Digital fraud and scam attempts are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making it difficult to spot the real scams from the fake ones. If you get an email claiming to be from one of your favorite social media sites, don’t just blindly click on any links or call any phone numbers. Instead, make sure the email looks legitimate by following these steps before taking any action.
Based on the conversation made with Faisal Abidi, Co-founder of RNF Technologies we come with the article “Why You Should Always Double Check Emails Claiming to Be from Social Media Sites”
Never click on links inside emails
Scammers can pose as big-name companies and organizations in order to steal your identity or money. Even though it’s easier than ever for scammers to fake social media sites’ logos, wording, and domains, they are usually easy enough to spot—if you take a few seconds to look closely at what you’re clicking on.
Never give away your password
Social media sites do not ask for passwords over email. Don’t give them away—ever. If you get an email claiming to be from Facebook or another site, always go directly to that site yourself. Log in with your password, and only then click on links in emails.
Contact social media sites directly if you are unsure
If you receive an email claiming to be from a social media site, you can double check by contacting the company directly. In fact, you should do so even if you are sure that it is real. It’s very common for scammers and hackers to use websites’ names in their messages. For example, an email may claim that it is from Facebook when it is actually from a scammer or hacker trying to infect your computer with malware.
Always use strong passwords
It’s a good idea to use strong passwords and change them regularly. We’ve all heard it over and over again, but it bears repeating—don’t use your pet’s name or your kid’s birthday for a password. Digital fraud can occur even with social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, so always double-check any emails claiming to be from these sites (and other sites) before clicking on links or submitting personal information.
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is
With great power comes great responsibility. The same can be said for sites like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter—all of which have features and options that allow you to share your content on a grander scale than you could ever hope for. However, it’s important to remember that just because these features exist doesn’t mean you should use them—as recent reports have shown that cybercriminals are making use of social media sites to trick people into downloading malicious software onto their computers.
