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Module 5: Social Media and Online Scams

Introduction to Social Media Safety

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others have become an important way for many people to stay connected with family and friends. While these platforms offer wonderful opportunities to share photos, exchange messages, and keep up with loved ones, they also present unique risks, especially for those who are less familiar with how scammers operate in these spaces.

In this module, we'll explore common scams that target social media users, learn how to identify suspicious activity, and discover strategies to enjoy social media safely without becoming a victim.

Did You Know?

According to recent studies, older adults are the fastest-growing demographic on social media platforms. While this increased connectivity brings many benefits, it's important to be aware of the specific risks that come with social media use.

Common Social Media Scams

1. Friend/Connection Request Scams

One of the most common social media scams begins with a simple friend or connection request.

How Friend Request Scams Work:

  1. You receive a friend request from someone who appears to be:
    • A person you may know (sometimes with a slightly misspelled name)
    • An attractive stranger
    • Someone claiming to share mutual friends with you
  2. After you accept the request, the person:
    • Begins to build a relationship through friendly messages
    • Eventually asks for money, personal information, or tries to get you to click on suspicious links
    • May claim to be in an emergency situation requiring immediate financial help

Warning Signs of Fake Friend Requests:

  • The profile was created very recently
  • There are few posts or photos on the profile
  • The profile has very few friends or connections
  • The profile pictures look overly professional or like stock photos
  • You already have a friend connection with the same person (indicating the new request is from an impersonator)

2. Romance Scams

Romance scams are particularly common on social media and dating platforms, and they can be emotionally devastating as well as financially damaging.

How Romance Scams Work:

  1. A scammer creates a fake profile, often using stolen photos of an attractive person
  2. They reach out and express romantic interest, sometimes claiming to have found you "by chance"
  3. They build an emotional connection through frequent messages and expressions of deep feelings
  4. They often claim to be:
    • Working overseas (military, oil rig, international business, etc.)
    • Widowed or divorced with children
    • Wealthy but temporarily unable to access their money
  5. After establishing trust, they ask for money for:
    • A medical emergency
    • Travel costs to visit you
    • Temporary financial hardship
    • Customs fees for releasing valuable items

Protecting Yourself from Romance Scams:

  • Be suspicious if someone expresses intense feelings very quickly
  • Do a reverse image search on their profile pictures (ask a family member for help if needed)
  • Be wary if they always have excuses for why they can't video chat
  • Never send money to someone you haven't met in person
  • Discuss the relationship with trusted friends or family members who can offer perspective

3. Quizzes and Games That Collect Personal Information

Many social media platforms feature fun quizzes, games, and personality tests that seem harmless but can actually be designed to collect personal information.

How Quiz Scams Work:

  1. You see an engaging quiz like "What's your personality type?" or "Which celebrity do you look like?"
  2. To participate, you need to:
    • Grant the quiz app access to your profile information
    • Answer questions that may reveal personal details
  3. The quiz might ask questions like:
    • "What was your first car?" (a common security question)
    • "What street did you grow up on?" (another security question)
    • "What's your birth month and day?" (part of your identity)
  4. This information can be used to:
    • Guess your passwords
    • Answer security questions to access your accounts
    • Build a profile about you for targeted scams

Remember:

If a quiz or game asks for access to your profile or personal information, it's best to decline. Legitimate games and quizzes don't need extensive access to your personal data.

4. Fake Giveaways and Contests

Social media platforms are full of giveaways and contests promising free products, gift cards, or cash prizes. While some are legitimate, many are scams.

How Giveaway Scams Work:

  1. You see a post about an amazing giveaway (free vacation, expensive electronics, gift cards)
  2. To enter, you're asked to:
    • Share the post to your own page
    • Tag friends in the comments
    • Click a link to "register" for the prize
  3. The registration page may ask for:
    • Personal information like your address and phone number
    • Credit card details for "verification purposes" or to cover "shipping fees"
  4. The scammers collect your information and may:
    • Charge your credit card
    • Sell your personal information to other scammers
    • Use the information for identity theft

Signs of a Fake Giveaway:

  • The prize seems too good to be true
  • The company page hosting the giveaway was created recently
  • There are spelling or grammar errors in the post
  • You're asked to pay a fee to claim your "free" prize
  • You're required to provide credit card information
  • The post has been shared thousands of times but the company's official page doesn't mention the giveaway

5. Marketplace and Classified Ad Scams

Many social media platforms now include marketplace features where users can buy and sell items. These can be convenient, but they also attract scammers.

Common Marketplace Scams:

  • Fake listings: Scammers post non-existent items at attractive prices, collect payment, and never deliver the items
  • Overpayment scams: A buyer offers to pay more than your asking price and requests you return the difference, but their original payment is fraudulent
  • Phishing through messaging: After expressing interest in an item, the scammer sends a link claiming to be for payment or additional photos, but the link steals your information

Staying Safe on Marketplace Platforms:

  • Always meet local buyers/sellers in public places (like police station parking lots)
  • Never ship items before receiving payment
  • Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true
  • Don't click on links sent through marketplace messaging systems
  • Use the platform's built-in payment system rather than external payment methods
  • Research the average price of items to recognize unrealistic deals

Privacy Settings and Their Importance

One of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself on social media is to review and adjust your privacy settings. Many people are unaware that the default settings on social media platforms often make much of your information public.

Key Privacy Settings to Check:

  • Who can see your posts: Limit to friends or family rather than "public"
  • Who can send you friend requests: Consider limiting to "friends of friends"
  • Who can see your friends list: Consider making this visible only to your friends
  • Who can look you up using your email or phone number: Limit to friends or disable
  • Whether search engines can link to your profile: Consider disabling this feature

How to Access Privacy Settings on Popular Platforms:

Facebook:

  1. Click on the down arrow in the top right corner
  2. Select "Settings & Privacy"
  3. Click on "Settings"
  4. Look for "Privacy" in the left sidebar

Instagram:

  1. Go to your profile by tapping your profile picture
  2. Tap the three lines (menu) in the top right
  3. Tap "Settings"
  4. Tap "Privacy"

Ask for Help:

If you're not sure how to adjust your privacy settings, don't hesitate to ask a trusted family member or friend for help. Many libraries and senior centers also offer classes or one-on-one assistance with social media privacy.

Recognizing Suspicious Messages and Links

Social media platforms include messaging features that scammers often use to send malicious links or phishing attempts.

Warning Signs of Suspicious Messages:

  • Messages from friends that seem out of character or have unusual requests
  • Messages with poor grammar or spelling errors
  • Messages creating a sense of urgency ("Act now!" or "Limited time offer!")
  • Messages with shortened links (like bit.ly or tinyurl links)
  • Messages asking you to claim a prize or reward you don't remember entering to win
  • Messages asking for personal information or financial details

Important Safety Tip:

If you receive a suspicious message from a friend, contact them through another method (phone call, text message) to verify if they really sent it. Their account may have been hacked.

What to Do If You Encounter a Social Media Scam

If you come across a scam on social media or suspect you're being targeted, here are the steps you should take:

  1. Don't engage further with the suspected scammer
  2. Report the account or post to the social media platform
    • Look for the "Report" or "Report User" option, usually found in a menu (often three dots) near the post or profile
  3. Block the account to prevent further contact
  4. Alert friends and family if the scam involves impersonation or if you think others might be targeted
  5. Change your password if you suspect your account has been compromised
  6. Review your privacy settings to ensure they're set to appropriate levels
  7. Report financial losses to:
    • Your local police department
    • The Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
    • The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov

Enjoying Social Media Safely

Despite the risks, social media can be a wonderful way to stay connected with family and friends when used safely. Here are some general tips for enjoying social media while minimizing risks:

Social Media Safety Tips:

  • Be selective about friend requests: Only accept requests from people you know in real life
  • Think before you share: Avoid posting personal information like your full birth date, home address, or travel plans
  • Use strong, unique passwords for each social media account
  • Enable two-factor authentication when available
  • Be cautious about clicking links, even if they appear to come from friends
  • Regularly review your privacy settings as platforms often update their policies
  • Log out of your accounts when using shared or public computers
  • Periodically review your friends list and remove connections you don't recognize
  • Be skeptical of "too good to be true" offers or unexpected winnings
Take Quiz 5 - Social Media Scams
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