A recent study has revealed the top five apps where users are being scammed on a daily basis across the globe, and Facebook came in at number one.
A record of €3.6 billion was lost to online scams in 2020 and fraudsters have become much more sophisticated in their methods of targeting people where they least expect it.
SocialCatfish.com released a study on the State of Internet Scams in 2021 using data collected over the past 12 months.
A poll of 726 online scam victims from 2021 was conducted as part of the study to find out where most incidents are taking place.
So, here are the most common apps to be wary of with tips on how to avoid falling victim to criminals:
Facebook, Account Cloning
Scammers use the photos and personal information from your public profile to create a replica account.
Then they ask your friends and family for money and send them malicious links that if clicked can steal their personal and financial information leading to identity theft and financial ruin.
How to Avoid: S earch for yourself regularly on the app and in search engines, and if you become aware of a clone account, warn your friends and family, and report it to Facebook's support center immediately.
Google Hangouts, Romance Scam
Romance scammers meet victims on dating apps but to avoid being taken off the monitored apps, they move the conversation to Google Hangouts.
They fall in love with you quickly, gain your trust and start asking you for money and personal information until you have nothing left.
How to Avoid: If a person on a dating app wants to switch platforms, be on alert and never send them money.
Instagram, Fake Brand Giveaways
Fraudsters pretend to be a respected and verified brand offering free product giveaways.
You sign up and give personal information but never receive a product and can wind up being conned out of large sums of money.
How to Avoid: Research and make sure it is the brand’s official Instagram account before participating in any giveaways or passing over any information.
WhatsApp, Hijack Scam
If you receive a six digital verification code without requesting one be on alert.
Criminals, who have already hijacked your friend's accounts, can send you the code and say they need it to get back into their account.
You unwittingly send them the code, allowing them to hijack your account.
Then they ask your contacts for money and replicate the scam by pretending to be you and asking others for the code.
How to Avoid: WhatsApp will never send you a code for someone else. If one of your contacts asks about a code, it is a scam, and you should delete them from the app.
Plenty of Fish, Romance Scam
Scammers are in huge numbers on this dating app, using photos of pretty models to lure victims in.
They claim to work overseas or be in the military to explain why they cannot meet in person, and they leave victims with an empty bank account after gaining their trust.
How to Avoid: Never send money to anyone you have never met in person, and if they will not video chat, they are a scammer.
