6 Warning Signs of a Facebook Scam

6 Signs You’ve Been Sucked into A Facebook Scam

Social media platforms like Facebook have become an integral part of our lives. We connect with friends and family, get endless entertainment, and discover news stories and new ideas – all at our fingertips. But this convenience introduced a hidden danger: Facebook scams.

These scams can be incredibly sophisticated, preying on our emotions, trust, and desire for a good deal. Sunwest Bank understands the importance of online security, and we’re committed to helping you navigate the ever-evolving landscape of social media threats, specifically on Facebook and Facebook Marketplace.

This article will equip you with the knowledge and resources to identify and avoid Facebook scams while highlighting Sunwest Bank’s dedication to keeping your online accounts and finances safe.

How Do Facebook Scammers Operate?

Understanding the tactics used by social media scammers is the first step toward protecting yourself. Here are some common methods seen when Facebook users encounter scams:

• Phishing: A Facebook phishing scam is arguably the most common users will face. Scammers create fake Facebook login pages that mimic legitimate websites, such as an e-commerce platform or your bank. Once you enter your personal and banking credentials to purchase and interact with the brand, they steal your information.
• Fake Accounts: Scammers often create a fake Facebook page that impersonates a real person, like friends, celebrities, or customer service representatives. Using this online-style of impersonation fraud, they then use a hacked or cloned account to manipulate you into sharing personal information or clicking on suspicious links.
• Likejacking: Scammers trick you into “liking” a seemingly harmless post. This action may unknowingly share your personal information publicly or give the scammer access to your account and friend list for further targeting.
• Social Engineering: As seen in almost every known scam, whether on social media or not, scammers exploit human emotions and vulnerabilities to get people to take their desired actions. They may create a sense of urgency, fear, or excitement to pressure you into making quick decisions, like sending money or clicking on a suspicious link.

Being aware of these common scams on Facebook will help you proactively identify suspicious activity as you navigate the most popular social media platform in the world. But knowing about them is only one part of the equation: actually, seeing them in the wild poses a whole new challenge. Scammers are very talented at creating scams that look real and would never lead anyone to be worried about the actions they are taking, so it is possible that you could be hacked or scammed without even knowing it.

However, if you are concerned that you could have been a victim of a scam, there are some signs to look out for that could help you determine if you have been scammed or hacked.

1. The Facebook App You Just Clicked On Promises Too Much

Too Good to Be True? It Probably Is.

BitDefender reports that apps that offer seemingly impossible features—like spying on other users or accessing restricted Facebook functionalities—are almost always scams. While these apps might be freely available, they often prompt users to complete quizzes or surveys, collecting data used for aggressive advertising. Facebook quiz scams are surprisingly popular, and BitDefender found that over 30% of suspicious apps, like some of these quizzes, claim to offer additional services like traffic profiling, enabling them to monitor who views your profile or who deleted you as a connection. Even legitimate-looking services may exploit the access granted to view your Facebook account and collect your information.

This “too good to be true” mindset should also be considered heavily whenever using Facebook Marketplace. The popular shopping platform is riddled with people trying to steal information and money. You can encounter a Facebook Marketplace scam whether you are buying or selling. On the buying side of things, the deal often seems too good to pass up, and the seller’s profile may look real, but once you give them an address for drop-off or pay for the item, the seller will stop responding. Do your due diligence and look into the seller’s profile and marketplace reviews, and trust your gut when a deal seems too perfect.

When selling, it is common to receive a message from what appears to be an actual buyer; however, how they are conversing with you can help you identify if they are a scammer. Sometimes, you can receive a suspicious message that is fake. Still, scammers will usually be very pushy when acting like they are buying your item by immediately asking for pick-up or payment details without discussing things with you first. These scammers make it seem like an excellent opportunity to sell your item quickly, but again, if it’s happening too easily without any price bartering or the “buyer” is asking for payment or pick-up information without any other details, it is best to be more cautious.

At Sunwest Bank, we understand how difficult the scams can be to identify, but remember, if an app promises too much, it’s best to ignore suspicious messages and report sketchy behavior to Facebook.

2. You Were Tempted To Click On A Photo Or Video You Just Couldn’t Resist

The Lure of Clickbait

Shocking images, news articles, and videos are classic bait scammers use to entice users into clicking malicious links. Once clicked, these links redirect you to harmful websites that install spyware or adware on your browser or device. BitDefender’s Cosoi estimates that 14% of Facebook scams aim to gain access to victims’ photos, likes, check-ins, and other personal information, which can be used for social engineering attacks.

Before clicking on any image, video, or link, take a few extra seconds to look at the details of what you are seeing to ensure it is being displayed by a trustworthy Facebook account and not fake company pages. If you still can’t tell after an initial check, it is best to err on the side of caution and avoid clicking altogether. Still, you can also dig deeper by manually searching the account and any other information you see on Facebook and other social media platforms.

3. You Clicked On A Post With One Of These 10 Facebook Scam Trigger Words

The Power of Words

Scammers are adept at using specific trigger words to pique human curiosity and lure users into their traps. According to BitDefender, words like “Viewed,” “OMG,” “Crying,” “Girl,” “Profile,” “Stalker,” “Video,” “Killed,” and “Busted” are commonly associated with Facebook scams because they are great terms for getting users curious about what could be so shocking.

Attention to detail will help you recognize the posts containing these trigger words so you can use more of your scam detection knowledge to navigate social media safely.

4. You Clicked On A Post With One Of These 5 Common Facebook Scam Phrases

Beware of Familiar Phrases

Much like popular buzzwords, Facebook scammers frequently use catchphrases to entice clicks on malicious links. Common phrases include “Is this you?”, “What are you doing in this video?” “Find out who is doing X to you,” and “I just found out X about me. Check yours.” These phrases are also designed to exploit your curiosity and drive you to click on harmful content. While the catchphrases used have changed throughout the years, there is a trend of the latest Facebook scams reusing old phrases, so it is best to avoid any Facebook account or post that uses manipulative language similar to the phrases mentioned.

5. Your Profile Says You ‘Like’ Something That You Don’t

The Threat of Likejacking

Some attackers have developed methods to make you “like” or follow content without your knowledge. This technique, known as Likejacking, is one of the common Facebook scams that spreads threats quickly by auto-generating posts on your wall and broadcasting malicious links to your friends. Although Facebook has made strides in reducing this threat, it persists in various forms, including charity scams with fake donation requests or lottery scams that are local to your area.

We advise our customers to regularly review their Facebook activity and report any suspicious “likes” or posts. Checking your own information and “likes” list will help you minimize threats for both you and your family and friends.

6. Your Data Was Just Stolen

The Seriousness of Data and Identity Theft

Attacks involving data-stealing malware and Trojans through social media are less common but highly dangerous. According to BitDefender, such attacks account for about 4% of Facebook threats. Notable examples include the Ramnit worm, which compromised 45,000 accounts by stealing passwords. These attacks can have severe consequences, including identity theft and financial loss.

Sunwest Bank takes data security seriously. We provide comprehensive protection services to safeguard your personal and financial information. If you suspect your data has been stolen, contact our support team immediately.

How to Protect Yourself on Social Media: Sunwest Bank’s Quick Tips

Stay Informed

Regularly update yourself on the latest scam tactics and cybersecurity threats. Sunwest Bank offers cybersecurity resources to keep you educated and aware.

Use Strong Passwords

Create complex passwords for your online accounts and update them regularly. Avoid using the same password across multiple sites.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Adding an extra layer of security through a verifiable text or email can significantly reduce the risk of identity theft and unauthorized access to your accounts.

Monitor Your Accounts

Regularly review your social media and bank accounts for any suspicious activity to identify the culprit of scams. Odds are, if it’s happening to you, it is happening to others. Your vigilance helps protect your friends and the broader community.

Be Skeptical

Always question the legitimacy of offers that seem too good to be true. Verify the source before clicking links, downloading apps, or following through with transactions.

Report Scams

As we know, the latest Facebook scams are hard to identify, but when you do with your new knowledge, report it to the Facebook support team right away. Report messages, a friend request, and pop-ups that seem malicious to Facebook, and let Sunwest Bank know immediately if there are any unknown transactions or changes to your bank account.

Reporting Scams on Facebook

If you suspect you’ve encountered a scam on Facebook, you can report it using the platform’s built-in reporting tools. This helps Facebook identify and remove fraudulent content, protecting other users.

Here’s how to report a scam on Facebook:

1. Click on the three dots in the top right corner of the post or profile.
2. Select “Find Support or Report Post.”
3. Choose “Report Post” and follow the on-screen instructions.