Common scams on Facebook target users in various ways, often leveraging social engineering tactics to exploit trust or curiosity. Here are some of the most prevalent types:

1. Phishing Scams 🎣

• Fake Login Pages: Scammers often use fake Facebook login pages to trick users into entering their credentials. Clicking a link in a suspicious message or email may redirect users to these fake pages.
• “Verify Your Account” Messages: Fraudsters may send messages pretending to be from Facebook, claiming there’s an issue with the user’s account and urging them to click a link to resolve it.

2. Fake Giveaways and Contests 🎁

• “You’ve Won” Notifications: Users are told they won a prize (e.g., money, gift cards, electronics) and are asked to click a link or provide personal information.
• Survey Scams: After claiming a prize, users may be redirected to take a survey, where scammers collect their information and may require credit card details “to claim the prize.”

3. Romance Scams 💔

• Scammers create fake profiles to form romantic connections, eventually requesting money or gifts under the guise of a crisis or for travel expenses. These scams are especially common among vulnerable individuals seeking companionship.

4. Investment Scams 💸

• “Get Rich Quick” Schemes: Ads or posts promote unrealistic investment opportunities, such as binary options, forex, or cryptocurrency, guaranteeing high returns with minimal risk.
• Fake Business Pages: Scammers create business pages that mimic legitimate financial institutions, luring users into investments and then disappearing once they receive funds.

5. Fake Charity and Fundraising Scams 💰

• Scammers exploit current events or tragedies by creating fake fundraisers, asking users to donate money to causes that don’t exist.

6. Marketplace and Classified Ad Scams 🛒

• Too-Good-to-Be-True Deals: Scammers list high-demand items (like electronics or furniture) at very low prices. They often ask for a deposit before disappearing.
• Fake Payment Confirmation: Scammers claim to have paid for an item and send fake receipts to trick the seller into shipping the product without actual payment.

7. Tech Support Scams 🛠️

• Fraudsters may contact users, claiming their Facebook account has been compromised and offering “help” in exchange for a fee or remote access to the user’s device.

8. Loan Scams 💳

• Fake profiles or pages promise quick loans or grants, often targeting small business owners. After an initial application, scammers request personal and banking information.

9. Clone Accounts and Friend Request Scams 👤

• Scammers clone a user’s profile and send friend requests to people on their friend list, using the trust factor to solicit money or sensitive information.

10. Facebook Job Offer Scams 💼

• Fake job postings or pages ask users to submit sensitive information, like social security numbers or bank details, for a “background check” or “application fee.”

How to Protect Yourself

• Never click links from unknown sources or messages.
• Enable two-factor authentication for extra account security.
• Report suspicious profiles, messages, and posts to Facebook.
• Verify the legitimacy of pages, especially when donating, shopping, or engaging with a business for the first time.

These scams often evolve, so it’s crucial to remain vigilant and cautious on social media.