17/08/2023
Sadly, as with all good things social media has its dark side.
With 9 out of 10 of us using social media regularly we are often just a swipe away from a potential scam.
Only last week, I too nearly fell for such a scam when I spotted on my Facebook feed an advert for a “80% end of season sale” in one of my favourite shoe shops. It seemed completely kosher with the shop’s usual logo and branding on full display (including all the relevant contact and social media information), but it really wasn’t….
So what to look out for?
🥸 It’s too good to be true
Sadly this still holds true. 80% off the shoes you have been eyeing up for the past six month? Well it doesn’t sound right does it (even if your heart is tells you it does 🙈)?
🥸You are sent a link
Watch out for any fake or unusual links, they may contain malware which allows scammers to access your accounts, log in information and even financial details.
Look out for a padlock next to a website’s URL. This means the site is encrypted so anything you do on it such as brows or make payment cannot be intercepted. If the website you are buying from doesn’t have it, its a major red flag 🚩!
🥸 The Brand Looks Fake
Scammers are good at posing as genuine companies but they are not perfect. Watch out for any branding inconsistencies.
🥸 Post keeps popping up
If you are seeing a recurring post shared by several friends on your time line, this is another red flag 🚩! Their profile may have been hacked or they haven’t realised they are sharing a scam link or advert. Send them a private message to check if they posted it.
🥸 Bank Transfer Request
This is obvious but worth reiterating. If you are asked to pay for something online via a bank transfer DON’T DO IT unless you know the seller personally!!
If you use a card to pay for something you may have some rights for your money back. With a direct bank transfer you don’t have such protection.
Keep safe! 🙏