Social media scams

Examples of scam messages

• Cash App scam Scam example
  Unknown account

  Hi, this is Cash Support. We see a problem with your account. Send us the code we just texted you and a $[amount] test payment to $[cashtag] to verify it.

  Tell: Anyone asking for your sign-in code or PIN

  Read about the Cash App scam
• Instagram scams Scam example
  Unknown account

  Your account has been flagged for a copyright violation and will be disabled within 24 hours. To appeal, verify your login at [link].

  Tell: A DM or email warning about your account that asks you to log in through a link

  Read about the Instagram scams
• Telegram scams Scam example
  Unknown account

  Welcome to our private trading group! Our analysts' signals returned [percent] last week. Message [username] to join the next round and get started with a deposit.

  Tell: You were added to a group, or messaged, by someone you don't know

  Read about the Telegram scams
• Facebook scams Scam example
  Unknown account

  Is this you in this video?? [link]. Or: Hi, I'm interested in your listing. I'll send payment through [payment app] and my courier will pick it up, I just need your email to send the request.

  Tell: A message from a friend asking for money or a code, especially if you can't reach them another way

  Read about the Facebook scams
• Facebook Marketplace scam Scam example
  Unknown account

  Hi, is this still available? I'll take it. I've sent the payment through [payment app], but it was more than your asking price by mistake. Please refund the extra $[amount] to me and I'll send my driver to collect it today.

  Tell: A price far below what the item usually sells for

  Read about the Facebook Marketplace scam
• Romance scam Scam example
  Unknown account

  I hate asking, but my card is blocked while I'm abroad and I can't get home to see you. If you could send [amount] in gift cards today, I'll pay you back the moment I land. Please don't tell anyone, they won't understand us.

  Tell: They say they love you within days or weeks, but they can't meet in person or on live video

  Read about the Romance scam

Social media scams going around now

• 2026 midterm election scams The FBI warns scammers are using the 2026 midterms for fraud: fake campaign 'investment pools', scam PACs, merchandise that never ships and fake voter registration alerts. Donations aren't investments. Don't click links in unexpected messages and report it at ic3.gov.
• Recovery and refund scam Anyone who contacts you offering to recover your lost money for a fee is a scammer. Real help is free: contact the bank, app or card company you paid with right away and ask for a reversal, then report the scam to the FTC and your state attorney general.
• Qantas impersonation scam Scammers pretend to be Qantas in emails and texts offering refunds, gifts or expiring points. Qantas says it doesn't ask for PINs or passwords, including one-time passwords, by text or email. Don't click the link; check in the Qantas app or on its website, and report it to Scamwatch.
• Google Play gift card scam If someone tells you to buy Google Play gift cards and read out the codes, it's a scam. No real business or government agency demands payment in gift cards. Stop, keep the cards and receipt, and report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
• Fund recovery scam Anyone who contacts you offering to get your lost money back for an upfront fee is probably running a second scam. The FBI says law enforcement doesn't charge victims to investigate and private firms can't issue seizure orders. Don't pay, and report it at ic3.gov.
• Fake military profile scam If a soldier you met online asks you for money, for any reason, they're a scammer. Scammers copy real servicemembers' names and photos for fake profiles. Check the photo with a reverse image search, stop contact and report the profile.
• Snapchat premium scam Accounts that tease explicit photos and ask you to pay for "premium" Snapchat content are a scam: the Massachusetts attorney general says nothing is delivered however much you pay. Don't pay, block and report the account, and never send explicit images to strangers.
• LinkedIn scam Yes, scammers use LinkedIn. The common one is a fake recruiter who messages you, sets up a "virtual interview" and later asks for money or your Social Security or bank details. A real employer never charges you to get hired. Verify the company yourself and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Crypto scam Two scams dominate: a new online contact who steers you to a fake crypto investment site, and anyone who demands payment in crypto. The FTC says only scammers demand crypto, and the FBI says never pay fees to withdraw. Stop sending money, and report it at ic3.gov and ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Online quiz scam Some online quizzes are built to collect answers that double as security questions, like your first car or your school. Some are shared from hacked accounts and carry malware links. If you can't tell who runs a quiz, skip it, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Phone number and verification code scam A stranger who wants your phone number or a code sent to your phone is likely after your number. The FTC warns that scammers posing as buyers ask for a Google Voice verification code. Never share any verification code with someone you don't know.
• Lazada impersonation scams Messages that claim to be from Lazada and offer jobs, prizes or refunds are scams. Lazada says it doesn't recruit by SMS, WhatsApp or Telegram, and won't send you to third-party sites. Don't click or pay. Check your orders in the official Lazada app, and report the message to ScamShield.
• Sextortion scam Sextortion is blackmail: someone threatens to share intimate images or video unless you pay. Don't pay and stop replying. It's a crime, and you did nothing wrong. Save the evidence, block them, and report to ic3.gov or tips.fbi.gov.
• Spear phishing Spear phishing is a phishing message written for you in particular, using details like your name, employer or a recent purchase. The tells are an unexpected request, pressure to act, a sender or link that doesn't quite match, and a push to skip your normal process. Verify through a number or site you already know.
• AFP impersonation scam A call, email or message from someone claiming to be the Australian Federal Police who says there is suspicious activity on your accounts or a warrant for you is a scam. The AFP says it never threatens arrest, demands money or asks for personal details this way. Hang up and report it to Scamwatch.
• Airline customer service impersonation scam If someone from an "airline" contacts you first on social media, or asks for your booking number, phone number or bank details, treat it as a scam. Contact the airline only through its official app, website, chat or phone line, and report imposters at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Apple Cash scam Apple Cash scams ask you to send money to a stranger, or to "test" your device or "fix" a problem by paying. Apple says it never asks for payment by Apple Cash or for your Apple Account password or codes. Stop, and don't send the money.
• Apple gift card scam Apple gift cards pay only for Apple products and services. If someone tells you to use them for a bill, tax, fine or fee, it's a scam. Don't share the numbers on the back. If you did, contact Apple Support right away and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Cash App scam Common Cash App scams include fake support asking for your sign-in code, fake payment screenshots, and "cash flip" offers. Cash App says real support never asks for your code or PIN and never asks you to send money. Payments are hard to reverse.
• Cash App scam: what to do If you sent money to a scammer on Cash App, act today: report the payment to Cash App in the app, tell your bank if a linked card or account was involved, and report to the FTC. Payments you authorized are harder to reverse, so speed matters.
• Cash App screenshot scam A screenshot of a Cash App payment proves nothing: anyone can fake one. Check your own balance and activity in the app before you hand over goods or send money back. Cash App's own guidance warns about fake payment screenshots used as "proof" in money flip scams.
• Dating app romance scam (Bumble) A match on Bumble or any dating app who asks you for money is a scammer. The FTC says gift cards, wire transfers and crypto are the clearest sign. Stop contact, report the profile to the app, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Dating app scam A match who professes love fast, can't meet or video call, and then asks for money is likely a scammer. The FTC says never wire money, load gift cards or send cash to someone you met online. Stop contact, report the profile to the app and file at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Dating site scam A match who professes love fast, can never meet and soon needs money is almost certainly a scammer. Never send money, gift cards or crypto to someone you've only met online. Stop contact, keep the messages and report it to the dating site and ic3.gov.
• Dating site scam Fake profiles on dating sites and apps build a romance, then ask for money. If someone you haven't met in person asks you for money, the FTC says it's always a scam. Stop sending money, tell the site, and report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
• Depop scam Most Depop scams steer you off the app: a request to pay or chat elsewhere, or a buyer who overpays and asks for a refund. Depop says to keep payments inside the app and never share personal details. Report suspicious messages to Depop Support.
• Discord scams Discord scams use private messages, fake giveaways and look-alike login pages to get your account, crypto or money. Don't click links or scan QR codes from strangers, even from a friend's account. Report it to Discord and the FTC.
• Etsy scam Scammers target Etsy buyers and sellers with fake buyers, fake "Etsy" emails and requests to pay or chat outside Etsy. Etsy says a buyer never needs your email address to complete a purchase. Don't reply, report the message in Etsy Messages, and pay only inside Etsy.
• Facebook Marketplace buyer scam A buyer who sends a check you must deposit before shipping, pushes you to be paid off-platform, or asks for a code or your details is a scammer. Don't deposit a check and send money back, and don't give out codes. Report the buyer to Facebook and the FTC.
• Facebook Marketplace scam Act fast. How you paid decides your options: call your bank or card issuer for a card payment, contact the payment app, and file a claim if you used Facebook checkout. Report it to the FTC and Facebook. Anyone offering to recover your money for a fee is running a second scam.
• Facebook Marketplace scam On Facebook Marketplace, scammers pose as buyers who send fake payment notices or ask for a refund of an "overpayment", and as sellers with too-good prices who want payment outside the platform. Meet locally, don't share verification codes, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Facebook Messenger code scam If a Facebook friend messages you asking for a code, they're probably not your friend. The FTC says anyone who asks for your verification code is a scammer. Don't send it, call your friend another way, report the message and block the sender.
• Facebook Messenger scam A Messenger message asking for money, a code, your password or a click on a link is likely a scam, even if it comes from a friend's account. Don't reply or click. Check with the friend another way, report the chat in Messenger, and file at ReportFraud.ftc.gov if you lost money.
• Facebook money scam Anyone on Facebook who asks you to pay a fee to get a prize, or a friend who suddenly posts a way to make quick money with no risk, is almost certainly a scammer or a hijacked account. Don't pay. Call the friend, report the post, and report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Facebook scam recovery If you got scammed on Facebook, act in this order: contact the bank or app you paid with, secure your account if it was hacked, then report the scam to Facebook and to the FTC (US) or Action Fraud (UK). The sooner you ask, the better the chance of getting money back.
• Facebook scams Facebook scams include fake friend requests, hacked-friend messages, Marketplace buyers and sellers who want payment outside Facebook, and warnings that your account will be disabled. Don't click or pay. Check with the person another way, and report it in Facebook and at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Facebook verification code scam Anyone who asks you for a verification code is a scammer. The code is only for you to log in. Don't share it, don't click links in messages claiming to be from Facebook, and report the message.
• Fake Facebook email scam A Facebook email that threatens to disable your account unless you click a link is likely phishing. Facebook says it won't ask for your password by email. Don't click, check the sender domain and report it to phish@fb.com.
• Fake military profile photo scam If an online love interest in a uniform photo asks you for money, it's a scam. Scammers steal photos of real service members. Try a reverse image search of the profile pictures, stop contact, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Gift card scam Anyone who asks you to pay with gift cards is a scammer. No genuine organisation takes tax, bills or fees by voucher. Don't read out the codes. If you've already paid, contact the card company and your bank, then report it to Action Fraud.
• Grandparent scam A call or message from a grandchild or relative in trouble who needs money right now, and asks you to keep it secret, is a scam. Don't trust the voice alone. Hang up and call the person on a number you already know, then report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Hinge romance scam Scammers on Hinge move you off the app fast, avoid calls, and eventually ask for money or push an investment. Never send money to a match, and report any match who tells you where to invest. You can report a profile from the app.
• Instagram scam accounts Scam Instagram accounts pretend to be a company, a public figure, a friend or Instagram itself, then push you to pay a fee, move to another app or log in somewhere else. Don't reply or pay. Report the account in Instagram and at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Instagram scam post A post, ad or DM on Instagram that offers a prize, a too-cheap item, a loan or a sure-fire way to make money is a common scam setup. The tell: it asks for a fee, card details or a login. Don't engage. Report the post in the app, and report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Instagram scams Yes. Scammers use social media, Instagram included, to send fake prize offers, romance approaches and requests for money. Anyone in your feed saying they have money to give you is a scammer. Don't pay, stop contact, report it and tell the FTC.
• Instagram scams Instagram scams include fake DMs, ads for products that never arrive, investment 'coaches', romance and fake account warnings. Instagram says it never sends DMs about your account. Don't reply or click: report the message in the app and secure your account.
• Instagram scams Common Instagram scams are fake shops with cheap ads, romance scams and messages from hacked friends asking for money. The FTC says to check a company before buying and to call a friend directly if they ask for money. Report to Instagram and ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Job scam A job offer that asks you to pay for equipment or training, deposit a check and send some back, or do online "tasks" for pay is a scam. Real employers never ask you to pay to get a job. Check the company yourself and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• LinkedIn fake profile scam Yes. Fake profiles and messages on LinkedIn ask for money or sensitive information, push you off the platform, or offer unrealistic jobs. LinkedIn says to look for the signals below, then report the profile from the More menu.
• LinkedIn job scam A recruiter on LinkedIn who messages you out of the blue, flatters you, then asks you to pay for equipment or training, or for your Social Security number or bank details early, is likely a scammer. Contact the company directly and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• LinkedIn scams Scammers use LinkedIn messages and fake job posts to push task jobs, phishing links and requests for money or personal data. A real employer won't ask you to pay to get a job or to deposit money. Don't click, report it to LinkedIn and at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Lottery and prize scam If someone says you've won a lottery or prize you never entered, and asks you to pay fees or taxes first, it's a scam. The FTC says a real prize never costs you anything. Don't pay or share bank details. Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
• Marketplace shipping scam A Marketplace buyer who pushes you to ship before payment shows up in your own account, sends a payment screenshot, or says they overpaid is likely a scammer. Never ship on a screenshot or email. Confirm the money in your bank or payment app first, and report the buyer.
• Mega Millions sweepstakes scam A message that says you won Mega Millions or a sweepstakes you never entered is a scam, especially if it asks for a fee, bank details or a gift card. The FTC says if you have to pay to get a prize, it's a scam. Real sweepstakes are free. Don't reply, don't click, and report it.
• Mercari scam Mercari scams include fake "Mercari" emails and chat messages that push you to log in on a lookalike site, and buyers or sellers who want to pay or be paid outside the app. Mercari is the platform being imitated. Keep every deal inside Mercari and report scams.
• Messenger scam A Messenger message from a friend asking for money, or with a link to claim money, may come from a hacked account. Don't click or pay. Call your friend on a number you know, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Military dating scam Someone you met online who says they're a soldier and asks for money, for leave, packages, food or medical care, is a scammer. Servicemembers never have to pay for those. Stop contact, don't send money, and report it to the app and ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Military impersonation scam If someone you met online says they're in the military and asks you for money for any reason, they're a scammer. Scammers steal real servicemembers' names and photos. Cut off contact, report the profile and tell the FTC.
• Military romance scam Someone you met online who says they're a deployed soldier and asks for money is almost certainly a scammer using stolen photos. The FTC says service members never have to pay for packages, food, medical care or leave. Stop contact and report it.
• Military romance scam If someone you met online says they're a deployed soldier and asks you for money, they're a scammer. Real servicemembers never need you to pay for leave, food, medical care or packages. Stop contact, report the profile and file a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Military romance scam photos Romance scammers pose as service members using photos that belong to someone else. If a person you haven't met in person asks for money, it's a scam. Reverse image search the profile photo, stop contact, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Nigerian prince (advance-fee) scam An email, letter or message from a stranger who offers you a share of millions if you help move money is an advance-fee scam. The money doesn't exist. Don't reply, don't send fees or bank details, and report it at ic3.gov.
• Nigerian prince scam An email from a "prince", lawyer or banker promising you a share of a huge sum if you pay a fee first is an advance-fee scam, also called a 419 scam. The money doesn't exist. Don't reply or pay. Delete it, and report it to the FBI, FTC or Action Fraud, depending on where you live.
• Online dating scam A match who professes love fast, says they're overseas, wants to leave the dating app and then needs money is a romance scammer. Never send money, gift cards or crypto to someone you haven't met. Report them to the dating site, the FTC and IC3.
• Rental scam A rental listing with rent far below the local market, a landlord who can't show you the place and a request to pay a deposit by wire, gift card or crypto is a scam. Never pay to hold a place you haven't seen. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Robinhood phishing email Scammers send fake Robinhood emails and texts to steal your login. Robinhood says its support will never ask for your password, 2FA code or recovery phrase. Don't click the link. Open the app or type the address yourself, and report phishing to Robinhood.
• Romance scam If someone you only know online asks for money, gift cards, a transfer or crypto, it's a romance scam, however real the relationship feels. The FTC says that's true every time. Stop sending money, cut contact, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Snapchat money scam If someone on Snapchat, often a friend's hacked account, says they'll turn your Cash App or Venmo payment into much more money, it's a scam. You'll get fake screenshots, then a request for more. Stop paying, report the account, and contact the payment app.
• Snapchat phishing link scam A Snapchat message, text or email with a link that asks you to log in, "verify" your account or claim something is a phishing attempt. Snapchat says its staff will never ask for your password. Don't tap it. If you did, change your password, check your sessions and turn on two-factor authentication.
• Snapchat scam The most serious Snapchat scam is sextortion: someone gets you to share intimate images, then threatens to leak them unless you pay. Don't pay. Stop replying, keep the evidence, report the account in Snapchat and tell the FTC or police.
• Social media ticket scam A stranger or account selling tickets on social media who wants a bank transfer is a red flag. UK government figures show almost half of gig ticket fraud reports involved social media offers. Buy only from official sellers and pay by credit card.
• Steam gift card scam Anyone who tells you to pay with a Steam gift card is a scammer. The FTC says no real business or government agency will ever ask you to pay with a gift card. Don't share the card number or a photo of it. If you already did, contact Steam Support and report it.
• Steam gift card scam Anyone who tells you to buy a Steam gift card and read out the numbers is a scammer. The FTC says no real business or government agency will ever ask you to pay with a gift card. Stop, keep the card and receipt, and report it to Steam Support.
• Student loan forgiveness scam A company that charges upfront fees, asks for your FSA ID, or says it's tied to the Department of Education and can get your loans forgiven is a scam. Only scammers charge before they help. Use your loan servicer listed on the Department of Education's website and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Sublease and rental listing scam A too-good-to-be-true sublease or rental where the owner can't show the place and wants a deposit by wire, gift card or crypto is a scam. Check who owns the property, see it before you pay, and never send money you can't get back.
• Target gift card scam Anyone who tells you to pay with a Target gift card is a scammer. No real business or government agency demands gift cards. Stop, don't read out the card number and PIN, and if you already did, contact Target at once using the number on the card and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Telegram app scam Telegram itself isn't the scam: scammers use it because strangers can message you or add you to groups. Be wary of anyone who moves you to Telegram to invest, take a job or recover lost money. Don't send money, and report it at ic3.gov.
• Telegram scammer There's no reliable way to tell from a profile alone. Judge what they ask. A stranger on Telegram who offers easy work, a guaranteed investment return or wants payment in crypto is almost certainly a scammer. Stop replying, don't send money, and report it.
• Telegram scams Telegram is a messaging app, and scammers use it, mostly for crypto and investment pitches in group chats. Regulators advise not to reply, to delete the messages or group, block the sender and tighten your privacy settings. Never send money to someone who messaged you first.
• Ticketmaster scam Fake tickets and sites that look like Ticketmaster are the main risks. Buy only through ticketmaster.com or the official app, never pay a stranger by gift card, wire or cashier's check, and forward suspect emails to Ticketmaster. Report losses to the FTC.
• Tinder scammer A Tinder match who asks for money, pushes you to move to text or another app fast, or can't video call is likely a scammer. Never send money. Report the profile in the app and file at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Tinder is where they find you, not who they are.
• UK romance scam If someone you've only met online asks for money, it's a romance scam, however real the relationship feels. Never send money to someone you haven't met. Tell your bank straight away and report it to Action Fraud.
• Venmo Facebook Marketplace scam If a Marketplace buyer says they paid you on Venmo, check your Venmo balance before you hand over the item. Never send money back to a stranger who "overpaid" or "paid by mistake". Venmo says to contact its support instead. Payment app transfers are very hard to get back.
• Venmo payment scam If someone says they've paid you on Venmo but you can't see the payment in the app, it's a scam. Venmo only emails from an address ending in venmo.com. Check your balance in the app, never ship or refund based on an email or screenshot.
• WhatsApp scams A WhatsApp message from a stranger, or from a "friend" on a new number, asking for money, a 6-digit code or a link click is almost always a scam. Never share a verification code, not even with family. Block and report the sender, and call the real friend on a number you already have.
• WhatsApp update scam A message telling you to "update WhatsApp" through a link, or to share a code to keep your account, is a scam. WhatsApp says to use only the official app, and no real service asks for your verification code. Don't tap the link, never share the code, and report it.
• Work-from-home job scam A work-from-home job that asks you to pay a fee first, or sends you a check and tells you to forward part of it, is a scam. The FTC says no honest employer will send a check and ask you to send on some of the money or buy gift cards. Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
• Wrong number text scam A text from a stranger who says "sorry, wrong number" is often the first step of a scam. The FTC says these chats can turn romantic and lead to investment fraud. Don't reply or click anything. Delete it, forward it to 7726 (SPAM) and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

No scam matches that yet.