Nasty Phishing Scam is Circling Facebook and TikTok
by Reshwanth A
Updated Nov 22, 2023
Nasty Phishing Scam is Circling Facebook and TikTok
Be careful on Facebook and TikTok because there's a tricky scam going around. People are getting a message that says, "He just passed away a moment ago." It's not true, and it's a way for bad people to trick you. They use fake videos that look like news from places like ABC News or BBC News, showing things like car accidents or police stuff.
Don't click on any links in these messages, or they might get your info like bank details or passwords. If you see these messages, tell someone and don't click on anything. Be smart online, don't trust everything, and use strong passwords and extra security to stay safe.
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How to Report on Facebook and TikTok?
Reporting on Facebook:
Reporting a post on Facebook involves a straightforward process. First, locate the post you want to report and click on the three dots at the top-right corner. From the menu that appears, select "Report post." Subsequently, choose the "Something else" option to specify the issue, and then select "Fraud or scam." Follow the on-screen instructions to provide additional details and click "Submit" to report the post.
Reporting on TikTok:
To report a post on TikTok, locate the video you want to report and click on the arrow in the bottom-right corner. Tap on the "Report" option, often represented by a flag or exclamation mark icon. Choose the reason for reporting, such as "Frauds and scams," and follow any additional prompts to provide more information. Finally, tap "Submit" to complete the reporting process on TikTok. Keep in mind that platform interfaces may evolve, so it's advisable to refer to the latest guidelines provided by Facebook and TikTok for accurate information on reporting procedures.
TikTok
TikTok and its Chinese version, Douyin, are popular video apps owned by ByteDance. People use these apps to make and share short videos that can be as short as 3 seconds or as long as 10 minutes. Since they started, TikTok and Douyin have become very famous around the world.
In October 2020, TikTok reached a big achievement by getting more than 2 billion downloads on mobile phones everywhere, showing that a lot of people use it. In 2020, Morning Consult said TikTok was the third-fastest growing brand, just after Zoom and Peacock. Also, Cloudflare, a company that helps with internet security, said TikTok was the most popular website in 2021.
Facebook has evolved into a global social media and networking service under Meta Platforms ownership. Starting with Harvard students, it expanded to a worldwide audience, boasting 3 billion monthly active users as of December 2022. Accessible through various devices, the platform enables users to create profiles, share multimedia content, and connect through features like Messenger.
Despite its popularity, Facebook has faced controversies, including privacy issues, political manipulation, and concerns about mass surveillance. Criticisms also involve psychological effects and challenges related to fake news and hate speech. Ranking as the third most visited website globally as of October 2023, with a significant portion of traffic from the United States, Facebook continues to wield a substantial influence on the digital landscape.
How Does the "He Just Passed Away a Moment Ago" Scam Work?
The "He Just Passed Away a Moment Ago" scam operates by circulating a deceptive message on social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok. They put up fake videos that look like real news from places like ABC News or BBC News, showing things like car accidents or police stuff.
To make it even trickier, they add a sad message saying, "He just passed away a moment ago." This makes people feel curious or sad, and the bad guys want them to click on the video. But it's all a mean trick! If you click on the link, these bad people might try to steal your personal information, like your bank details or passwords.
Nasty Phishing Scam is Circling Facebook and TikTok - FAQs
It's a deceptive scheme where scammers send fake messages claiming someone just passed away, accompanied by fake news videos. They aim to trick users into clicking on the video, but it's all a mean trick to steal personal information.
Clicking on the link could lead you to a fake video or scam page, allowing cybercriminals to hack into your device and steal sensitive information like bank details and passwords. These scams often use emotional triggers to manipulate users into clicking.
By refraining from clicking on suspicious links, you reduce the risk of falling victim to deceptive schemes like phishing scams. This helps maintain your digital security and prevents the compromise of personal information.
Reporting a post on Facebook is easy. Locate the post, click on the three dots at the top-right corner, select "Report post," choose "Something else," specify the issue as "Fraud or scam," follow on-screen instructions, and click "Submit."
To report a video on TikTok, locate the video, click on the arrow in the bottom-right corner, tap "Report," choose the reason (e.g., "Frauds and scams"), follow any additional prompts for information, and tap "Submit." Keep in mind that platform interfaces may change, so refer to the latest guidelines for accurate reporting procedures.