Facebook Safety Tips

Facebook can be a wonderful way to connect with family and friends around the world, as well as an amazing marketing tool... if you have the know-how to utilize it safely! Let's take a look at an effective process for doing just that.

What to watch out for while navigating Facebook:

Romance Scams

There's a common misconception that romance scams only target singles on dating apps, when in fact they extend to older women playing online games such as Words with Friends on Facebook. Scammers pose as lonely individuals looking for companionship and claim to be widowed, divorced, or working interstate or overseas. They eventually create a story that requires your financial help.

They may say their money is tied up elsewhere so they can't pay for an airline ticket to visit you, for example, or they urgently need money to pay for medical expenses for a family member. The stories vary, but they ultimately rely on your willingness to help a friend out.

Fake Facebook ADs

Many businesses use Facebook to advertise their products in your feed. Some are legit but keep an eye out for fake ads that sell products at prices that are way too good to be true. For example, a laptop that retails at $900 that's selling for $29.99 is a scam.

The ad links to a fake website, and if you enter your credit card details to pay for the item, they'll be stolen by scammers.

Keep an eye out for Facebook ads featuring celebrities endorsing investment schemes that encourage people to sign up to crypto or money-making schemes. Once you sign up, you'll be contacted by scammers who put pressure on you to deposit money into fake schemes.

Pay ID Scams on Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is a popular buy / sell site where you can buy and sell used items from individuals in your local community, just like Gumtree.

One scam to watch out for on Marketplace involves scammers claiming to use Pay ID to pay for an item. Pay ID is a fast way to pay someone using their email address or mobile number instead of a BSB and account number.

The scammer responds to an ad and doesn't try to negotiate on price, they simply say they want to buy the item but can't pick it up in person, so they'll be sending a relative. The offer to pay using Pay ID and so request your email address or phone number. They then claim to have paid for the item and accidentally paid you extra, so they ask you to repay them the difference. For example, they claim to have paid you $100 for an item that only costs $25.

Fake News

Fake news is not a new concept, however it's much easier to spread on Facebook. Be aware that fake news DOES exist, so question the source and don't believe everything you see or read!

Facebook Safety Tips

1. Don't send money to people you meet on Facebook! Loaning money to a Facebook friend you have never met in person, despite regular contact, is one of the biggest red flags that you are dealing with a scammer. Scammers are patient and will work to build your trust over weeks or even years so that you think you're helping a friend out by loaning them money. Once you send them money or pay for something on their behalf, they will find more ways to get you to send more.
   

2. Adjust your privacy settings! Use Facebook's Privacy Checkup feature to review your policy and security settings so that you are in control of who you share things with. Go to your profile picture in the top left corner of the page and select Settings and Privacy, then Privacy Checkup. The checkup features allow you to do things like adjust who can see what you share in the future and past posts and who can see information like your phone number, email address, and date of birth. You can also review and remove websites or apps you have used your Facebook details to log into, as well as review your ad preferences to select what information on your profile can be used by advertisers to contact you. You can set up Privacy Checkup Reminders since Facebook routinely adds new features that can sometimes change your privacy settings and affect the information you share.
   

3. Don't overshare! Because Facebook encourages you to share personal information, it can be a treasure trove for identity thieves. So, be mindful about what you post on your page and in group chats. Keep in mind that comments and pictures you share with others can be seen by people you may not know, like friends of friends, so don't give away personal details like your home address or date of birth.
   

4. Use a strong password! A strong password is key to keeping your online accounts secure. Security experts recommend using passphrases instead of passwords as they make it harder for others to guess.
   

5. Don't accept random friend requests unless you know the person in real life! People are not always who they claim to be, so don't feel obliged to accept every friend request you receive. When you get new ones, check to see whether you're already friends with the individual. If you are, the new request is most likely a duplicate account created by a scammer.
   

6. Use the block, unfriend, or unfollow functions! You can, and should, take action if you come across a post that you don't like. You can hide posts to see fewer similar ones, unfollow a person or group so you no longer see future posts, and report posts to Facebook. They will not get a message from you to let them know you have done this. If someone is contacting you and you don't want them to, then block them to stop communication all together.
   

7. Avoid using Facebook to log into other websites! When you use your Facebook login details to sign into other websites, it may save you the trouble of having to remember more login details, but it comes at a price. Facebook shares your data with websites that you use your login information for.

Where to go for help with any major issues or concerns:

• Contact Facebook to report the scam at facebook.com/help/reportlinks.

• Contact your bank immediately to ask them to stop any further transactions.

• Contact IDCARE, a free support service for people impacted by scams and identity theft, to build a response plan. Visit IDCARE or call 1800 595 160.

• Report the incident to Scam Watch to warn others.

• Being scammed can be emotionally and financially stressful so get support for yourself. Reach out to family or friends or speak to Lifeline and Beyond Blue for a confidential chat.