Stay #Fraudsafe on Social Media

Sultan thought it was a stroke of incredibly good luck that he scored VVIP tickets for an event that his friends and family were eager to go to. He found a post from someone who had extra tickets and was letting them go for a cheap price. Just as he was about to make a payment, Sultan remembered reading: “If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

This pithy sentence has become common sense advice being offered by authorities. In October 2023, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) issued a warning about fake social media advertisements peddling event tickets at unbelievably low prices. Data shows that social media topped fraud losses in many jurisdictions, with losses of USD 2.7 billion.

How can you protect yourself and your loved ones from social media fraud?

1. Check the law.

Is the seller legally allowed to sell what they are selling? Many event organizers say that they have the right to cancel any tickets bought from unauthorized resellers, including through coupon websites or classified apps and sites.

Best practice: Whether it’s the latest model of phone or passes to an event, you will find official sellers listed on promotions or official websites.

2. Don’t overshare:

Sultan remembered posting about how much he wanted to go to this event. It was not chance that brought that fraudulent seller to his timeline.

Best practice: Do a privacy check on your social accounts. Most channels now make it easy for you to limit who can see your posts and information.

3. Don’t volunteer:

While Sultan didn’t buy anything, he realized he had already shared details – name, age, mobile numbers – of his friends with the seller. He quickly went over the information he shared and warned those people to be extra careful and vigilant.

Best practice: If a seller or a platform wants personal details or financial information, it’s the consumer’s job to double-check their details. Don’t give information to unknown sellers on social media platforms.

4. Verify:

Most scams count on victims feeling rushed into taking a decision. “Buy now, or you will lose this offer” is an old trick.

Best practice: Give yourself time to check out the seller. Run their company name online together with “fraud”, “scam”, or “complaint”.

5. Report it:

Not only did Sultan call his friends and family, he also reported the post as fraudulent.

Best practice: Reporting potential scammers keeps us all safer. UAE authorities have made it easy to report cybercrime online, either via the Aman service of Abu Dhabi Police or the eCrime website of Dubai Police.

If you have faced card fraud, arm yourself with information on how to report that too.

Have your say…

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