Facebook Face‑Off: Scam Surge Nearly Doubles in 2024
Hey folks, heads up! Facebook’s little playground for harmless pings and cat memes has turned into a mostly‑business‑like front for tricksters. The police rolled out a prognosis: 45 impersonation scams this year (Jan‑Sept) versus just 24 during the same stretch last year. That’s a boomingly close to a 90% spike—almost double the old tally.
Money Munching: What’s Up?
- Lost cash? Eh, $1.2 million slammed onto unsuspecting pockets this year alone.
- Last year’s damage? Roughly $740,000 in the same span.
- Bottom line: the scammers are living the rags‑to‑rich dream of their victims.
Who’s Most at Risk?
Turns out the most common victims are over 60. If you’ve got a golden age, you’d think you’d be immortal, but scammers seem to have cracked that vault.
How They Pull It Off
- Scammers hijack friend and family Facebook accounts—think “their mom’s profile” and “grandma’s feed.”
- They then set the stage with fake grant offers.
- Victims are coaxed into tucking away their personal details.
- Next, they’re asked to transfer cash—either straight into a bank account or overseas, all to “unlock” the grant.
Picture this: old family photo chat morphing into a “You’re a winner!” blast. It’s the classic bait‑and‑switch in the digital age.
What Can You Do?
- Always double‑check the source—especially if it’s rolling out money offers.
- Make sure you’re not inadvertently revealing personal data—think credit numbers, SSNs etc.
- Block or report suspicious accounts.
- If you’re older than 60, lean into the “you’re not a tech expert” angle and lean on younger family members for a quick check.
Bottom line: be baffled, don’t be bought. Keep that inbox ghost‑proof and make sure your Facebook game stays strictly for memes and pizza photos!
Trusting
Senior Scams: A Tale of Trust and Tactics
Why are seniors the prime targets?
It turns out that older folks often skip the fine print because they’re less familiar with the dark side of the internet. They’re typically very trusting, which makes them perfect attachments for scammers hovering in the virtual world.
How the scam unfolds
The copy‑cats trick people into opening seemingly legitimate Facebook messages that spell out a big money‑making promise. In reality, those “big fortunes” are nothing more than a cleverly disguised trap waiting to rob you.
Once the seniors download a “free” app or click a link, the bad guys either take control of the account or simply steal the name and email.
The revelation
Many victims caught on only after their family or friends warned them. They realized the accounts had been spoofed when the “post” talked about money count or universal treasures that simply didn’t exist.
Police advice: Keep your guard up
- Never get involved in a get‑rich‑quick scheme that demands money before any payout.
- Never share personal information—even with your own relatives or close friends—if you’re unsure about the authenticity of the source.
- When in doubt, double‑check by running a quick Google search on the name or the message.
Where to report a scam
Call the police hotline at 1800‑255‑0000 or shout it out on the internet at police.gov.sg/iwitness—the exact address is as easy as typing “iwitness” into a web browser.
Need some advice on dealing with scams?
Dial the anti‑scam helpline at 1800‑722‑6688 or visit scamalert.sg for trustworthy tips and real‑time guidance.
The story that started this piece was first published by The New Paper. Remember—always double‑check, keep your cleverness on the dial, and stay one step ahead of those who want to turn your trust into thieves.
