When buying or selling products on Instagram or Facebook Marketplace, keep in mind that not everyone that reaches out to you has the best intentions. “This way, scammers won’t be able to use information they find to steal your identity.” Marketplace scams “Asked to enter your mother’s maiden name? Say it’s something else: Parmesan or another word you’ll remember,” advises Terri Miller, consumer education specialist at the FTC. The commission also advises consumers to use random answers for security questions. To protect your personal information, the FTC simply recommends steering clear of online quizzes. They may also ask you to take a personality test.ĭespite these benign-seeming questions, scammers can then use the personal information you share to respond to security questions from your accounts or hack your social media to send malware links to your contacts.
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When you’re using Facebook or scrolling Google results, be aware of quiz scams, which typically appear innocuous and ask about topics you might be interested in, such as your car or favorite TV show. To avoid falling for these frauds, the FTC recommends independently researching the company - especially by searching the company’s name along with terms like “review” or “scam.” Quiz scams Many of these also involve cryptocurrency. Investment scammers typically add different forms of “testimony,” such as from other social media accounts, to support that the “investment” works. In addition to romance scams like the one Kleinart fell victim to, here’s what to know about other common social media scams: Investment scamsĪccording to Lois Greisman, an associate director of marketing practices at the FTC, an investment scam constitutes any get-rich-quick scheme that lures targets via social media accounts or online ads. “But you’d be surprised by the number of people who fall for people calling from ‘fill in the blank agency’ or ‘fill in the blank company’ and who send $500 worth of gift cards.” What about social media scams? “Let me tell you, the IRS does not accept gift cards,” Lee said. That is exclusively a payment method of fraudsters.” “No legitimate company or individual is going to ask you to buy large quantities of gift cards and then read the numbers off the cards. “Just don’t pay people with gift cards,” Maxson said. Kleinart, who experienced the romance scam, was also initially asked to send money via gift cards, with varied explanations. These scams can take place over longer periods of time - even years. So-called “romance scams” often target lonely and isolated individuals, according to Will Maxson, assistant director of the Division of Marketing Practices at the FTC. They might pretend to be a loved one calling to request immediate financial assistance for bail, legal help, or a hospital bill. Scammers will also often imitate someone in authority, such as a tax or debt collector.
Lee urges consumers to hang up and call the company or institution in question at an official number. “Same goes for texts - anytime you get them from a number you don’t know asking you to pay, wire, or click on something suspicious.” “If you get a robocall out of the blue paying a recorded message trying to get you to buy something, just hang up,” aid James Lee, chief operating officer at the Identity Theft Resource Center. Robocalls in particular frequently target vulnerable individuals like seniors, people with disabilities, and people with debt.
Simply being aware of typical scams can help, experts say. Here’s what else to know to keep your money and information safe: What are some common scams? “When someone is trying to get us to take action quickly, that’s usually a red flag indicating we should do the opposite.” “When approached with urgency, give it an extra three-second pause,” said Amanda Clayman, a financial therapist who works with digital payment network Zelle around issues of fraud.
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