Common Facebook Scams
Although we are going to focus on Facebook, many of these scams can occur when using other social networks and platforms on the Internet. The security measures are generic and we must keep them in mind at all times to avoid problems that may affect us on the network.
Phishing
Without a doubt, this is a classic of scams on Facebook and on any other Internet service. Basically it is a bait that the attacker launches for us to log in. But of course, we are really sending the data to cyber criminals and not to the legitimate server of this social network.
They usually use baits related to problems in the account, with some action that we must take for security, such as changing the password immediately or configuring something. They seek to defraud us through fear and their only objective is to steal the access code and be able to control the account.
To avoid this, it is best to maintain common sense, never log in through links that come to us, wherever it may be, and avoid making any mistakes. In addition, it is advisable to activate the two-step authentication on Facebook to increase protection and avoid risks.
fake award
Another common scam on Facebook is that a course prize that we have won It can be anything from an Amazon gift voucher to a television that has supposedly touched us. But whatever they show us, it really is a deception, a bait to attract our attention.
Usually we will be asked to click on a link or banner and be taken to a web page. A form will appear there to put our data and be able to receive that prize. What is the attacker looking for with this? The minimum is to know our personal data and thus be able to include ourselves in Spam campaigns. But they could even steal passwords or bank details that they request from us.
Once again, common sense is going to be essential to avoid problems of this type and not fall into the trap of false prizes. We must at all times avoid making mistakes and ignore these messages or links.
Bots
Bots are very present in social networks and generally seek collect personal data. Especially on platforms like Facebook, where we have to accept contacts, they are widely used. What they do is pretend to be a legitimate user, with a photo that is supposedly real. They can even clone an account to give more credibility.
What they are looking for is to have access to our restricted information only to the contacts of this social network. So they can learn more about us, see our mail or any data we have posted on Facebook. They can use that to include us in advertising campaigns or even launch Phishing attacks.
It is important that we review very well who we are adding. In this way we will avoid having unwanted contacts in our account and that may become a problem for our privacy. It is always important to improve privacy when using Facebook.
shopping scams
Of course we are also going to find scams from alleged cheap purchases. For example, a banner that shows us a very small product or that tells us that we have to do something to get a very succulent discount. That may lure the victim, but it really is a deception.
Once again, what they are going to look for is to collect personal data, steal passwords or in some way put the security of our computer at risk if they ask us to download a file that may be malware. It is essential to be alert and not fall into traps of this type. Whenever you go to buy something online, you should check the URL very well and where exactly you are.
New functions
In this case they are scams related to the facebook functionality. A message may suddenly appear from a supposed contact or through a post on the social network, where they tell you that you can have some additional and interesting function if you do something specific. It is usually to download some file and install it, for example.
This method is mainly used to sneak malware into the system. It is a strategy that can allow an attacker to have full control over our computer and put security and privacy at risk.
In short, these are the top 5 Facebook scams that you should avoid. It is important to maintain common sense, always use security programs and have everything updated to avoid problems. It is essential in order to avoid the theft of passwords or any personal data.
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