Scammers set up fake profiles on social media, messaging platforms, and apps. They may pretend to be a friend, family member, romantic interest, employer, government agency, real business, investment platform, or online trading service.
They can impersonate celebrities or public figures to recommend products, services, investments, or giveaways. These scams may use AI-generated videos, fake news articles, real organisation logos, stolen photos, and copied identities to appear convincing.
Scammers can also learn a lot about you from what you share online. They may use that information to guess passwords, build trust, or target you with more personalised scams.
Warning signs it might be a scam
Stop and think. It could be a scam if the post or message:
- Suggests that a celebrity or public figure recommends or promotes a product, service, investment, or giveaway.
- Comes from someone you have only met online or by phone who urgently asks for money to help with a personal emergency.
- Threatens to share a private image of you unless you pay money.
- Uses a fake or copied profile that has very little history, activity, friends, or followers.
- Claims to represent a government agency, employer, investment platform, or online trading service through social media messages.
Common social media scam tactics
Offering a way to make quick, easy money with little risk or effort.
Inviting you to enter a competition, giveaway, or limited-time offer.
Offering to buy something you are selling for a high price without seeing it first.
Offering items for much lower prices than usual or compared with other sites.
Saying they live overseas and cannot meet you in person.
Using stolen photos, fake identities, or copied business pages to build trust.
Steps you can take to protect yourself
These simple steps can help prevent scammers from stealing your money or personal information.
Make sure the person is who they say they are
Research profiles carefully. Check how long an account has been active, how many friends or followers it has, and how much real activity appears on the profile. Lack of history, detail, posts, photos, or followers can be a sign of a fake profile.
Be cautious with job offers
Be wary if a job is offered without an interview or a proper discussion about your experience, suitability, and references. Research the recruiter, business, or individual offering the position and contact them only through independently verified details.
Research investment opportunities
If an offer appears too good to be true, it probably is. Research any investment opportunity fully before sending money, sharing documents, or opening an account.
Be careful about what you share
Limit the personal information you share publicly on social media. Scammers can use birthdays, family names, workplaces, locations, and photos to guess passwords or build convincing stories.
Never send money to someone you only met online
Do not send money, cryptocurrency, gift cards, bank details, identity documents, or private pictures to someone you have only met online, even if the conversation feels personal or urgent.