Social media can be a great way to connect with friends, but social media websites and apps have become popular hangouts for scammers, too. Scammers are hiding out on social media, using ads and offers to market their scams. But you can make it harder for scammers to target you with these security tips.
It is fun to share about yourself, pictures, etc. but there are things you should never share online. Don’t share personal information such as your home address, phone number, city of birth, or social security number (even just the last four digits) in social media posts, or include it in your public profile.
Check out your privacy settings. Don’t always assume the default settings are the best option for you. You can set who can see your personal information and your postings.
Learn how social networking sites are using your information. What information can a third party see or download from your profile?
When in doubt…don’t click! Be very careful of links and messages with links. Verify who sent the message in an alternate way before clicking.
Be careful when selecting criteria for password re-sets. Hackers look for easy personal information to “reset” your password themselves. For example high school mascot, birthday, the city you grew up in. These are all easy pieces of information to gather from social media and be used to hack your financial accounts.
Be selective about who you accept as a friend on a social network. Identity thieves may create fake profiles to obtain financial information from you.
Facebook’s Help Centerhas a section on account security that includes tips on protecting your information and avoiding scams. You can report suspicious posts, messages, and profiles to Facebook.
