Exposed: The 11 Most Common Facebook Scams Fooling Users
Written by: Thomas Orsolya
Published on:
With over 2.9 billion monthly active users, Facebook’s immense reach also makes it a prime target for scammers running deceptive schemes. This comprehensive guide will examine the most prevalent Facebook scams reported, provide real examples, and offer expert advice to help you identify and avoid falling victim.
This article contains:
An Overview of Facebook Scamming
Scammers have found numerous ways to exploit Facebook to their benefit, including:
Phishing – Fake login pages are used to harvest users’ Facebook credentials through deceptive links, enabling account takeovers.
Fake Profiles – Scammers create profiles impersonating real people and organizations to appear legitimate and manipulate victims into providing money or data.
Marketplace Cons – Scammers post fake listings, fail to ship items, or request questionable payment methods to steal funds sent for purchases.
Romance Scams – Fraudsters use fake profiles to form online relationships with victims, eventually asking for money for supposed emergencies.
Malware Distribution – Links in posts, videos and messages install viruses, ransomware, and trojans when clicked which steal personal data.
Bogus Advertising – Scammers pay to promote fake offers like too-good-to-be-true jobs, investment opportunities, and shopping deals aimed at stealing money or information.
While Facebook employs advanced technologies to detect and remove billions of fake accounts annually, new fraudulent tactics are constantly emerging. Remaining skeptical of out-of-the-blue friend requests, scrutinizing posts and ads before interacting, and avoiding communications asking for money or data provides the best protection.
11 Common Facebook Scams to Watch Out For
Here are the top Facebook scams that users should be aware of along with tips to avoid falling victim:
1. Fake Facebook Prize and Giveaway Scams
Scammers create Facebook pages mimicking well-known brands, celebrities, or lotteries and offer free money or lavish prizes like iPhones and gift cards in exchange for liking, sharing, or completing a survey.
For example: You see a Facebook page claiming to be Coca-Cola hosting a giveaway for a free $500 Visa gift card. To enter, you must like, share, and comment on the post with your email address. However, the page is a scam and used to steal email addresses as well as spread the fake offer virally through shares.
Victims never receive the promised rewards after participating and sharing personal information. The fake pages utilize Facebook users’ identities to make their fraudulent posts appear more legitimate to unsuspecting viewers.
Prizes are high-value gifts like the latest iPhones that brands would not give away randomly.
You are asked to share personal information or pay a fee before receiving the promised reward.
How to Avoid It
Disregard giveaways requiring you to share financial account details, pay fees, or provide personal data to enter.
Verify sponsoring pages have official blue verification badges before believing contests or giveaways are real.
Check brands’ real social media pages to see if any advertised contests match legitimate promotions offered.
2. Fake Job and Money-Making Opportunity Scams
Scammers create Facebook accounts or pages and post offers for easy high-paying remote jobs, investment opportunities, mystery shopping gigs, and other money-making opportunities.
For example: You see a Facebook ad claiming you can earn $400 per week working from home as a secret shopper. All that’s required is paying $50 upfront to get registered with the “hiring company”. However, once the registration fee is paid, they cease communication and disappear with your money.
Once interested users inquire for more information, phony interview processes are conducted and solicitations are made to pay upfront registration fees. However victims never get hired or receive any payments after sending their money to scammers.
How to Spot This Scam
Listings promise very high salaries or unreasonably flexible earning potential.
Details on job duties, hiring companies, and application processes are vague when questioned.
Requests are made to pay upfront registration fees before formal hiring. Real jobs never do this.
How to Avoid It
Income claims that seem exaggerated or too good to be true usually are. Disregard improbable offers.
Apply for jobs only on official company websites after researching them thoroughly, not through Facebook listings.
Never pay any type of upfront fees – legitimate employers won’t ask you to pay to get hired.
3. Fake Charity and Fundraiser Scams
Scammers create Facebook accounts impersonating real charities or victims of tragedies and start fundraisers or request donations through posts/messages for fake causes.
For example: After a natural disaster, you see Facebook fundraisers popping up requesting Red Cross donations to aid victims. However, the fundraiser creator is not the real Red Cross. Any money donated goes to the scammers rather than any legitimate relief efforts.
These scams capitalize on people’s generosity, emotions, and desire to provide aid when it’s needed most. But funds never reach real charities or victims in need.
How to Spot This Scam
Fundraiser pages lack verification badges to confirm legitimacy.
Campaigns use slight variations of real charity names rather than exact matches.
Requests are made for unusual payment methods like gift cards which are hard to trace and recover.
How to Avoid It
Verify reputable charities through third-party charity vetting sites like Charity Navigator before donating.
When responding to recent tragedies, only donate to established aid organizations you recognize.
Do not donate through Facebook pages or links. Go directly to a charity’s official website instead.
4. “Is This You in This Video?” Link Scams
These scams start with messages on Facebook, Instagram, or dating apps asking if you are the person appearing in an accompanying video link. Curiosity is piqued since it’s insinuated the videos show you in a compromising situation.
For example: You receive a Facebook message from a random account asking “Omg is this you in this video??” and containing a Bitly link. However, clicking downloads malware or leads to a phishing site rather than any real video.
In reality, clicking the link either installs malware onto your device to steal personal data or leads to a website prompting you to enter sensitive information which is harvested.
How to Spot This Scam
Messages come from accounts you don’t know with no clear context provided.
Links use URL shorteners like Bitly to hide the true destination.
Your name or details are not mentioned to indicate videos show you specifically.
How to Avoid It
Do not click or reply to any messages containing video links from unknown accounts. Report them instead.
Enable link previews where possible to view destinations before clicking suspicious links.
Hover over links to inspect where they really direct to, which is never anywhere legitimate.
5. Facebook Quiz Scams
Scammers create and share Facebook quizzes designed to steal personal information under the pretense of being a fun personality test. The scam quizzes ask innocuous questions but slip in common security question fodder like your hometown, mother’s maiden name, elementary school mascot, etc.
For example: You get invited to take a “What Harry Potter character are you?” quiz. In between the themed questions, it asks for personal details like favorite childhood teacher, street you grew up on, and vacation spots. These can be used for identity theft or gaining access to your accounts.
Your personal information provided is then used for identity theft or sold to other hackers on the dark web rather than determining any quiz results.
How to Spot This Scam
Quizzes ask for a wide range of personal information rather than just innocent fun questions tied to the stated topic.
The Facebook page name that posted the quiz carries no indications of what entity created it or why.
No privacy policy or terms are provided regarding how your data will be used.
How to Avoid It
Do not participate in any Facebook quizzes that ask for sensitive personal information as security question fodder.
Research the Facebook page name that created the quiz through reviews before considering participating.
Assume information provided can be used maliciously rather than just determining innocuous results.
6. Hacked Account and Friend Scamming
Scammers hack into victims’ Facebook accounts to scam their entire friends list by posting phishing links or requesting money through messaging. In other cases, they impersonate your friends and directly ask for help, money, or sensitive information.
For example: A scammer hacks your friend’s account and messages you posing as them claiming they urgently need $500 sent through PayPal for an emergency bill. Unfortunately, because the message seems to come from your friend’s legitimate profile, you trust the request and send money before realizing it was a scam.
Once scammers compromise a profile, they exploit connections’ inherent trust in their “friend” to trick them into sending money or clicking malicious links for data harvesting.
How to Spot This Scam
Messages requesting sensitive information or money transfers, which friends would not ordinarily request out of the blue.
Suspicious links sent asking you to click rather than typical profile updates.
Language/tone that sounds unlike your friend’s usual communication style.
How to Avoid It
Call or contact friends through a secondary channel if they request unusual favors or send questionable links through Facebook to confirm legitimacy.
Review recent posts and messages on suspicious profiles for anomalies indicating potential hacking.
Limit visibility of friends lists and profiles to protect information that facilitates impersonation attempts.
7. Fake Facebook Ads and Shopping Scams
Scammers pay to run Facebook ads directing users to malicious websites disguised as online shopping pages with amazing deals. However, any credit card or personal information entered is stolen. Any items ordered never get shipped either.
For example: You see a Facebook ad for a popular NordicTrack treadmill model advertised at a 60% discount. However, clicking the ad leads to a fake shopping site rather than any legitimate retailer. Once your credit card details are entered to purchase the discounted treadmill, the site takes your information and disappears rather than processing any real order.
These scams aim to capitalize on social proof where real brand names are tied to unbelievable prices and deep discounts that seem convincing alongside valid Facebook ads by legitimate retailers.
How to Spot This Scam
Unbelievably low prices on expensive, high-demand items that seem too good to be true.
Fake shopping sites use slight misspellings of real brand names or domains.
Lack of contact details, About Us pages, or other indicators of real operations.
How to Avoid It
Scrutinize details of Facebook advertisers alongside any ads before clicking. Research unfamiliar brands/stores.
Verify security certifications and indicators of legitimacy on any ecommerce site before entering payment information.
Stick to well-known retailers for shopping rather than Facebook-advertised deals of questionable origins.
8. Romance Scams on Facebook
Romance scammers create fake profiles and post stolen attractive photos. They initiate flirty exchanges escalating to messaging and professing affection quickly through manipulation.
For example: A scammer using pictures of a male model contacts divorced and widowed women through Facebook dating groups. After months of messaging building connection, they claim they finally booked a flight to meet in person but their wallet was stolen leaving them stranded without funds to get home. They then plead for help and manipulate sympathetic victims into wiring money to aid their supposed hardship.
Once they gain trust and emotional bonds, eventually scammers concoct elaborate fake emergencies requiring victims to send money for help with hardships, travel costs, disabilities, hospital bills, business troubles, etc.
How to Spot This Scam
Profiles seem too perfect with little corroborating personal information and few friends/followers.
Push for commitment and proclamations of love extremely prematurely without meeting.
Repeated excuses provided for why they cannot meet in person, video chat, or speak on the phone.
How to Avoid It
Conduct reverse image searches on profile pictures to identify fakes stolen from random online sources.
Never provide money or favors for online-only romantic interests complaining of endless troubles and inability to meet.
Insist on seeing identification and social media connections verifying identity before progressing relationships.
9. Facebook Phishing Scams
Scammers send emails or direct Facebook messages pretending to come from Facebook itself regarding your account. These state you must urgently confirm or update account details to avoid suspension. Links provided redirect to fake Facebook login pages capturing entered credentials.
For example: You receive an email warning your Facebook business page will be unpublished within 24 hours if you do not confirm your identity. The email contains a link supposedly leading to resolution but actually steals any credentials entered on the page it leads to.
If users enter their usernames and passwords, scammers gain complete access to both personal and professional Facebook accounts enabling identity theft and further security compromises.
How to Spot This Scam
Threatening urgent warnings about account deletion or suspension if immediate action is not taken.
Links lead to any domain unassociated with the official Facebook.com URL.
Lack of user-specific identifiers like your name or account numbers.
How to Avoid It
Disregard any emails or messages about account verification/deletion. Facebook will never contact you this way.
Login directly through Facebook.com or the official mobile app rather than using links if you wish to check your account.
Hover over links to reveal true destinations which never match Facebook domains when phishing.
10. Fake Cryptocurrency Investment Scams
Scammers hack Facebook accounts and message victims posing as trusted friends or contacts. They claim to have a special opportunity to invest in cryptocurrency and make astronomical guaranteed returns with no risk.
For example: Your old college friend’s Facebook account starts messaging you claiming he partnered with a bitcoin trading platform where you are promised to easily triple any investment deposited within one week. If you send $500, they can purportedly turn it into $1500 within 7 days.
In reality, any cryptocurrency sent is pocketed by the scammer who hacked your friend’s account rather than invested. There is no miraculous trading platform paying outrageous returns with no risk.
How to Spot This Scam
Promises of too-good-to-be-true returns and guarantees on cryptocurrency investments.
Push for immediate action to capitalize on supposed short-term offers and platforms.
Requests made through hacked accounts of people you know and trust.
How to Avoid It
There are no risk-free shortcuts to riches and no cryptocurrency platforms can guarantee returns – be skeptical of any claims that say otherwise.
Verify unexpected investment offers directly with friends if recommended through their accounts – they likely were hacked.
Research any cryptocurrency mining organizations or exchanges thoroughly before investing money.
11. Facebook Live Scams
Scammers broadcast live videos claiming to give away big ticket prizes like gift cards, game consoles, or cash. To enter, you must first send a small “registration” or “redemption” fee. After collecting payments from thousands misled by the broadcasts, they quickly end the streams without sending winnings.
For example: A Facebook Live video offers to give away $500 Walmart gift cards to followers. To register, you must first send $1 via CashApp or PayPal to the broadcaster’s account. However, once you transfer the registration fee, the video cuts off abruptly without anyone ever receiving gift cards.
Victims have no way to get their money back since it’s impossible to trace where funds were sent through accounts later deleted. Scammers pocket the registration fees and close up shop before sending prizes.
How to Spot This Scam
Contests or giveaways requiring upfront fees before determining winners.
Short broadcasts ending abruptly after a brief period rather than following through on promotions.
Lack of interaction addressing viewers’ comments or concerns.
How to Avoid It
Real giveaways don’t require payment or fees before prizes are awarded – ignore all offers asking for money.
Research the account running the giveaway broadcast beforehand through reviews and complaint reports.
Report suspicious live videos promoting potential scams while they’re occurring to get them taken down faster.
How to Protect Yourself on Facebook
Here are some tips to avoid falling victim to Facebook scams:
Review your security and privacy settings frequently, limiting profile visibility.
Enable login approvals to require secondary confirmation to access your account on new devices.
Don’t accept friend requests from strangers. Vet unknown profiles thoroughly first.
Be cautious of any investment opportunities, contests, or money-making offers promoted on Facebook.
Never purchase items, send money, or provide sensitive personal information through Facebook requests.
Don’t click direct links in posts, comments or messages. Manually type website addresses into your browser.
Use strong unique passwords and set up two-factor authentication for your account.
Staying informed on the latest scamming techniques goes a long way in keeping yourself secure on Facebook. Share this guide to help friends avoid costly compromises.
What to Do If You Are Scammed on Facebook
If you become the victim of a Facebook scam:
Report compromised or fraudulent accounts immediately through Facebook’s reporting process. Provide details on tactics used.
If credentials were compromised, reset your Facebook password and review recent account activity for unauthorized changes then remove any unfamiliar connected apps.
If you lost money, contact your bank or payment provider immediately to halt additional transfers or request refunds for unauthorized transactions.
Monitor your credit through a service like Credit Karma and check for any fraudulent accounts opened in your name indicating wider identity theft.
File detailed scam reports with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and Federal Trade Commission if targeted by larger organized fraud campaigns.
Sharing awareness about current Facebook scams helps protect others in your community from costly compromises.
Is Your Device Infected? Check for Malware
If your device is running slowly or acting suspicious, it may be infected with malware. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is a great option for scanning your device and detecting potential malware or viruses. The free version can efficiently check for and remove many common infections.
Malwarebytes can run on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Depending on which operating system is installed on the device you’re trying to run a Malwarebytes scan, please click on the tab below and follow the displayed steps.
Malwarebytes For WindowsMalwarebytes For MacMalwarebytes For Android
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Windows to remove malware
Malwarebytes stands out as one of the leading and widely-used anti-malware solutions for Windows, and for good reason. It effectively eradicates various types of malware that other programs often overlook, all at no cost to you. When it comes to disinfecting an infected device, Malwarebytes has consistently been a free and indispensable tool in the battle against malware. We highly recommend it for maintaining a clean and secure system.
Download Malwarebytes for Windows
You can download Malwarebytes by clicking the link below.
After the download is complete, locate the MBSetup file, typically found in your Downloads folder. Double-click on the MBSetup file to begin the installation of Malwarebytes on your computer. If a User Account Control pop-up appears, click “Yes” to continue the Malwarebytes installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, the setup wizard will guide you through the process.
You’ll first be prompted to choose the type of computer you’re installing the program on—select either “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” as appropriate, then click on Next.
Malwarebytes will now begin the installation process on your device.
When the Malwarebytes installation is complete, the program will automatically open to the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen.
On the final screen, simply click on the Open Malwarebytes option to start the program.
Enable “Rootkit scanning”.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start, and you will see the main screen as shown below. To maximize Malwarebytes’ ability to detect malware and unwanted programs, we need to enable rootkit scanning. Click on the “Settings” gear icon located on the left of the screen to access the general settings section.
In the settings menu, enable the “Scan for rootkits” option by clicking the toggle switch until it turns blue.
Now that you have enabled rootkit scanning, click on the “Dashboard” button in the left pane to get back to the main screen.
Perform a Scan with Malwarebytes.
To start a scan, click the Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its antivirus database and begin scanning your computer for malicious programs.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now scan your computer for browser hijackers and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Quarantine detected malware
Once the Malwarebytes scan is complete, it will display a list of detected malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. To effectively remove these threats, click the “Quarantine” button.
Malwarebytes will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the program’s quarantine.
Restart your computer.
When removing files, Malwarebytes may require a reboot to fully eliminate some threats. If you see a message indicating that a reboot is needed, please allow it. Once your computer has restarted and you are logged back in, you can continue with the remaining steps.
Your computer should now be free of trojans, adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed this malicious program on your computer, you may want to consider purchasing Malwarebytes Premium to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Mac to remove malware
Malwarebytes for Mac is an on-demand scanner that can destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss without costing you absolutely anything. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free, and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.
Download Malwarebytes for Mac.
You can download Malwarebytes for Mac by clicking the link below.
When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install Malwarebytes on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes for Mac Installer which will guide you through the installation process. Click “Continue“, then keep following the prompts to continue with the installation process.
When your Malwarebytes installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click the “Get started” button.
Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”.
The Malwarebytes Welcome screen will first ask you what type of computer are you installing this program, click either Personal Computer or Work Computer.
Click on “Scan”.
To scan your computer with Malwarebytes, click on the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes for Mac will automatically update the antivirus database and start scanning your computer for malware.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will scan your computer for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Quarantine”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes has detected. To remove the malware that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine” button.
Restart computer.
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer.
Your Mac should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious program on your computer, you might want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Scan your phone with Malwarebytes for Android to remove malware
Malwarebytes for Android automatically detects and removes dangerous threats like malware and ransomware so you don’t have to worry about your most-used device being compromised. Aggressive detection of adware and potentially unwanted programs keeps your Android phone or tablet running smooth.
Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.
When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When Malwarebytes will open, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through a series of permissions and other setup options. This is the first of two screens that explain the difference between the Premium and Free versions. Swipe this screen to continue. Tap on “Got it” to proceed to the next step. Malwarebytes for Android will now ask for a set of permissions that are required to scan your device and protect it from malware. Tap on “Give permission” to continue. Tap on “Allow” to permit Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
Update database and run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
You will now be prompted to update the Malwarebytes database and run a full system scan.
Click on “Update database” to update the Malwarebytes for Android definitions to the latest version, then click on “Run full scan” to perform a system scan.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Remove Selected”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. To remove the malicious apps that Malwarebytes has found, tap on the “Remove Selected” button.
Restart your phone.
Malwarebytes for Android will now remove all the malicious apps that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your device.
Your phone should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious app on your phone, you may want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Restore your phone to factory settings by going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
How can I tell if a Facebook profile or page contacting me is fake or a scam?
Warning signs include sparse profiles with few posts/friends, new accounts, typed conversations, repeated requests for personal details or money, fake profile photos, and language errors. Do research on unfamiliar accounts before engaging.
What should I do if I think my Facebook account has been hacked?
If you notice suspicious posts or messages from your account, change your password immediately and enable two-factor authentication. Review recent activity for unauthorized changes, remove unfamiliar connected apps, and report the hack to Facebook.
Is it safe to buy products advertised on Facebook?
It’s risky unless the seller has a blue verification badge and established online presence. Vet unfamiliar sellers through reviews before purchases. Confirm business names match real brands. Avoid too-good-to-be-true deals.
Should I avoid clicking links sent in Facebook messages?
In general, it’s best not to click direct links sent in messages, posts, or comments from people/pages you don’t know well. Hover over links to inspect destinations first. Navigate to sites manually when possible rather than through redirects.
How can I identify fake Facebook lottery/giveaway scams?
Legitimate giveaways won’t require you to pay or share financial information to claim prizes. Only enter contests by verified pages with real followers. Fake contests often use slight variations of real business names.
What steps should I take if my Facebook account is hacked?
Immediately change your password, enable two-factor authentication, and remove any unknown connected accounts or apps. Report the unauthorized access to Facebook. Also change passwords anywhere else you reused the same credentials.
How do I report a Facebook scam?
Use the report option on profiles, pages, groups, marketplace listings, or ads that appear suspicious or have scammed people. Provide details to explain the fraudulent activity occurring.
Can I get my money back if I’m scammed on Facebook?
Unfortunately it’s very difficult. Contact banks immediately to potentially reverse fraudulent charges made recently. Police reports and legal action may help for large losses, but funds sent willingly are typically unrecoverable.
How can I avoid romance scams on Facebook?
Conduct reverse image searches on profile photos to uncover fakes. Insist on seeing identification and social media connections verifying identity. Go slowly and be wary of pleas for financial help or secrecy. Never send money to online-only romantic partners.
Stay vigilant against suspicious activity and don’t send money or share personal information via Facebook without verifying legitimacy first. Report any scams encountered to help prevent others from also falling victim.
Conclusion
As one of the world’s most popular social networks, Facebook unfortunately attracts vast numbers of scammers exploiting its massive reach and user trust to facilitate a variety of schemes aimed at stealing money, data, or identities.
This comprehensive guide examined the top Facebook scams from phishing attempts to fake profiles, shopping cons, romance scams, and cryptocurrency frauds that users should be aware of when using the platform.
Learning to identify warning signs like suspicious friend requests, questionable investment opportunities, odd links, and requests for sensitive personal data or payments can prevent the majority of Facebook scams.
Practicing caution when interacting with unknown profiles or accounts, enabling security protections, and reporting any suspicious activities can help users avoid becoming victims. Share this guide to spread public awareness about current Facebook cons to your friends and connections. Staying vigilant in assessing risks is key to protecting your account and information when using Facebook.
How to Stay Safe Online
Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:
Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.
It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.
Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.
Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.
Be careful when installing programs and apps.
Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next."
Install an ad blocker.
Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.
Be careful what you download.
A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.
Be alert for people trying to trick you.
Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.
Back up your data.
Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.
Choose strong passwords.
Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.
Be careful where you click.
Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.
Don't use pirated software.
Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.
To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.
Meet Thomas Orsolya
Thomas is an expert at uncovering scams and providing in-depth reporting on cyber threats and online fraud. As an editor, he is dedicated to keeping readers informed on the latest developments in cybersecurity and tech.
