Social Media Scams

Social media scams reach you through direct messages, comments, and fake pages on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Common forms include fake 'verification' or copyright warnings that lead to phishing pages, prize giveaways that ask for a fee, account-recovery tricks that hijack your profile, and romance scams that build trust before asking for money.

Common red flags

  • A DM warning your account will be deleted unless you 'verify' now
  • A message from a friend's hacked account asking for a code or help
  • Prize or giveaway wins that require a fee or your login to claim
  • A new online romance that quickly asks for money or gift cards
  • Links to login pages that are not the platform's official website

Social Media scam guides

High risk Social Media

Instagram Verification Scam

This scam offers a blue verification badge or warns your account is at risk, then links to a fake login page that steals your password.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
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
High risk Social Media

Facebook Account Recovery Scam

This scam uses a hacked friend's account to ask you to be a 'recovery contact' or share a code, which actually hands your own account to the scammer.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Social Media

Romance Scam DM

This scam builds an online romantic relationship through messages, then invents an emergency or investment to ask for money, while always avoiding meeting in person.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Social Media

Facebook Copyright Violation Scam

This scam sends a message or email claiming your Facebook page broke copyright or community rules and will be deleted within 24 hours unless you 'appeal' through a link, which leads to a fake login page built to steal your password.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Social Media

Hacked Friend Help Scam

A message arrives from a friend's account asking for money, a verification code, or to click a link. In reality the friend's account has been taken over, and the scammer is using your trust in them to reach you.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Cloned Account Friend Request Scam

A scammer copies a real person's name and profile photo, then sends friend requests to that person's contacts and messages them asking for money, verification codes, or to click a link.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Instagram Collab Scam

A DM posing as a brand offers a paid collaboration or ambassador deal, then steers you toward a phishing link, an upfront 'starter kit' fee, or a request for your login or banking details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Fake Charity Donation Scam

Fake charity appeals, often tied to disasters or medical causes, spread through social posts and DMs and push donations via untraceable methods to a cause that does not exist or never receives the money.

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
Medium risk Social Media

Celebrity Impersonation DM Scam

This scam uses a direct message from an account posing as a celebrity or public figure to build a personal connection with a fan, then asks for money, gift cards, a 'membership fee', or details for a fake meet-and-greet or giveaway.

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

Facebook Business Page Scam

This scam targets page owners with a message or email posing as Facebook or Meta, claiming a policy violation or that the page will be unpublished. A fake 'appeal' or 'verify business' link steals the admin's login.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

TikTok Coins Scam

This scam advertises cheap or free TikTok Coins through an unofficial website or direct message, asking you to log in or pay there. The fake site then collects your TikTok login or card details and usually delivers no coins at all.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Buy Followers Scam

This scam promises thousands of cheap followers, likes or views, then takes your payment and delivers fake or no followers. Some ask for your account password directly, and the bought engagement can get your account flagged or banned by the platform.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Discord Nitro Scam

This scam spreads through Discord direct messages, often from a friend whose account has already been taken over. The message offers free Discord Nitro and includes a link to a page that looks like the Discord login. Entering your details hands over your password and account token, letting attackers take control and send the same message to your contacts. Treating unexpected free offers with caution and signing in only through the official app are the best ways to stay safe.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Account Recovery Service Scam

When someone loses access to a hacked Instagram, Facebook or other social account, scammers often appear in comments or direct messages claiming to be a recovery expert or ethical hacker who can restore the account fast. They ask for an upfront payment, usually by gift card, bank transfer or cryptocurrency, then either vanish or string victims along with excuses. Real platforms recover accounts through their own official help pages and do not charge a private fee.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Fake Fundraiser Scam

Fake fundraiser scams use heart-tugging stories about medical bills, a family tragedy or an animal in distress to collect donations that never reach a real cause. The appeals spread quickly on social media because people share them in good faith. Scammers often reuse stolen photos, invent urgent deadlines and route money through personal payment links rather than a verified charity or platform. Checking the source before donating helps make sure your money reaches genuine help.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

X Verification Scam

An X verification scam reaches you through a direct message or email pretending to be from X, formerly Twitter. It either offers a verification badge or warns that your account will lose verification or be suspended unless you confirm your details. The link leads to a fake login page designed to steal your username and password, which can then be used to take over or impersonate your account.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Low risk Social Media

Online Contest Vote Scam

A message, often from a friend's account, asks you to vote for their child, pet, or photo in an online contest. The link leads to a fake login page or a page that harvests your details, then quietly sends the same request to your own contacts. The emotional, low-stakes framing ('it only takes a second') is designed to lower your guard.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Money Flip Scam

A post or direct message promises to 'flip' your money, claiming an insider method that turns a small payment into a much larger one, such as sending $100 to get $1,000 back. Victims send money through a payment app and receive nothing. Fake screenshots of 'happy clients' and a sense of limited slots are used to rush you into paying.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Google Review Extortion Scam

A Google review extortion scam targets small business owners. Scammers post, or threaten to post, a flood of fake one-star reviews on a business's Google listing, then demand payment to make them stop or to remove the ones already there. The aim is to frighten owners into paying quickly to protect their reputation. Paying rarely helps and often marks you as a target for repeat demands. Reporting fake reviews and responding calmly is usually more effective than handing over money.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Social Media

YouTube Creator Scam

The YouTube creator scam targets channel owners with what looks like a brand sponsorship offer. The email or direct message proposes a paid partnership, then asks you to download a 'contract', 'media kit' or piece of software to review. The file is actually an info-stealer that can grab your saved passwords and session cookies, letting attackers take over your channel and bypass two-factor authentication. Verifying sponsors carefully and never downloading unknown files are the key defences.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Dating Safety Verification Scam

In the dating safety verification scam, a match on a dating app insists you 'get verified' or 'prove you are safe' through an outside link before they will meet or chat further. The link leads to a fake verification site that either signs you up to a costly recurring subscription or harvests your card and personal details. The request is framed as caution or safety, which lowers your guard. Genuine safety checks do not work this way, and a link pushed by a stranger is a strong warning sign.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Sugar Daddy DM Scam

In this scam, a stranger offers to be your 'sugar daddy' or 'sugar momma' with a generous weekly allowance, then asks for an activation fee, gift cards, or your bank details, or sends a fake payment to lure a refund.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

TikTok Shop Scam

In this scam, a short-video shop or DM advertises cheap products or a 'special deal' but pushes you to pay through an outside link, sending counterfeits, nothing at all, or stealing your card details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Social Media

Sextortion Catfish Scam

In this scam, an attractive stranger befriends you on social media, moves to private chat, encourages intimate images or video, then threatens to send them to your contacts unless you pay.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Social Media

Meta Support DM Scam

In this scam, a message claims to be from Facebook or Instagram 'support' about a policy issue, appeal, or security alert, and links to a fake login or 'appeal form' that steals your account credentials.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Live Stream Donation Scam

This scam runs fake or hijacked live streams, often impersonating a celebrity, brand, or charity, urging viewers to 'donate' crypto or gift cards with promises of doubled returns or prizes that never come.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Group Admin Impersonation Scam

This scam impersonates the admin or moderator of a group, community, or server, messaging members with fake 'verification', rule warnings, or prizes that lead to phishing pages or payment requests.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Low risk Social 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.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Giveaway Winner DM Scam

In this scam, a message impersonating an influencer or brand says you have won their giveaway, then asks for a delivery fee, your details, or a card to 'claim' the prize that does not exist.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Social Media

Deepfake Endorsement Scam

In this scam, AI-generated deepfake videos make a celebrity, official, or brand appear to endorse a product, giveaway, or money-making scheme, lending false credibility to fraud that takes your money or details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Get-Rich Coaching Scam

In this scam, a self-styled mentor messages you promising fast wealth from trading, crypto, or e-commerce, selling expensive courses, 'mentorship', or signal groups built on fake screenshots and lifestyle images.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Social Media

Fake Brand Support Reply Scam

In this scam, fake accounts monitor public complaints to a bank, airline, or telecom and quickly reply pretending to be official support, then move you to DMs to phish your login, card, or a 'verification' payment.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Social Media

Account Ransom Scam

In this scam, an attacker takes over your social media account, locks you out by changing the details, and demands payment, often in crypto or gift cards, to return access, which they rarely honour.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Psychic Scam

In this scam, a self-styled psychic or spiritual healer messages you with a 'free reading', then claims you are cursed or in danger and demands escalating payments to remove the curse or grant blessings.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

LinkedIn DM Scam

In this scam, a connection or message on a professional network poses as a recruiter, investor, or business contact, then steers you to a phishing link, a fake job, an investment, or a request for personal details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Low risk Social Media

Gift Exchange Pyramid Scam

In this scam, a festive 'gift exchange' or 'secret sister' post promises you many gifts for sending one, but it is a pyramid scheme where most participants send a gift or money and receive nothing.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Paid Promotion Scam

In this scam, an account messages small businesses or creators offering paid promotion, shoutouts, or 'guaranteed' followers and sales, takes the fee, and delivers nothing or fake engagement.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Adult Content Verification Scam

In this scam, a profile or link promises adult content but requires 'age or identity verification' with your card or personal details, which are then used for charges, subscriptions, or identity theft.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Hire a Hacker Scam

In this scam, accounts advertise 'ethical hacking' services to recover lost accounts, change grades, or spy on a partner, then take upfront payment and deliver nothing, often demanding more.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Money Circle Scam

In this scam, a 'money circle', 'blessing loom', or 'sou-sou' invites you to pay in to receive a larger payout later, but it is a pyramid scheme that collapses, leaving most participants with losses.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Live Shopping Scam

In this scam, a live-stream seller showcases products and pressures viewers to pay quickly by comment or off-platform, then ships counterfeits, nothing at all, or items unlike those shown.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Group Buy Scam

In this scam, an organiser invites a community to pool money for a bulk discount or group order, collects everyone's payments upfront, then disappears or never delivers the goods.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Low risk Social Media

Fake Petition Scam

In this scam, an emotive viral 'petition' or pledge asks you to sign with personal details or click a link, harvesting your data, spreading malware, or selling your information, rather than supporting any real cause.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Page Purchase Offer Scam

In this scam, someone offers to buy your social media page, account, or username, then uses the 'transfer' or 'verification' process to gain access and hijack it without paying.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Fan Event Ticket Scam

In this scam, accounts impersonating a celebrity, team, or fan club offer meet-and-greets, VIP experiences, or exclusive event tickets through social DMs, taking payment for access that does not exist.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Low risk Social Media

Loop Giveaway Scam

In this scam, a 'loop' giveaway requires you to follow a long list of accounts and sometimes pay an entry fee for a big prize, but the draw is rigged or fake, used to inflate followers or take entry money.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Low risk Social Media

Chain Message Hoax Scam

In this scam, a chain message urges you to forward it to avoid bad luck, save your account, or claim a reward, spreading hoaxes, misinformation, or phishing links and sometimes harvesting engagement or data.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Cameo Video Scam

In this scam, an account impersonating a celebrity or a fake personalized-video service offers custom shout-out clips for a fee, takes payment off-platform, and delivers nothing or a recycled clip.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Talent Manager Scam

In this scam, someone posing as a talent, collab, or influencer manager offers to represent you and land paid deals, then charges upfront fees for a portfolio, contract, or onboarding and delivers nothing.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Sob Story Donation DM Scam

In this scam, a stranger or impersonator messages you with an emotional personal hardship story, asking for money, gift cards, or crypto directly, often escalating with new crises to keep you paying.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Lost Pet Reunion Scam

In this scam, someone responds to your lost-pet post claiming to have found your pet, then demands a transport fee, vet bill, or deposit before 'returning' the animal, which they do not have.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Fan Subscription Scam

In this scam, an account impersonates a creator or sets up a fake fan-subscription page, taking recurring payments or a sign-up fee for exclusive content that is recycled, stolen, or never delivered.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Social Media

Pump and Dump Group Scam

In this scam, a social media or chat group coordinates to hype a low-value stock or crypto coin, driving up the price, then organisers sell at the top and the price collapses, leaving followers with losses.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Social Media

Fake CAPTCHA Scam

In this scam, a fake CAPTCHA or 'verify you're human' page, often reached via social links or videos, instructs you to press keys or paste a command that secretly installs malware on your device.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Social Media

MFA Fatigue Scam

In this scam, an attacker who has your password repeatedly triggers multi-factor approval prompts or codes, hoping you approve one out of annoyance or confusion, granting them access to your account.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Frequently asked questions

Does a platform send verification warnings by DM?
Official verification and policy notices come through in-app settings or official channels, not urgent DMs with outside links. Treat such DMs as likely phishing.
A friend messaged asking for a code. Is that safe?
If a friend asks you to share a verification code or 'help recover' their account, their account may be hacked. Never share codes, and contact your friend another way to check.
How do I protect my social media accounts?
Turn on two-factor authentication, use a strong unique password, and be cautious with links in DMs, even from accounts you know.

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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.