Instagram scams

How to avoid cons and fraudsters online

Highly targeted advertising on social media sites like Instagram and Facebook makes it easier than ever for shady brands to dupe eager scrollers and shoppers with glossy images, only to deliver low-quality goods or nothing at all.

According to data from the Federal Trade Commission, complaints of fraud that started on social media jumped from nearly 28,900 in 2019 to more than 71,500 in 2020. And that figure is on pace to double again in 2021.

These five steps will help you separate the gems from the fakes.

1 Search for independent reviews, complaints

Look for customer feedback on independent sites, like Trustpilot and Google My Business, and search for complaints on the Better Business Bureau’s scam tracker.

You can also tap friends, family and your broader social network for insight. They’ve likely been served the same ads as you, and odds are good that someone pulled the trigger and can tell you if the product is as advertised.

2 Research the domain history

Sketchy companies pop up and disappear faster than the moles in the arcade game, creating a new domain name every time they resurface, so be wary of any sites created in the past year.

To find out when a website was created, simply plug the URL into the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers’ lookup tool.

3 Test out customer support

Reach out to the company through its official channels before making a purchase, such as a support email or phone number, as well as by direct message on the social media platform.

“In my experience, this strategy works 90% of the time,” says Oleg Donets, co-founder and chief marketing officer for Real Estate Bees. “In most cases, a shady company will answer one or maximum two questions, and then they would stop replying.”

4 Triple-check the return policy

Make sure you’re crystal clear on the return policy before tapping the “buy” button. How many days do you have to return it? Does the site allow a full refund or will you be issued a credit?

5 Pay with a credit card

If you paid from a checking account or with cryptocurrency, you have little recourse to get your money back.

But credit cards have an extra layer of protection. If an item isn’t as advertised and the brand’s customer service doesn’t come through, you can initiate a chargeback through your credit card company.