Beware of Lottery, Donation and Promotion Scams That Ask for Money and Information

Scammers know that we are living in a tough economic, and know that a lot of people are desperate to win money that they want to use to pay off the long over overdue utility bills, student loan, rent, mortgage or other expenses. So, they go about rounding up their potential victims using social media like-farming scams, fake email and text messages.

Like-farming scam is one of the most effective methods used by scammers to round up potential victims. Scammers create a fake eye-catching social media post of a dead person, a sick person, of a celebrity, about Jesus or God, and ask or instruct social media users to like, share or comment on it, to express condolences, sympathy or kindness. But, what most social media users don't know is that, after following the instructions in the post, the scammers will start sending them friend requests.

Social media users who fall for the scam and accept the friend requests will start receiving fake and malicious messages from the scammers, who will attempt to trick them in visiting phishing websites created to steal personal and financial information, or trick them into installing malicious applications that steal sensitive information. Or, trick them into sending money via Western Union, MoneyGram or other money transfer services, by claiming that they have won the lottery or received some form of donation.

Once you are asked to send money in order to receive some form of prize or donation, without a doubt, it is a scammer attempting to rob you of your hard-earned money. So, don't be fooled, think before sending that little money you have worked so hard for, to some despicable scammer who will live comfortably from your hard work.

Note: Some of the names, addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers or other information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.