Better Business Bureau serving Canton Region and Greater West Virginia offers tips and advice for consumers to avoid fraudulent practices.
BBB is warning Facebook users that sharing a certain kind of attention-grabbing post might put their friends at risk of falling victim to a scam.
How the scam works
You are scrolling through Facebook, and a gut-wrenching post about an injured, lost pet, or a missing child grabs your attention. You want to help, so you share the post on your own profile.
After you share the post, a scammer will change the original post to a deceptive rental ad or a link to a survey that “guarantees” a cash prize. Now, your friends think you have recommended that content. These bait-and-switch ads aim to either get a deposit for a rental property before the user gets a chance to see the home — or get your personal information, which could lead to identity theft.
BBB has seen multiple variations of these shared on local buy-and-sell Facebook groups across Canada, and USA Today () also reported about it in October. The commonality is the emotionality or urgency of the message, which encourages concerned people to share the news with their friends.
These posts are shared in local buy-and-sell groups because there is already a sense of community and trust within these crowds. Scammers sometimes also turn comments off on the posts so other group members cannot oust them.
Tips to avoid a bait-and-switch social media scam
- Do a bit of digging…
