7 Simple Ways to Avoid Being Scammed on Social Media

Online scams on social media are becoming a serious problem. From fraudulent messages to fake prize draws, scammers are constantly looking for ways to exploit users' gullibility.

A recent report by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has revealed an alarming fact: more than 690,000 Americans were victims of online scams on social media in 2023 alone, resulting in total losses of $10.02 billion.

This figure shows a significant increase in online scams and causes serious economic damage to users. Particularly worrying is that more than a quarter of victims lost money after interacting with advertisements, messages, or posts on social media platforms.

Although Facebook and Instagram are no longer the hottest apps among young people, their influence remains undeniable. With over 3 billion monthly active users, Facebook still holds the position of the world's largest social network.

Meanwhile, Instagram also attracts a massive user base of up to 2 billion people. The widespread popularity of these two platforms, combined with the diversity of users' ages and interests, has created a lucrative target for scammers.

Be wary of sophisticated scams perpetrated by hackers.

Veteran cybersecurity expert Liz Wegerer from the reputable website VPNOverview.com has shared the most sophisticated and common scams currently rampant on Facebook and Instagram. Wegerer provided extremely dangerous warning signs that you need to be aware of to avoid having your personal information and assets exploited by fraudsters.

1. Online scams:Hackers often send malicious links via text messages, emails, or social media posts to infect your device with viruses or steal personal information. Never click on any links from strangers, even if they claim to be friends or acquaintances. Always double-check the URL of a link before clicking. If the web address looks strange, is misspelled, or doesn't seem to belong to the sender, stop immediately and delete the message.

2. Emotional scams:Romance scammers often create attractive profiles to lure you into getting to know them. They may flirt and express affection quickly, making you believe they genuinely care about you. However, their real purpose is to steal your money or personal information. Never share personal information such as your phone number, address, or bank account details with new acquaintances online. And especially, never send them money in any form, no matter how plausible their reasons may seem.

3. Job placement scams:Many scammers exploit social media to post job advertisements promising "easy jobs with high salaries" in order to collect your personal information. Never interact directly with job postings on Facebook, Zalo, or other social media platforms. Instead, search for information about the company on its official website and apply directly there. This way, you can protect yourself from scammers who want to use your personal information for malicious purposes.

4. Scams through games and tests:Personality tests, quizzes, and online games are often used to collect your personal information. This information can be used to create strong passwords, but it can also be exploited by malicious actors to steal your identity or carry out other fraudulent activities. To protect yourself, limit your participation in tests from unknown sources and be cautious. Lying when answering questions related to important personal information.

5. Scams through charity appeals:Scammers often exploit tragic events like wars, epidemics, and natural disasters to solicit donations. They may create fake websites or social media accounts to collect charitable funds. Before donating, carefully check the charity's information, find out how long they have been operating, and whether they have the necessary licenses. Don't rush to transfer money; take the time to verify the information.

6. Fake investment scams:Scammers often entice you to invest in "super-profitable" projects that don't actually exist. They may promise you quick riches, but ultimately you'll lose all your invested money. Before investing, thoroughly check the project information and find out if the company has a legal operating license. Never send money to strangers online without clear proof of their safety.

7. Brand partnership scams:Influencers often receive numerous collaboration offers from brands. However, not all offers are trustworthy. Many scammers take advantage of this opportunity to steal information or defraud you. Before agreeing to a collaboration, carefully check the brand's information, request official contact information, and do not rush to transfer money or provide personal information.

8. Scams involving buying likes and followers:Many scammers exploit your desire to increase social media engagement. They promise to sell you thousands of likes and followers for a cheap price, but in reality, they are stealing your personal and financial information. To protect your account and personal information, build your community honestly and never share your bank card information or sensitive personal information with anyone.

7 Simple Ways to Avoid Being Scammed on Social Media

Every social media post is a digital footprint you leave on the internet. Malicious actors can collect these footprints to build a detailed profile of you, and then use it to carry out scams. To protect yourself, limit sharing personal information in public posts, use social media's security features, and update your passwords regularly.

Social media is an indispensable part of modern life, but it also poses many risks if not used safely. Let's explore seven ways to enhance the security of your account and protect your personal information from malicious actors.

1. Re-evaluate your privacy settings.

In the digital age, social media has become an indispensable part of our lives. However, along with the conveniences it offers, social media also poses many privacy risks. Therefore, reassessing privacy settings on these platforms is extremely important.

For example, on Facebook, you can adjust who can see your friend list, who can search for you, who can send you friend requests, etc. Meanwhile, on Instagram, you can switch your account to private mode so that only people you approve can see your posts.

2. Use a password manager and enable multi-factor authentication.

A password manager acts like a virtual safe, helping you store all your passwords securely and easily accessible. Meanwhile, multi-factor authentication (MFA))MFA is an additional layer of security that requires you to provide another authentication factor besides your password, such as an OTP code sent to your phone or an authentication app. With MFA, even if a malicious actor obtains your password, they will not be able to log into your account.

3. CheckFind and manage third-party applications:Your social media account may be connected to several third-party applications.awhich you might not even remember. These apps can access your personal data, from your friend list to your browsing history.

To protect your personal information, regularly check your list of connected applications. Here you will see a complete list of applications that have been granted access. If you see any unfamiliar or unused applications, disconnect them immediately to ensure the security of your account.

4. Always prioritize purchasing from verified accounts.

When shopping online, especially on social media platforms, verifying the seller's identity is extremely important. By only buying from accounts that have been verified by the platform, you will minimize the risk of buying counterfeit goods, low-quality products, or being scammed. The blue checkmark next to the account name is a reliable indicator, showing that the account has been verified and complies with the platform's regulations.

5. Search for your name on social media platforms. regularly

It's not uncommon for someone to impersonate you on social media. To prevent potential problems, regularly search for your name on social media platforms like Facebook, Zalo, and Instagram. With just a few simple steps, you can detect and report fake accounts. Do this regularly, especially if you have a prominent presence on social media.

6. Reject friend requests from strangers.

Not everyone has good intentions when sending friend requests. Be cautious and decline friend requests from people you don't know. Accepting too many friend requests from strangers can expose you to risks such as harassment or even scams. Keep your friend list under control to ensure the safety of your account.

7. Ignore suspicious links and unwanted messages.

Even if the message comes from someone you know, you shouldn't rush to click on links or download attachments without checking carefully. Many scammers have exploited this vulnerability to release viruses, malware, or trick you into providing personal information.

Always ask yourself questions like, "Why is this person sending me this?", "Is there anything unusual about this?" before taking any action. Be especially wary of messages that sound intriguing or urgent, such as, "Do you know this?", "I need your help urgently!".

In short, sharing your life on social media is fun, but remember that everything you post can be made public. You can't control who sees your posts and pictures. This means your personal information could be exploited by malicious individuals to carry out unwanted activities. Therefore, think carefully before sharing any information on social media.