Young man, beware of fake information online. Based on our previous post, MACAM is a tips to be bear in mind all the tips as for you to validate information easier when you are surfing Internet. The internet is undeniably one of the best resources available to us. However, it can also be dangerous if we are not aware of who and what lurks behind the scenes. In the previous post, MACAM includes 5 simple steps to avoid being cheated on any clickbait titles like the one which redirected you into this article!
The link to the post is as follows: https://digitknow.wixsite.com/website/post/hoax-news-again-i-don-t-know-what-to-trust-anymore
In order to enhance your DIGITAL COMPETENCY, here we gonna tell you some scams in terms of the type of social media!
Being one of the most popular social media platform, Facebook is popular among all the age range groups and that is what makes it so important to filter information on Facebook. Here is some examples of the scams which you might likely encounter before and now we gonna tell you how to distinguish it!
1. Fake links
Like the one which redirect you into this website, obviously it is just a click bait. The point is to have you click on a link or share something that propagates malware. For instance, it could be direct messages with links which requires login request. This can harvest your account. Surveys can also harvest your identity info.
2. Fake accounts
Facebook accounts are so easily registered which makes it to be misused for fraud and scam purpose. There are few types of fake accounts which can be found on the Facebook includes account cloning as someone you know or romance. Someone people do it for their personal needs which may not ask for money but simply want to gain attention but mostly the scammers are versed in spending time as to get money from you once you start to trust them.
3. Gossip Scam
You might seen this before, "Secret behind the marriage of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West!". Scam like this aimed to plat on people's attention with celebrity. When you enter the page, you might be asked to download the latest Adobe Flash. Instead of downloading this program, it is a bot Trojan or other malware.
4. Cancellation of Account Scam
This scam can be a message or email that claims to be from Facebook warning that your account will be disabled unless you take action. The scammer requests that you either send your account information to them or login via a link they provide. The scammer can then steal sensitive information or scam more people through your account.
5. See Who Viewed Your Profile Scam
This scheme persuades a person to click on a link, where they are either directed to a fake login page to a survey that collects personal data which can be used against you or sold.
Instagram is a social media platform which surge in popularity especially among young people. However, the origin of founding Instagram which is mere picture sharing platform now seems a distant memory as today it is heavily used by influencers and agencies to promote services and products.
1. Fake Brand Accounts
Rampant in the fashion industry, imposter brand accounts hawk goods and products across 65 million fake posts a year, according to data analysis firm Ghost Data. Bags, shoes and clothes are the most commonly faked products with luxury and high-end retailers like Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Nike each having dozens of knock-off accounts. Other popular consumer brands like Apple have also been targeted.
2. Companies Offering To Send You Free Followers or Likes
Influencers are paid by brands and companies to promote products on their social media profiles. It’s a highly lucrative business — the bigger and more engaged your audience, the higher the fees you can command.
Thus, “generous” companies offer to send you free or insanely cheap followers or likes in the hopes that you’ll purchase more. These accounts are promoted as being real, but most are fake automated accounts.
3. Requests That Appear To Come From Instagram
If you receive an urgent email or direct message claiming to be from Instagram, don’t click the link. The message might claim your account has been compromised or that you’ve been approved for a coveted verification badge. Instead, it’s a phishing scam to get your login credentials.
You’ll be taken to a page to enter your email address and password, and then the hacker has everything needed to lock you out of your account. In extreme instances, some scammers threaten to blackmail you in exchange for returning your account.
Be a wise netizen, use MACAM to be diligent and alert in using Internet. Be wary of any communication in the Internet. Check the source of every messages received. Two factor authentication is a good method in preventing account hacking, proving an extra protection.