammers to try to make money from you. We need follks like you to continue to let us know their games.
Thanks momma bear!
If you could share the word, then we could continue to let people know whats out there and create more awareness for the folks who are new to the internet.
Petey
Everyone is recommending internet marketers to use social media more and more, and I haven’t heard anyone else talking about these scams. So I’m really happy for learning about them before it’t too late.
I got scared most by that URL shortening, I guess it’s also the most important scam considering that you wrote it as #1. I even think I clicked on some strange links, but luckily I had a good antivirus on my computer. However, I think those viruses can work easier on smartphones, where people don’t have so good antiviruses, which means that the protection is even lower. Do you have any idea about this?
Hi Ashley,
Do not worry, there’s antivirus protection available for smart phones. Personally I prefer Norton. They have it available for both android and IOS.
Norton is not the only product available, there are others. A lot of them cover a smart device with the subscription of a PC/MAC service.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask!
Petey
Thank You Petey,
Such a good article on 5 social media scams which are known to draw people in, everyone including me has been drawn in by at least one of these scams.
It is great people like you are warning us of these scams, why can’t they boot those scams offline they ruin the internet for many people?
Hey!
There always seems to be a bad apple that try to ruin it for the rest of us. But we will prevail!
Petey
A good sharing. While I am normally a cautious user on the internet, sometimes I do fall prey on unsuspicious site. Once I’ve got my credit card information phished while I am purchasing some digital products. I’m not sure how that happened. Let’s just say that I managed to stop the transactions quick enough before losing a huge amount.
Hey Kenny!
Good to hear that you stopped it in time! Most credit cards now carry a fraud protection policy and that protects us from having to pay outrageous bills from thiefs. Also, when making purchases online, make sure he site is safe and using encrypt ions with a verified SSL certificate. Know where you are sharing your personal information . Stolen credit cards is one thing, but identity theft is an entirely different ball game! Stay safe out there.
Petey
Haha maaaaan the chain letters. I can remember those as far back as my Myspace days. It used to suck because you thought you were getting a message worth reading, only for it to be a chain letter. i swear to this day someone of those “7 years bad luck” chain letters make me feel like it may have come true haha… fml
HAHA
Nah don’t believe the seven years bad luck! Another good quote I like, “It all begins and ends in your mind. What you give power to, has power over you, if you allow it.” Tell those chain letters to take a hike! lol
Petey
Wow, I was totally unaware of most of these scam schemes. It’s really helpful to find out about them. I did know about phishing emails. I once get an email from a very clever scammer. The email said,”Gmail internal error. email can not be displayed. click here to view full email.” Someone who’s not thinking would then click on the link without realizing what is going on.
Ben,
They are getting more clever everyday. We just have to know what is what. But it can be hard at times. A lot of times as well, if you look at the sender its a weird name, random characters and numbers for the email address. Most spam protection is good but some emails slip by the spam filters!
Petey
To be honest, I am very familiar with all the scams listed in this post. But the ones that get me burning red hot are the email scams and the phishing sites/landing pages.
For things like doing surveys, at lease there is a bit of fun before they try to pull a fast one on your phone bill. You could even argue it’s your fault for not reading the fine print.
But email scams and phishing sites are simply just SCAMS! No fun, no value, no product, no service. Absolutely nothing.
True that Medu!
It’s absolutely frustrating and down right dirty!
Always read the fine print! lol
Petey
Hi Peter
Fantastic article. For many of us we are simply unaware of the troubles we can get ourselves into online. What’s more frustrating is that these scammers are so good at what they do, they’re always attracting new victims.
I absolutely hate using my credit card online but as a business owner you really have no choice! I am a big fan of payment services like PayPal whereby you have that extra security.
Great reading Peter, thanks for the thorough and detailed article.
Kind Regards
Michelle
Thanks Michelle!
I totally agree with secure payment services. On the flipside of things; most credit card providers have 100% fraud protection. It’s still an inconvienence to have to get a new card sent to you in the mail. But at least you do not have to front the bill!
Petey
Hi Petey!
Great site and so relevant.
I found my self nodding all the way through your text, which is very well written, by the way.
I have encountered most of the scams you mention, luckily never fallen for any of them, but I know people who have.
These scammers should all be locked up, for good!
Again, great site.
Ossur
Thanks Ossur! Stop by any time!
Yu have covered a lot on this subject. Thanks for taking the time to put this article together. Facebook hackers and their scams are the worst! I see them going on all the time. Thankfully my scam radar is generally on top of its game so I fish through those often. But I can’t say the same about most of my friends, I gotta send them here to learn a few things.
Hey Todd!
Appreciate the kind remarks! For sure send some people along to have a look at whats out there.
Thank you!