How to spot a social media scam with Jenny Radcliffe
Whether you’ve been getting dodgy messages on Instagram, or you’ve been conned out of money on Facebook, Jenny Radcliffe will be here to tell you how to spot a social media scam. Plus, she’ll be hearing some of your stories and questions.
What are the warning signs of a social media scam?
Being contacted out of the blue.
If you've received a message that is out of context or it is unexpectedly flattering.
Receiving a message promising a reward, or if you've been entered into a prize draw.
What is phishing and how are people caught out by it?
Phishing is the most common form of cyber crime. It is where scammers pretend to be legitimate people or companies and send you a message with a question or promise (like to be a brand ambassador) and all they need from you are a few details - with the aim of having you reveal personal information.
Scammers can also try to get into your account to sell illegitimate things?
Scammers can usually find certain passwords people use on particular websites on the dark web, so, if you have similar or the same passwords for multiple accounts, they will be able to access multiple profiles of yours. And, if they can't find your password, a hacker will attempt to log into your account multiple times so that the account gets locked, and if you don't have 2-factor authentication on, it will be hard for you to get back into that account. The scammers will then either ask you for money to regain your account access or login themselves to try and scam your followers by posting things such as fake cryptocurrency ads on your behalf.
Scammers also play on people's curiosity?
Often scams online will play on your curiosity with a post saying something like 'click to see what this major celebrity looks like now.' or 'this celebrity is actually still alive...' - these posts can be dangerous. "Often those links take you to a bad website with lots of pop-ups. One of the big tells that a website is not legitimate is if it's constantly asking you to click on different links, these can open a doorway so scammers can access your machine. If a post requires extensive sharing or personal information, it's best to be wary."
People being asked to post their pets online is also a problem?
These are scams that we in the security community absolutely hate. I saw a post recently that said 'my cat died. Send me pictures of your pets that have crossed the rainbow bridge.' people were then replying with pictures of their pets, which included some of their children, and of course the names of their pets. The most commonly used words in a password are pet names, so it puts you in a vulnerable position. Also, it means a person can call up and say 'oh I'm calling about tiddles' ailment, you need to make a payment for medication...' and eventually a scammer will find someone who will have an ill pet and will pay the money."
What about online quizzes?
If you have spent time on social media over the last few years, you probably know your villain name or which tv character you are most similar to. These quizzes can be an excellent distraction, but depending on the quiz type, you could reveal your birthday, favourite colour, pet's name or where you live and so on. These answers are often found in account recovery or password retrieval. "Scammers generally use whatever is trending at the time to hook you in. So, there might be one about 'which royal are you most like'. Anything that gets you to fill in details for an outcome is something you should think twice about."
How do you know if a verified or legitimate looking account is actually messaging you?
How often is it that an official company asks you to send personal information? A good trick to know if a message is legit is to copy and paste the message into a search engine and then write 'scam' after it. If there is any information on scams going round, it will then come up. You could even just write *brand name* ‘scam' and have a look. It's important to do a bit of research before you act on something - especially if it is asking you to act fast.
So is there any way to protect yourself from scams?
Take your time: the last thing a scammer wants is for you to take time to think and slow down to check the legitimacy of what they are asking. If in doubt, do your research or contact the actual brand or social media site directly.
Keep private: if you're not using your account for business, limit your followers and friends to those you trust.
What are the social media platforms doing to protect users from scams?
All of the big social media platforms have dedicated pages online with information on how to avoid being scammed and where to report it if you believe it has happened to you.
It's not just older people who are vulnerable to scams online, is it?
Many people think scams mostly affect older adults. But reports suggest that scams are harming younger people more than older adults. The research also found that men, younger adults aged 18-34, and people with children in the household are more likely than the average person to say they have encountered a scam online. "If you're online in any way shape or form, you're a potential target. We always tell our children about stranger danger, but don't think of it ourselves when we are online. We are online in the mornings and evenings where we are tired and our guard is down, so we can be susceptible to social media scams. It's not just money people lose out on, people lose faith in humanity and it is really bad for their mental health, so it is important to always do your research and be alert."