This article is from Trend Micro.
to hearing about celebrities having their social media accounts hacked into — Elon Musk, Joe Biden, Kanye West, just to name a few. However, if you think that because you’re not a celebrity, you’re not in danger of being hacked, you’re making a big mistake.
To hackers, your social media accounts are immensely valuable. They will stop at nothing trying to steal your login credentials. Once logged into your account, they can delete all your cherished photos and archived posts, send inappropriate messages to your contacts, and commit identity theft. Read on to learn about the top Facebook phishing scams and tips to stay protected!
If you haven’t already, you should enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your Facebook account for better security. For complete instructions on how to do so, clickhere.
Posing as a Facebook friend, scammers will send you messages with the words “look what i found” or “Is it you?” accompanied by a laughing face emoji. Don’t click!
Source: 7News.com.au
What an “Is it you?” scam message looks like
The attached link will take you to a fake Facebook login page where you’re asked to submit login credentials. If you do, scammers can record the sensitive data. Don’t fall for it!
Scammers might also pose as Facebook and send you emails saying that there are security issues with your Facebook account, like suspicious login attempts or activities violating its Community Standards.
Then they prompt you to click on the embedded button to verify your account, threatening that your page will be deleted if you don’t take action.
The button leads to a fake Facebook login page that asks you to enter your login information. Below is an example. Notice that the web address is NOT a legitimate Facebook page.
Sample Facebook phishing page
Don’t submit anything. As mentioned, scammers will use your data to commit identity theft and other cybercrimes. Be careful!
Malicious chatbots are sending would-be victims phishing messages with the announcement that “Your page has been scheduled for permanent deletion for not following the Facebook Community Standards…”
If you fall for the ruse and click the “Appeal Now” button, it will take you to a phishing page where you’ll need to log in and authenticate your account with 2FA. If you enter the one-time passcode, the scammers can gain full access to your account!
Source: HackRead
Remember, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) on your Facebook account is essential for protecting it against hackers. For complete instructions on how to do so, click here.
For optimal online security and privacy, we also recommend our FREE tool, Trend Micro Check — an all-in-one browser extension and mobile app for detecting scams, phishing attacks, malware, and dangerous links.
Check out this page for more information on Trend Micro Check.
And as ever, if you’ve found this article an interesting and/or helpful read, please do SHARE it with friends and family to help keep the online community secure and protected.
Source: pexels.com
Have you fallen for a hoax, bought a fake product? Report the site and warn others!
As the influence of the internet rises, so does the prevalence of online scams. There are fraudsters making all kinds of claims to trap victims online - from fake investment opportunities to online stores - and the internet allows them to operate from any part of the world with anonymity. The ability to spot online scams is an important skill to have as the virtual world is increasingly becoming a part of every facet of our lives. The below tips will help you identify the signs which can indicate that a website could be a scam. Common Sense: Too Good To Be True When looking for goods online, a great deal can be very enticing. A Gucci bag or a new iPhone for half the price? Who wouldn’t want to grab such a deal? Scammers know this too and try to take advantage of the fact. If an online deal looks too good to be true, think twice and double-check things. The easiest way to do this is to simply check out the same product at competing websites (that you trust). If the difference in prices is huge, it might be better to double-check the rest of the website. Check Out the Social Media Links Social media is a core part of ecommerce businesses these days and consumers often expect online shops to have a social media presence. Scammers know this and often insert logos of social media sites on their websites. Scratching beneath the surface often reveals this fu
So the worst has come to pass - you realise you parted with your money too fast, and the site you used was a scam - what now? Well first of all, don’t despair!! If you think you have been scammed, the first port of call when having an issue is to simply ask for a refund. This is the first and easiest step to determine whether you are dealing with a genuine company or scammers. Sadly, getting your money back from a scammer is not as simple as just asking. If you are indeed dealing with scammers, the procedure (and chance) of getting your money back varies depending on the payment method you used. PayPal Debit card/Credit card Bank transfer Wire transfer Google Pay Bitcoin PayPal If you used PayPal, you have a strong chance of getting your money back if you were scammed. On their website, you can file a dispute within 180 calendar days of your purchase. Conditions to file a dispute: The simplest situation is that you ordered from an online store and it has not arrived. In this case this is what PayPal states: "If your order never shows up and the seller can't provide proof of shipment or delivery, you'll get a full refund. It's that simple." The scammer has sent you a completely different item. For example, you ordered a PlayStation 4, but instead received only a Playstation controller. The condition of the item was misrepresented on the product page. This could be the