Most Common Facebook Scams and How to Avoid Them

Ever wondered what the most common Facebook scams are? If you are clueless about what they may be, we put together a list that just might help you stay alert.

Scammers have become really sly and clever these days so it is always best to be on your guard as well and be mindful of what to do to avoid getting scammed.

Most Common Facebook Scams, According to Facebook Itself

On its own website, Facebook lists what it refers to as the most common scams happened on the social media platform:

• Access Token Theft - A seemingly legitimate app shares a link with you that asks for your Facebook account. Scammers who usually conduct this kind of scam uses your account to spread spam.
• Job Scams - Fake job postings are used to get your Facebook details or even your money.
• Loan Scams - Scammers leave messages that about instant loans that boast of low interest rates. The catch, however, is that you will be asked to pay an advance fee.
• Lottery Scams - Usually carried out by impersonator accounts or pages, this type of scam involves informing you that you won a fake lottery. Scammers either ask for your personal information or an advance fee.
• Romance Scams - According to Facebook, "cammers typically send romantic messages to people they don't know, often pretending to be divorced, widowed or in a bad marriage." They then rope their victims into a fake online relationship in order to receive money.

Other Common Facebook Scams

If you think that those listed above are the only Facebook scams there are, think again. There are other types of Facebook scams that exist online.

According to the website of Walsh College, another common type of Facebook scam out there is fake clicks or click jacking.

"The point is to have you click on a link or share something that propagates malware," the website post reads. This particular scam can come in the form of fake news, free giveawayds, and more.

Malwarebytes also lists fake live streaming events and donation links as an example of a prevalent scam on Facebook, especially with the ongoing pandemic.

How to Avoid Becoming a Victim

Facebook provides a list of things that users should watch out for in order to avoid becoming a victim to one of the many scams on the social media platform.

Users are advised to watch out for strangers and unknown organizations asking you for money. Likewise, people who ask you to send them money or your personal information in exchange for some loan or prize should always ring your internal alarm bells.

Facebook users should also watch out for people who ask for a fee before you can apply for a job as well as unverified pages showing the names and logos of large corporations and famous personalities.

Other red flags that may be pointing to a scam include accounts that redirect you to another page to claim a prize, people asking you to move your conversation to a less secure platform, and doubtful accounts claiming to be a loved one in an emergency.