Fraud

Online fraud is deceptive actions over the Internet. As a rule, scammers abuse trust in order to extort money in one way or another, but they also need victims' personal data, such as identity card numbers, account login information, home addresses, dates of birth, email addresses, phone numbers and passwords.

What is online fraud?

Online fraud is deceptive actions over the Internet. As a rule, scammers abuse trust in order to extort money in one way or another, but they also need victims' personal data, such as identity card numbers, account login information, home addresses, dates of birth, email addresses, phone numbers and passwords.

As stated in the Community Rules, we prohibit attempts to deceive community members and extort money from them. Repeated violations of the rules may lead to the account being blocked.

Learn to understand online fraud schemes

Technology does not stand still, as well as the techniques of scammers. The ability to recognize online fraud is crucial to protect yourself from financial loss and other damage. If you doubt the authenticity or legality of something, always check whether the relevant information is available in the original, official, verified source outside the platform (for example, go to the official website through a search service instead of clicking on a suspicious link).

Here are some of the most common forms of fraud.:
  • Fraud with unrealistic profits: The free money offer scam works like this: users are offered to receive real money, counterfeit banknotes, digital currency, in-game currency, cryptocurrency, etc. in exchange for a "service fee" or personal data. Such schemes are characterized by the use of synthesized or digitally altered content with fake celebrity reviews in support of digital currency or cryptocurrency giveaways.

  • Cheating in mobile games This is done by offering free or cheaper game items. Most often, such an offer is accompanied by a call to visit a website or click on a link.By doing this, users may lose access to their account, game currency, or real money.

  • Donation fraud It is more common during disasters: scammers ask for donations to be transferred directly to their accounts through messages or websites created specifically to receive donations or identity theft.

  • Job Offer fraud It consists of a deceptive or unsolicited offer of prestigious, high-paying jobs with minimal job responsibilities. Such scammers often ask for an "entry fee", which cannot be refunded later, as well as provide personal information to use for other scams.

  • Love scams: Scammers pretend to be in love with their victim in order to gain their trust and obtain access to bank accounts, credit cards, passports, email accounts, national identification document numbers, etc. They may also force the victim to engage in fraud on their behalf. Here you can find Fotolikein’s advice on how to protect yourself from scammers.