Low riskSocial Media

Comment Tagging Bot Scam

In this scam, bot accounts tag you and many others in comments or posts with links promising free products, prizes, or shocking videos, leading to phishing pages, fake shops, or malware.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Low risk
Scam type
Bot-driven link spam
Main red flag
You are tagged by an unknown account in a comment with a link to a 'prize' or 'video'.
What to do first
Do not tap the link. Remove the tag and report the account.

Understanding this scam

In this scam, bot accounts tag you and many others in comments or posts with links promising free products, prizes, or shocking videos, leading to phishing pages, fake shops, or malware.

Social media scams spread through direct messages, ads, hacked friends' accounts, and fake profiles. They range from account-takeover phishing and fake giveaways to investment and romance fraud, exploiting the trust and reach of your own network.

If you take one thing from this guide, make it this: You are tagged by an unknown account in a comment with a link to a 'prize' or 'video'. Do not tap the link. Remove the tag and report the account.

If your message looks slightly different, check the Fake Giveaway Scam or the Social Media Quiz Scam, both are close cousins of this pattern. Every related guide lives in the Social Media Scams guides, and the scam checker can scan the text you received.

A typical example

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: A comment tags you and dozens of strangers: 'You've been selected! Claim your free gift here 👉 [suspicious link]' from an account you do not know.

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

The tell here: You are tagged by an unknown account in a comment with a link to a 'prize' or 'video'.

What the data shows

$1.4B
reported lost to fraud that began on social media in the US in 2023
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
Top channel
social media was among the most common ways scams reached people in 2023
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

Warning signs

  • Tags from accounts you do not know
  • Links promising free gifts, prizes, or shocking videos
  • The same comment tagging many strangers
  • A brand-new or empty profile posting it
  • Pressure to act fast to claim

Your safest response

  • Do not tap links in tags from unknown accounts
  • Remove the tag and report and block the account
  • Tighten settings to limit who can tag you
  • Warn others not to click if they were tagged too

If you have already engaged

  • If you entered details on a linked page, change that password
  • Run a security scan if a file downloaded
  • Enable two-factor authentication on affected accounts
  • Report and block the account

What to avoid

  • Do not tap links in unsolicited tags
  • Do not enter logins on linked pages
  • Do not forward or repost the tag

You might also see

Medium risk Social Media

Fake Giveaway Scam

This scam tells you that you won a prize or giveaway, then asks for a fee, your login, or personal details to 'claim' it.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Low risk Social Media

Social Media Quiz Scam

This scam uses fun-looking quizzes and 'which X are you' posts to collect answers that double as security-question information, such as your first pet or the street you grew up on, which can later be used to guess passwords or account recovery answers.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Social Media

Is This You Video Scam

This scam sends a message from a friend's hacked account asking 'is this you in this video?' with a link that leads to a fake login page; if you enter your details, your account is taken over and used to send the same message to your contacts.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Questions people ask

Why was I tagged in this?
Bots tag many accounts at once to spread links widely. Being tagged does not mean you were chosen for anything; it is mass spam.
Are the links harmful?
Yes. They lead to phishing, fake shops, or malware. Do not tap them, and remove the tag.
How do I stop being tagged?
Adjust your privacy settings to control who can tag you, and review tags before they appear on your profile where possible.
I clicked a link. What now?
Change any password you entered, run a security scan if something downloaded, and enable two-factor authentication.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.