Trending Social Media Scams

Social media has become an essential part of our daily routine. A 2025 GWI research reveals that a typical user spends on average 2 hours and 21 minutes daily on social media while 63.9% of the world’s population uses social media platforms.

From staying in touch with friends and colleagues to following the latest news, platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and X shape the way we interact online.

Unfortunately, along with their popularity comes an increased risk of social media fraud.

Scammers are getting smarter, they create and use fake logos, profiles, and “too good to be true” offers to trick careless users.

Find out the most common social media scams, the warning signs to watch out for, and how to protect your assets online.

Types of social media scams

From fake giveaways to impersonation accounts, hackers are finding new ways to trick users into sharing sensitive information, such as account access credentials, credit card information, etc.

Here are the most common types of social media fraud:

Free app downloads

Some apps on social media although appear to be legitimate, they download malware or request unnecessary sensitive information. Do your due diligence and avoid third-party providers. Always download apps from official stores because even a seemingly harmless app can put your device or data at risk.

Fake accounts

Hackers would often pose as friends or people you know. They might send friend requests, share phishing links that would take you to malicious websites. So, always verify suspicious accounts before starting to chat and never send money or sensitive information to anyone before you verify that person is genuine.

Fake job postings

Scammers will pose as legitimate recruiters and reach out to you via social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, or even send you an email. Often, they will use fake or stolen logos, pictures and websites to appear legitimate.

Being able to spot a scam before it is too late is more important than ever. Scammers’ methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated, as they are using AI-generated deepfakes and tools, deceptive offers, fake profiles, etc.

Common Warning Signs

Watch out for:

Suspicious requests – someone you only know online is asking for credit card information or account credentials.

Urgency or pressure – messages that urge you to act fast, such as “verify your account now or lose access,” or “I need you to process this gift card immediately” are designed to make you act fast, without considering the risks.

“Too good to be true” offers – giveaways promising high-value prizes are often scams.

Suspicious links or attachments – hover over links before clicking to double check if the destination URL is authentic. Avoid downloading attachments from unknown sources. These can install malware on your device.

Spelling and Grammatical errors – scam messages often include spelling mistakes, odd phrasing, or dubious email addresses.

Also, low-quality profile photos, generic usernames, and accounts with very few followers can indicate a fishy activity.

It is easier to stay safe online than to fix the consequences of a scam. Here are some simple ways you can take to keep yourself safe when browsing social media.

• Always use unique, strong passwords;
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA);
• Adjust your privacy settings;
• Public Wi-Fi is risky, be careful;
• Watch out for follow requests.

Take Action!

If you suspect you have fallen victim, quick action is essential.

Change all your passwords.

Update all affected accounts and enable two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access.

Report the scam.

Notify the platform immediately. Most social media platforms have reporting tools for suspicious accounts, posts, messages, etc.

Monitor accounts for suspicious activity.

Pay attention to your email, social media, and financial accounts and watch out for unusual logins or transactions.

To protect yourself and your organization, never share sensitive information if you don’t know for sure who the recipient is. For a professional approach against social media scams, please reach out to StratusPointIT. Keeping your enterprise, your people, and your data safe is our commitment.