If you’re looking for a site that will allow you to stay in touch with your favorite celebrities and fandoms, Twitter is definitely the place to do that. So many official celebrities, companies, and sports teams all use Twitter to tweet out updates about what they are up to, as well as to keep in touch with their fan base as they see what their fans want and start conversations with them. It is definitely a fun place to be and it’s surprising how many official accounts will actually communicate with you via Twitter. However, since scammers know how popular Twitter is, they have plagued the app with Twitter scams that we should all keep an eye out for.
Types of Twitter Scams
Fake Visitor Scam
A scammer direct messages you or tweets a link and tells you that it shows you how many visitors visit your account on a daily basis. Once you click on the link, it invites you to take a survey to see the results. At the end of the survey, it tells you that it needs your phone number to “verify you.”
You then get spammed with several text messages that charge your phone bill every time you get texted by the website. The scammer then steals your funds that disappear with each text message.
Username and Password Scam
Scammers will either tweet out or send you a link via direct message, stating a variety of excuses as to why you should click said link. Maybe they promise you more Twitter followers or send you a fake warning message that your account was compromised.
It leads you to what looks like a Twitter log-in page and tells you to enter your username and password. Once the scammer has this information, they then log-in to your account and hack it. Sometimes, they even steal your photos to use themselves. They then tell you to give them money to give you your account back.
Link Bait Scam
A scammer tweets out or direct messages you a phishing link to click on for an excuse that usually convinces you in some way shape or form to click the link. Once you click the fake website link, it then downloads malware onto your device that scans it for your personal information.
It could also contain forms that tell you to fill out your personal information or a fake Twitter log-in page that tells you to enter your username and password. With all this information, a scammer can commit identity theft to steal your funds or blackmail you into giving them money to get your Twitter account back.
Fake Sales Scam
Scammers tweet out or direct message you advertising that they are selling something and want you to buy it. There are even premium girls that might message you, telling you to add them onto Snapchat or OnlyFans. Once you purchase the product or their services, it is either a phony product that doesn’t work or they don’t send you anything at all and just keep your money. Either way, your money then becomes stolen since the product you bought wasn’t worth your money.
For example, in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, fake cures were being sold on Twitter from scammers that claimed it will rid you of this awful virus. These fake cures included essential oils, colloidal silver, CBD products, and many more. Sometimes, scammers would send these products out to their displeased customers who realized they didn’t actually rid the virus. Other times, scammers wouldn’t send anything at all and would just keep your money.
How to Avoid Twitter Scams
- Don’t click on any link that someone randomly sends you. These links could be filled with malware that can infect your devices and give scammers your personal information that will allow them to commit identity fraud or steal money directly from your bank account. They could also lead you to give them your personal information or Twitter information, which will also allow them to commit identity fraud or blackmail you.
- Don’t give anyone your personal or financial information. With this personal information, they can commit identity theft and steal your life savings from you. No one will ask for random gift cards to pay for things. Along with this, if you give them your financial information they can steal directly from your bank account.
- Don’t enter your username or password from a link you clicked on; go on the official Twitter site instead. If it looks like the official log-in screen, look at the link carefully for any misspelled words that could give away the fact that it’s not the official website.
- Don’t buy anything on Twitter from a stranger and do your research before buying the product. Anything sold on Twitter is usually a fraudulent product. If you really want to buy something someone is selling on Twitter, do your research on the product and make sure they have good reviews, a good following on their profile, and an online store with good reviews before buying the product.
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