How to stay safe from social media scams?

In today’s digital age, social media isn’t just for catching up with friends and sharing life updates—it’s also become a fertile ground for scammers looking to hook unsuspecting users. Phishing on social media can be particularly sneaky because it often comes disguised in familiar forms, such as friend requests, shared links, or even direct messages. For example, click here to learn about this new social media scam. Let’s dive into how you can spot these scams and keep your online presence secure.

Recognizing Social Media Phishing Scams

Phishing attempts on social media platforms can often be harder to spot than those in emails because they exploit the trust we place in our social networks. Here are some common indicators that a message or request on social media might be a phishing attempt:

• Unusual Messages from Friends: If you receive a message that doesn’t sound like it’s truly from your friend, or it includes a suspicious link, it’s a red flag. Scammers can hack accounts and send messages to that person’s contacts – Like here.
• Too Good to Be True Offers: Just like in the wider web, any social media post offering incredible deals or winnings in exchange for clicking a link or providing personal information is likely a scam – Like here.
• Requests for Urgent Action: Messages that urge you to verify your account or confirm your password, especially through a link provided in the message, are classic phishing tactics – Like here.
• Suspicious Profiles: If you receive a friend request from someone you thought you were already connected to, or from an account with no mutual friends and minimal activity, think twice before accepting.

How to stay safe from social media scams?

A friend of mine once received a message from someone who appeared to be an old classmate. It included a link saying, “Is this you in this video?” Curious and alarmed, she clicked and was asked to log in to view the content. Fortunately, she realized this was odd and checked with her classmate through another channel, discovering that her friend’s account had been compromised – For tips on how to avoid this scam, click here.

How to Protect Yourself on Social Media

• Think Before You Click: Always pause and think before clicking on links, even if they appear to come from friends.
• Verify Independently: If a message seems strange, reach out to the sender through a different medium to confirm its authenticity.
• Adjust Privacy Settings: Make sure your privacy settings limit who can see your posts and send you messages.
• Educate Yourself About Phishing Tactics: Awareness is your best defense. The more you know about common phishing tactics, the better you can avoid them.

Staying safe on social media and in real life

Being aware of the signs of phishing on social media can save you from potential harm. Always stay cautious, question anomalies, and maintain strict privacy controls to keep your digital interactions safe. For more tips and real-time alerts on the latest phishing scams, sign up for Warded’s scam protection plan today by clicking here.