Introduction to Social Media Frauds

Social Media has become an important part of our life. It is the new way of communicating, sharing, and informing people about the events in our lives. We share our day to day lives on social media in the form of self and family photographs, updates on our locations/whereabouts, our views/thoughts on prevalent topics etc.

This poses a threat to an individual as unwanted access to social media profile can cause loss of information, defamation or even worse consequences such as physical/sexual assault, robbery etc.

Hence, protection and appropriate use of social media profiles is very important.

Kinds of Social Media Frauds: -

Sympathy Fraud

The attacker becomes friends with the victim on social media. The attacker gains trust by frequent interactions. The attacker later extracts money/harms the victim.

Romance Fraud

The attacker becomes friends with the victim on social media. Over a period, the attacker gains the victim’s affection. The attacker later exploits the victim physically, financially and/or emotionally.

Cyber Stalking

Cyber stalking is a crime in which the attacker harasses a victim using electronic communication, such as e-mail, instant messaging (IM), messages posted on a website or a discussion group.

A cyber stalker relies upon the fact that his/her true identity is not known in the digital world.

A cyber stalker targets the victim with threatening/abusive messages and follows them/their activities in the real world.

Cyber Bullying

Cyber bullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices. Cyber bullying can occur through SMS, social media, forums or gaming apps where people can view, participate or share content.

Cyber bullying includes sending, posting or sharing negative, harmful, false content about someone else. The intention is to cause embarrassment or humiliation. At times, it can also cross the line into unlawful criminal behavior.

CONNECTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM

Using social media as a platform to connect, exchange ideas, trade stole our personal information.

The problem with social media is that people have inherent trust and that is what being tapped by the cybercriminals.

HOW TO FIGHT AGAINST SOCIAL MEDIA ATTACKS

Having a pause /quit to social media isn't an option as people have most of the work being done on social media platforms. But rather than having quit on social media or saying goodbye to Instagram, twitter, Facebook etc... It’s better to implement cybersecurity safeguards to better protect against the evolving threat of Cybercrime.

TIPS TO KEEP MIND.

✓ Think before you click

✓ Research the sources

✓Email spoofing is ubiquitous

✓Don’t download files you don't know

✓offers and prizes are fake

WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF.

✓ Delete any requests for personal information or password

✓Reject request for help or offers to help

✓ Set your spam filters to high

✓ Secure your device by maintaining and updating on regular basis your antivirus software, firewalls, email filters

✓ Always be mindful of risk