Fraud on Social Media: What to Look Out For

Social media has become an essential part of our daily lives-helping us connect with friends and family, follow our favorite brands, and stay informed. But with every click, comment, or follow, there's also a hidden risk: fraudsters are increasingly targeting users on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and even LinkedIn.

At Consumers National Bank, we want to help you stay one step ahead. In this month's Fraud Friday blog, we're breaking down the most common social media scams and giving you practical ways to protect yourself and your loved ones.

1. Phishing Links Masquerading as Friendly Content

One of the most prevalent social media fraud tactics is phishing, where scammers trick users into clicking on malicious links that lead to fake login pages or install malware.

These links often appear in:

• Comments or direct messages from compromised accounts
• "Too-good-to-be-true" giveaways or contests
• Posts that claim you've "won a prize," "violated a policy," or need to "verify your identity"

Once you click, the scammer may gain access to your social media account-or worse, your financial information.

How to protect yourself:

• Never click on suspicious or shortened links (like bit.ly or ow.ly) from unknown users.
• Always check the URL before entering login information.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all your social media platforms.

2. Fake Profiles That Pretend to Be People You Know (or Want to Know)

Scammers often create fake profiles to impersonate friends, celebrities, or even financial institutions. These profiles may:

• Request money urgently
• Send out phishing links
• Promote fake investment or "crypto doubling" schemes

Some scammers even pose as bank representatives to "help you recover a locked account" or "verify a transaction."

How to protect yourself:

• Be cautious of duplicate friend requests, especially if the account seems new or has little activity.
• Don't send money or personal details over social media DMs.
• If someone you know is acting oddly online, reach out to them through a different channel to verify it's really them.

3. Too-Good-to-Be-True Giveaways and Promotions

"Win a free iPhone!" "We're giving away $5,000 to the first 100 followers!" Sound familiar? Scammers use fake giveaways to gather personal data or lure victims into clicking on malicious links.

Some accounts may even look legitimate, with logos and brand-like content. But look closer-misspellings, strange usernames, or an unusual number of posts in a short time can be red flags.

How to protect yourself:

• Only trust giveaways run by verified, official accounts.
• Never share your banking info, full address, or Social Security number for a contest.
• If a "giveaway" asks for payment upfront for "shipping" or "verification," it's a scam.

4. Romance and Relationship Scams

Dating and friendship scams are increasingly common on social media platforms and dating apps. Fraudsters will build trust over time and then invent a financial emergency, asking for money or gift cards.

Often, they claim to be:

• Serving in the military
• Working overseas
• Stuck in a business deal or inheritance situation

How to protect yourself:

• Be cautious if someone you've never met in person asks for money, no matter how convincing their story is.
• Never share your banking credentials or wire funds to someone you don't know.
• Report suspicious profiles to the platform and consider blocking the user.

5. Job Scams and "Easy Money" Opportunities

You may receive messages promising quick income by reshipping packages, processing payments, or investing in "exclusive" cryptocurrency offers. Many of these are elaborate fraud schemes designed to:

• Steal your identity
• Involve you unknowingly in criminal activity
• Trick you into sharing bank account details

How to protect yourself:

• Research any job offer or opportunity independently-don't rely on what's sent via DM.
• Be skeptical of jobs that require payment upfront or only conduct interviews over messaging apps.
• Use reputable job boards and check with local businesses directly.

Stay Safe with Support from Consumers National Bank

Fraudsters adapt quickly-and so do we. Consumers National Bank is committed to your financial safety, and we offer tools to help you stay protected:

• 24/7 debit card monitoring to flag suspicious activity
• Account alerts to track login attempts, withdrawals, and transfers
• Secure online banking with multi-factor authentication
• Personalized fraud support from our experienced team

If you think you've been a victim of social media fraud-or spot something suspicious-don't wait. Contact your local Consumers National Bank branch or contact our fraud specialists immediately. We're here to help!