A Guide to Spotting Scams and Sharing Safely

Even with a private profile, daily interactions on social media require caution. Digital scams often appeal to emotions, urgency, or trust to trick users into handing over valuable information or money.

• Be wary of urgent or alarming messages: If you receive a direct message demanding quick money, warning that your account will be blocked, or claiming a relative is in trouble, stay calm. Scammers use fear to make you act without thinking. Always verify the situation by contacting the person or institution directly using a known phone number.

• Avoid clicking on unknown links: Do not open links sent via private messages or posted on walls that promise prizes, unbelievable offers, or shocking news. Even if the link comes from a friend, their account might have been hacked. If a link looks suspicious, ask your friend through another medium if they actually sent it.

• Be careful with what you post in real time: Sharing vacation photos while you are traveling tells criminals that your house is empty. It is much safer to post your travel memories and photographs once you have returned home.

• Ignore chain questionnaires and games: Posts asking you to answer questions like “What was your first pet?”, “What street did you grow up on?”, or “What is your favorite color?” seem harmless. However, these are often the exact same security questions banks and email providers use to recover passwords. By answering, you are giving away the keys to your digital security.

• Verify institutional accounts: If a bank, utility company, or government entity contacts you on social media asking for personal data, passwords, or card numbers, ignore it. Legitimate institutions never request sensitive financial information through platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or WhatsApp.