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Social Media Scams

Stay informed and learn how to protect your personal and financial information from social media scams.

Social media is great way to share information, discover new products, and stay connected. However, it also provides criminals with opportunities to blend in, build trust and trick you into revealing personal, financial, or security information.

Scammers use tactics such as fake profiles, phishing links, and urgent requests to steal your identity or money. They may pose as a friend in distress, promote too-good-to-be-true offers, or even gather details from your social media posts to then go on and use this information as part of other scams impersonating your bank and other trusted organisations. This is known as social engineering – where fraudsters use publicly available information to make their scams more convincing.

Be cautious about the information you share online. Even small details – like your birthday, where you work, or your pet’s name – can help criminals build a profile of you. They may use this information to answer security questions, impersonate you, or trick you into providing sensitive details.

Types of Social Media Scams:

  • Fake comments on popular posts – Fraudsters leave deceptive links on trending posts that lead to phishing websites designed to steal your information.
  • ‘Help, I’m in Trouble’ messages from genuine friends – Messages from a friend claiming they need urgent financial help may mean their account has been hacked or impersonated. Always verify before responding.
  • Miracle Products & Free Trials – Be wary of too-good-to-be-true beauty or health products that require your card details upfront – they often result in hidden long-term subscriptions. Read the terms and conditions carefully.
  • Job/Work from Home Scams – Scammers offer fake jobs that require upfront payments for training or materials. Always research the company independently before providing any financial details.
  • Romance Scams – Fraudsters create fake online profiles and persona to form relationships, they will find some compelling reason to ask for money, gifts or your card details. They may use a fictional name or falsely take on the identities of real, trusted people such as military personnel, aid workers or professionals working abroad.

Key Advice

Be Informed:

  • Think before you post—fraudsters can use your personal details for scams.
  • Be skeptical of unexpected job offers, prize giveaways, and investment opportunities that require upfront payments.

Be Alert:

  • Avoid clicking on suspicious links in comments, messages, or ads.
  • If a friend contacts you asking for money, verify their request by calling them directly.
  • Look out for slightly altered usernames or email addresses pretending to be well-known companies or people.

Be Secure:

  • Adjust your privacy settings to limit who can see your personal information.
  • Use strong, unique passwords for your accounts and avoid using personal details like birthdays or pet names.
  • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security.