Staying Safe Online
The Investment Scammer
The Investment Scammer offers great investment opportunities like cheap loans, cryptocurrency schemes or share promotions. They promise quick money, low risks, and high returns, but then take your money and run.
The Money Mule Scammer
The Money Mule Scammer promises you easy money, but is actually running a money-laundering operation. They might offer to deposit money into your bank account, which they’ll then ask you to withdraw or transfer to another bank account, in return for a share. This activity is illegal, and could get be prosecuted.
The Cash Flipping Scammer
The Cash Flipping Scammer claims to have insider access, promising to quickly multiply your money, only to take your cash for themselves. Their ‘get rich quick’ trick doesn’t exist, and they’re not the reputable trader they claim to be.
The Friend in Need Scammer
The “Friend in Need” scammer claims to be a friend or someone you know, who has lost their phone or been locked out of their account, and needs money. In reality, they aren’t who they say they are, and they want to steal your money.
The Romance Scammer
The Romance Scammer may claim to be looking for love or friendship, but is actually trying to steal your money or details about your identity, like your driving license, passport, or bank account details, which are used to commit other crimes.
The Loan Scammer
The Loan Scammer will offer you a loan at a very low-interest rate, in exchange for a fee upfront, only to disappear with your money. They don’t work for an authorised money lender, and are trying to tempt you with a fraudulent deal.
The E-Commerce Scammer
The E-Commerce Scammer may charge you for products will never arrive, or ask you for identity details like your driving license, passport or bank account details. They then use your details to commit fraudulent activities.
What to do if you spot a scam on Facebook or Instagram
If you think you’ve seen a scam on Facebook or Instagram, you can report it by clicking the ‘Report post’ or ‘Report photo’ button.
Facebook resources
You can find more information on how to report a scam to Facebook here.
For help keeping your Facebook account safe and secure, see our online resources.
If you think your Facebook account has been hacked, visit our Hacked Wizard page.
Instagram resources
Visit the Instagram Safety site to learn how to report content, and other ways to protect yourself.