How to spot a social media scam: The five warning signs you are their next target

With nine out of ten of us using social media, we are just a swipe away from a run-in with criminals.

But tricksters are using increasingly clever techniques to hide their motives and appear genuine, making use of brand logos, fake T&Cs and copycat website links to lure you in.

They typically use links for you to enter your details. But clicking on these can send your personal information to third parties and, occasionally, share the post with your friends and family, according to consumer group Which?. 

Friends and family might then fall for the scam because they are likely to see the message and regard it as an endorsement.

Here are five ways to spot the scams and beat the scammers…

Scheming: Scam artists prey on their victims’ financial vulnerabilities and try to manipulate their needs

1. Too good to be true

Scam artists prey on financial vulnerabilities and try to manipulate your desire to solve problems you may have. 

They will typically make an enticing offer that is too good to be true, for example, by selling goods at a huge discount, or an investment that pays a ‘guaranteed’ high return.

The first thing you should do is a quick search for the promotion online, says Which?. If the company or brand is promoting a deal on social media, they are likely to be also promoting it on their legitimate website’s homepage.

This applies to all types of scams, says Nicola Harding of scams awareness taskforce We Fight Fraud. 

Dr Harding, who is also a criminology professor at Lancaster University, says: ‘Whether you are buying clothes or a console on social media, these things don’t come easy, so if the offer looks too good, it probably is.’

2. You are sent a link

Be on the lookout for fake links, and inspect any you aren’t sure about before clicking on them.

Bogus links can contain malware which allows the scammer to gain access to a Facebook user’s log-in details and personal information.

Users who click on the scam can, in some circumstances, be locked out of their account, with the hacker taking it over, and then is able to send the same message to people on their friends list.

In many cases you might not ever realise the link was fraudulent, Dr Harding says. ‘You might receive an email from Facebook warning you that there has been a new log in from an unrecognised address, never click on any links.

‘Go straight to the application and check your security from there,’ she explains.

‘If you click on a link from an email and it turns out to be fraudulent, you are likely to be directed to a page that looks like Facebook’s log-in website, asking you to enter your email and password. It will then redirect you to Facebook’s genuine homepage.

Red light: Facebook Marketplace scammers will typically make an offer that is too good to be true – offering goods at a huge discount

‘It’s very easy for them to set up a website that looks like Facebook’s log-in page, but in that moment, they have captured your details, including your password.’

Scammers can then steal any personal data linked to the Facebook account, including email addresses, phone numbers and birth dates — which can be used to break into any of your non-Facebook accounts.

With this information, criminals can take credit out in your name or change your address with the DVLA, apply for a driving licence and use that to commit identity fraud, Dr Harding says.

More importantly, if the account has bank details or financial information linked to it, hackers can also steal a user’s money, too.

Do not click on any links in messages that seem suspicious. Fraudulent websites often use a domain name that references a well-known brand or product name to look legitimate.

Look for a padlock next to a website’s URL. This means the site is encrypted, so anything you do on it, such as browse or make payments, can’t be intercepted.Most websites now have this feature, so if a site doesn’t have one it could be a red flag.

However, scammers can forge or buy these padlocks, so seeing one doesn’t always mean a website is safe, Which? warns.

3. The brand looks fake

Scammers use sophisticated tricks to pose as genuine companies. Check the post for branding inconsistencies and look closely to see if they are using the right logo, or if the presentation is up to the usual corporate standard.

If it’s a brand you’ve never heard of, go to its profile page and have a proper look at how it’s presenting itself, Which? advises. Does it look professional or sloppy? Read reviews for extra peace of mind.

Rogue websites: Be on the lookout for fake links, and inspect any you aren’t sure about before clicking on them

4. Post keeps popping up

If you are seeing a recurring post shared by several friends on your timeline, this may be a red flag.

Your friends may not realise they have shared a scam link or advert. Send a private message to your friend or family member asking them if they posted the status.

Trust your instincts and remain suspicious. It’s better to miss out on one deal than give away your personal details for scammers.

‘If you are buying something on an online marketplace, think about whether you know this person in real life. If you do, then call to verify it’s them. If you don’t, you can suggest dropping the money off at their house.’

5. Bank transfer request

If you are asked to pay for something online by making a bank transfer, don’t do it unless you know the seller personally.

If you buy an item that turns out to be fake or non-existent with a credit or debit card, you do have some rights to get your money back. But if you pay by bank transfer, there’s very little you can do to get your cash back.

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This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk