Think Twice Before You Buy: Avoiding Scams in Social Media Ads

Social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram are well known hubs for legitimate businesses to promote their products. However, they’ve also become fertile ground for scammers. The 2023 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report highlights that online purchase scams were the third-riskiest type of scam in 2023, with thousands of complaints filed.

Similarly, Bitdefender has been monitoring multiple scam ads on these social platforms, consistently highlighting the risks that arise from interacting with them, including malware.

Here’s a breakdown of the most common social media scams as reported by the BBB, as well as tips on how to avoid falling victim.

Common Scams to Watch Out For

1. Products That Claim to Support Charity

When checking your social media feed you might come across ads selling jewelry, T-shirts, or other merch that claim to donate part of the proceeds to charity. It might even feel personal, as scammers sometimes send direct messages to users, asking them to buy and spread the word. However, some of these ads are not what they seem. Shoppers never receive their purchase, and the business usually disappears, leaving customers with no way to contact them.

How to protect yourself: Before buying, check the legitimacy of the charity through trusted sources like Give.org. Many scam sites simply use charity claims to tug at your heartstrings.

2. Free Trial Offers with Hidden Fees

These ads often feature celebrity endorsements and promise free trials of beauty or health products for a small shipping fee. Unfortunately, signing up can commit users to expensive monthly shipments that add up quickly ($70-$100 each).

How to protect yourself: Always read the terms and conditions. Hidden fees, recurring subscriptions, and pre-checked boxes can be warning signs. Also, search for reviews of the company online and check the BBB website to see if other consumers have raised similar concerns.

3. Counterfeit Merchandise

From designer handbags to branded sportswear, counterfeit items are also widespread on social media platforms. Scammers lure victims with low prices and engaging images, but these products are often low quality, potentially unsafe, and don’t meet regulatory standards.

How to protect yourself: Be cautious of significantly lower prices than what you’d usually find elsewhere. Look for spelling or grammatical errors in the ad, which can indicate a scam. Research the website and check for reviews before making a purchase.

4. Engaging Ads with Nonexistent Customer Service

Sometimes, flashy ads for beauty products, kids’ toys and clothing appear at prices enticing enough to make buyers shop impulsively. Unfortunately, the purchased goods never arrive. Upon contacting customer service, shoppers receive vague responses, or no reply at all.

How to protect yourself: Conduct a quick online search with keywords like “complaints,” “reviews,” or “scam” along with the website or company name. Check if the site has legitimate “About Us” and “Contact Us” information with real contact details. If you only see a form without specific contact information, it’s a red flag.

5. Suspicious ‘Free’ Apps

When scrolling on your social feed you might be tempted by free apps that claim to offer unique services or special features. However, downloading these unknown apps can expose you to subscription traps, with some users reporting recurring fees as high as $99 every week.

In other cases, as reported by Bitdefender Labs, these “free” apps serve up malicious software, including credential-stealing Trojans to enable cybercriminals to take over accounts and steal highly sensitive personal and financial information.

How to protect yourself: Before downloading, read the app reviews and description carefully. Check for spelling and grammar issues, as these often indicate a less reputable source. Verify the developer's website and review the app’s terms carefully before entering any personal information. Use a security solution with comprehensive anti-malware protection to detect and block malicious apps from harming your device and data.

Utilize Tools Like Bitdefender Scamio

To further safeguard yourself, consider using tools like Bitdefender Scamio. Scamio our free AI-powered chatbot designed to detect scams by analyzing suspicious links, messages, emails, and even QR codes. It provides instant analysis and practical tips to avoid scams, helping you make informed decisions before engaging with online offers. You can access Scamio via web browser, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and Discord.

You can also help others stay safe by sharing Scamio with them in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Romania, Australia, and the UK

Stay vigilant, and remember that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.