FTC advisory Everyone October 21, 2020

Scams starting on social media proliferate in early 2020

Scammers use fake ads and profiles on social media to trick people into buying products that never arrive, fake romantic relationships, fake relief grants, and pyramid schemes. Reports of these scams more than tripled in early 2020.

Online purchaseRomance scamImpersonationInvestment fraudSocial engineering

How it works

Scammers create fake profiles or ads on Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms to reach you. They may pose as a love interest, a friend offering grant money, or a seller with a good deal. They ask you to send money upfront or share personal information, then disappear or steal from you. They hide behind fake profiles, take over hacked accounts, and delete negative comments so you do not see warnings.

Red flags to watch for

Ad or post offers an amazing deal with no verifiable seller information
Love interest asks for money before you meet in person
Friend suddenly messages about free grant money or relief funds
Job opportunity promises big earnings with little work required
Seller deletes negative comments on their posts
Message comes from a friend account but the offer seems out of character

What to do

Do not send money to anyone you have not met in person, and do not click links in unsolicited messages. Search the company name online with words like 'scam' or 'complaint' before buying. If a friend sends you a financial opportunity, call them by phone to confirm they really sent it. Report scams to the social media platform and to ftc.gov/complaint.

If this reached you

Scam Sentinel would flag it: likely a scam Show it the text, email, or caller and you get a plain-language verdict with the reason, and exactly what to do next. A second opinion in the moment, before you tap, pay, or pick up.

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Source: FTC . Scam Sentinel summarizes official guidance in plain language; it is a decision aid, not a guarantee.