Many of us have made it a habit to share aspects of our personal lives on social media, such as photos of our pets or birthday wishes to loved ones. However, cyber threats such as phishing scams exist on social media, just as they do on other platforms. It's critical to be cautious when connecting with people on social media, whether we know them in real life or not.

 

Here are a 4 tips to avoid phishing scams on social media:

1. Malicious Links
Malicious links are not only sent via emails or text messages. They can be sent to your social media direct messages

2. Fraudulent friend requests
If you receive a friend request from a friend's 'new' account, always confirm it's from them by messaging them on another platform. To trick you, cyber criminals will frequently impersonate someone you know by copying their profile.

3. Giveaways and contests
Be wary if you receive a message claiming you've been given money, services, or products. It's most likely a scam if you don't remember entering the contest or giveaway. Some scams are very clever and specifically target you, such as impersonating a recent purchase or service you signed up for. Always use another platform to contact the person or organization who sent the message to confirm that the offer is genuine.

4. Requests for immediate action
You are not alone if you have ever received a message from a friend or family member requesting immediate assistance. Urgent request scams occur when cyber criminals impersonate people on social media accounts in order to mislead their followers. They use urgent or threatening language to get you to act quickly or face consequences, such as saying they need your help right now or they'll be arrested.

Prevent Social Media Phishing Scams

To keep your social media accounts safe from phishing scams, always do the following:

• Be cautious about the information you share on social media, and consider whether it could be used to steal from you.

• Your address, birth date, and payment information are examples of information you should not share publicly.

• If something seems off about a message, trust your instincts and do not click on any links or open any attachments.

• Raise awareness about the warning signs of phishing and how to protect yourself and others.

Social media allows us to connect with people both locally and globally. And cybercriminals try to take advantage of those connections in order to steal from us. You will be able to connect safely with family and friends if you understand the signs of cyber threats on social media and how to protect yourself and your accounts.

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