Have you ever received a message claiming you won a Facebook giveaway, only to find out it was a scam? You’re not alone. Facebook giveaway scams have become increasingly common in recent years, and they often use deceptive tactics to trick users into divulging personal information or downloading malware. In this analysis by Snopes, we’ll take a closer look at the truth behind these scams and how you can protect yourself from falling victim to them.
What are Facebook giveaway scams?
Facebook giveaway scams are fraudulent schemes that use social media platforms like Facebook to trick users into giving away personal information or money in exchange for a chance to win a prize.
How do these scams work?
Scammers create fake Facebook pages or posts that appear to be from well-known brands or celebrities offering giveaways.
Can you really win prizes from Facebook giveaways?
Legitimate giveaways do exist, but it’s important to be cautious and verify the source before entering.
How can you identify a Facebook giveaway scam?
Look for red flags such as typos or inconsistencies in the post or page, requests for personal information or payment, and suspicious links.
What should you do if you encounter a Facebook giveaway scam?
Report the post or page to Facebook, warn your friends and family, and be wary of engaging with similar posts in the future.
After reading Snopes’ analysis on Facebook giveaway scams, users can rest assured that they are not falling for a hoax. With the help of this article, users can now recognize the tell-tale signs of a fraudulent giveaway and avoid wasting their time and money. This analysis serves as a reminder to always be cautious when engaging in online activities and to do research before participating in any giveaway.
Giveaways are a popular tool that businesses use to engage customers on social media, particularly Facebook. But, unfortunately, there are some disreputable characters out there who use giveaways to scam people. Worse still, some are downright dangerous. Scammers worked out a long time ago that people love free stuff. After all, people want to allow their friends to win a prize. The problem with many of these giveaways is that there is rarely a prize. The more likes and shares that a particular giveaway scam gets, the more likely it is to appear in random news feeds, encouraging yet more people to click and share. Eventually, it spreads like wildfire throughout the network, giving the scammers all the data they need. Unfortunately, many of these scams are also downright dangerous if you or your friends click them. Any of the following scenarios are possible. Okay, so Facebook scams are bad, but how do you spot them? If a company posts a giveaway on Facebook, then they usually confirm it on their website. Go to their site and check to see whether there is any information about the competition. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is. People offering enormously enticing products are just doing whatever they can to make you click the link. Allowing scammers access to your device information can compromise your identity and grant them access to personal information. You should never give out bank details or passwords on social media, even if it appears that the bank or social media company is asking for it. Finally, some scammers ask you to complete a survey to be entered into their competition. These surveys can then install malware on your computer. Skip to content. Facebook page opens in new window Twitter page opens in new window Instagram page opens in new window Linkedin page opens in new window. Any of the following scenarios are possible A link infects your computer with malware You are forwarded to a site which tries to scam you out of money The scammers collect personal details, such as your birthday, that they can use to access other accounts The scammer hijacks your profile. Check the Company Website If a company posts a giveaway on Facebook, then they usually confirm it on their website. Use Your Common Sense If something looks too good to be true, it probably is. Never Give Out Personal Information On Facebook You should never give out bank details or passwords on social media, even if it appears that the bank or social media company is asking for it.
Scammers will say anything to get your money. Here are ways they try to trick you into thinking you really won a prize. Plenty of contests are run by reputable marketers and non-profit organizations. But there are some things to know before you drop in a quick entry or follow instructions to claim a prize. A special note about skills contests. A skills contest where you do things like solve problems or answer questions correctly to earn prizes can ask you to pay to play. Skills contests can leave contestants with nothing to show for their money and effort. Scammers often ask you to pay in ways that make it tough to get your money back. No matter how you paid a scammer, the sooner you act, the better. Learn more about how to get your money back. Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information. Search form Search. Fake Prize, Sweepstakes, and Lottery Scams. Share this page Facebook Twitter Linked-In. You get a call, email, or letter saying you won a sweepstakes, lottery, or prize like an iPad, a new car, or something else. Tagged with foreign lottery , lottery , prize , scam , sweepstakes.
Have you seen a message on WhatsApp or Facebook offering you free help during the pandemic? People have reported seeing messages that seem to be from Pepsi, Walmart, Whole Foods, Target, and other big-name brands. These messages all offer money to people who need it through grants, coupons for food support, or other giveaways. You might get this kind of message, in English or Spanish, from a friend or contact. The message tells you to click a link to get your money. If you click, you might find a survey to take. Or they might ask you to enter your name, address, phone number, or other information. And they might ask you to forward the message to several friends to be eligible to collect. Just scammers. If you already clicked or shared, run a security scan on your device to look for malware. And then share this blog post with the friends you forwarded the message to and ask them to do the same. Pay Pal has deducted money from my account ie 50 million USD. Im so sick and tired of people using me Im on a fixed income. And they just dont care. Well Im not taking this mess anymore. Get a job, do you know how much I wish could work. This scam has started reappearing on Facebook I saw it today while looking at recipes from a cooking group I follow.