Hey there! As a social media expert, I want to give you the inside scoop on the shadiest Snapchat scams going around in 2023. Snapchat is tons of fun for sharing silly selfies and catching up with friends. But as its popularity grows, so do the opportunities for scammers.
I‘ll walk you through the most common Snapchat scams reported lately and provide insider tips to avoid getting tricked. I‘ll also explain exactly what to do if you fall victim to one of these schemers.
Sound good? Let‘s get started!
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1. Celebrity Impersonation Scams
Scammers are getting craftier at setting up fake Snapchat accounts posing as celebrities like Kim Kardashian, sports stars, or other famous people. According to Snapchat, impersonation accounts skyrocketed 98% last year alone.
Here‘s how the scam typically works:
The faux celebrity account will message Snapchat users claiming to be raising money for charity. They provide a link, CashApp handle, or Venmo username where you can supposedly donate to their worthy cause.
Some victims reported the scammer claimed a Snapchat contest prize in exchange for an upfront "processing fee." Of course, the victims never received any winnings after sending their money.
Red flags it‘s an impersonation scam:
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The account lacks a blue verification checkmark. Snapchat verifies all real celebrity accounts.
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There are few or no posts from the account. Most celebs actively post Snaps.
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They ask for money or your personal information. A real celebrity would never solicit donations directly through Snapchat DMs.
According to the FTC, consumers lost $312 million to fake celebrity endorsements and imposters in 2021 alone. Ouch!
So remember, no matter how convincing a Snapchat celeb seems, don‘t send money or share personal details. If you want to support a cause promoted by a celebrity, go directly to their verified social media profile or official website to donate.
2. Bogus Giveaways and Contests
Watch out for Snapchats announcing you won a contest or sweepstakes you never even entered!
This scam works like this:
You‘ll receive an exciting Snap telling you that you won a big prize like an iPhone, gift cards, a car, free vacations, etc. In order to claim your prize, the scammer posing as a contest representative will ask for personal details like your address to ship your winnings.
Or they may claim there‘s a small upfront fee you need to pay for "processing" or "insurance" costs to release the prizes. Some victims reported being directed to fake websites to enter their credit card info to cover these fake fees.
According to the FTC, consumers lost a whopping $328 million to fake prize and sweepstakes scams in 2021.
How to spot a phony giveaway or contest:
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You don‘t recall ever entering the contest. Scammers randomly target Snapchat users with these fake prize claims.
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Requests your personal info like address, date of birth, etc. Legit contests will never ask for this just to announce you won.
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Asks for money to claim the prize. Real giveaways don‘t require you to pay anything upfront.
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Directs you to click on a link to collect winnings. Scammers use fake prize claim websites to steal your personal and financial data.
If you receive a message about winning a contest you have no memory of entering, delete it immediately. And remember, no legitimate giveaway requires your personal information or money as "processing fees." Don‘t get duped into giving away your details!
3. Cryptocurrency and Investment Scams
I‘ve seen a surge of Snapchat scams promoting shady cryptocurrency "investments" lately. Here‘s how this one goes:
A Snapchat account (often posing as a crypto expert or company) will send you a message touting some hot new crypto token promising insane returns. They provide a wallet address where you can buy the token and get in early before the price skyrockets.
But after you transfer funds to purchase the fake tokens, the scammer and the pretend crypto promptly disappear. According to the FTC, $329 million was lost to cryptocurrency scams in 2021, a massive increase from previous years.
Warning signs it‘s a fake crypto scheme:
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Claims of outrageous, guaranteed profits. All investments carry risk, so guarantees are always suspicious.
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High pressure tactics or countdown timer saying the deal is expiring soon. Scammers want you to act fast without doing research.
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The token is totally unknown. Check coinmarketcap.com to verify it‘s a real coin.
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Demands payment via cryptocurrency only. This allows scammers to easily take the money and run.
Some other red flags are promises of free crypto giveaways, mining investment scams, and fake exchanges. Basically, don‘t trust any crypto promotions on social media.
Do your own extensive research before investing in any coin or token. And never send funds to crypto addresses provided over Snapchat – it‘s almost certainly a scam.
4. Romance Scams
Romance scammers are slithering into Snapchat too these days. Here‘s how they work:
The scammer creates a fake account using photos of an attractive person. They usually claim to have a job like military, engineering, or oil rig worker that keeps them traveling abroad.
After connecting with you, they begin building a relationship through romantic Snaps and chats. When they feel they‘ve formed a bond, they start spinning tales about needing money for emergencies – hospital bills, travel troubles, car repairs, family issues, etc. They may even profess their love and promise to pay you back.
According to the FTC, romance scams cost people $547 million just in 2021 alone, showing how easily feelings of love can be exploited.
Some red flags that your Snapchat sweetheart is a fraud:
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Their profile seems too perfect – gorgeous model looks, high-flying career, glamorous lifestyle. But no real specifics about their job, family, location, etc.
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They make excuses not to video chat after building rapport. Scammers often claim the camera on their phone is broken.
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Declares love very quickly and wants to move the conversation off Snapchat where messages disappear.
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Frequently has emergencies requiring you to send money right away.
I can‘t emphasize this enough: never, ever send money to someone you haven‘t met in person – even if you feel a strong connection. Block any Snapchat friends who continually ask for financial help or loan repayments.
5. Sextortion Scams
Sextortion is a scary scam I‘ve seen on the rise lately targeting Snapchat users. Here‘s how it typically goes down:
You begin chatting with a new Snapchat friend who seems really into you. After building some rapport, they start asking for increasingly flirty or compromising photos and videos. If you provide any, the scammer will immediately threaten to expose the pics publicly or to your friends/family unless you pay a ransom fee.
In other cases, they may threaten to digitally alter innocent photos using Photoshop to damage your reputation. This type of blackmail can be truly devastating for victims.
According to security company MalwareBytes, sextortion scams increased a massive 151% in 2022 compared to 2021 as more users got hooked on dating apps.
The best way to avoid this scam is refusing inappropriate photo requests from new Snapchat connections. Never send compromising media to someone you don‘t know and trust completely.
And if you do fall prey to a scammer, never pay their ransom! Block them and report it to Snapchat immediately.
6. Fake Shopping Websites
Here‘s another sneaky scam to watch out for on Snapchat: ads redirecting to phony shopping sites.
You may see an ad for a hot new gadget or a popular item at a ridiculously discounted price. But when you click the link, it takes you to a convincing but fake e-commerce site. If you attempt to make a purchase, you‘ll just be giving your credit card details directly to scammers.
According to Akamai Research, attacks on e-commerce sites and online retailers surged over 50% in 2022. And many of these attacks started with fraudulent social media ads.
Some signs it‘s a fake shopping site:
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Prices that seem way too good to be true. Heavily discounted luxury goods are always suspicious.
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Payment only via bank wire, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Legit sites accept credit cards or services like PayPal.
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No contact info, address, or company history provided. Real businesses display this info prominently.
My advice? Stick to well-known online retailers that you already trust when shopping through social media ads. Or better yet, go directly to the brand‘s official site to make purchases. Protect your hard-earned money and credit card info!
7. Account Verification Scams
After hacking into Snapchat accounts, scammers are posing as the user‘s friends to steal their info. Here‘s what this scam looks like:
Let‘s say a scammer gains access to your friend‘s account. They will then message you from your friend‘s account claiming it‘s temporarily locked, so they need your help.
The imposter will ask you to share the 6-digit verification code you receive via text message. This code is actually meant to unlock your friend‘s real account, not the scammer‘s access. So if you comply, the scammer can steal your friend‘s account and lock them out.
According to Google, a whopping 15% of compromised social media accounts are due to users being tricked into handing over their login codes. Don‘t let it happen to you!
If you get this type of verification code request:
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Do NOT share your code with the requester. Real companies will never ask for your codes.
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Contact your friend through another channel to confirm it‘s really them.
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Report the suspicious account to Snapchat immediately.
Sending your personal verification codes to anyone is like handing over the keys to your account. Keep them secret!
8. Premium Snapchat Scams
If you‘re approached about joining a premium Snapchat subscription, proceed with extreme caution. There are tons of shady accounts falsely promoting premium Snapchats and adult content.
Typically, they promise exclusive and explicit content in exchange for an upfront subscription fee. But in reality, these accounts are rarely run by the people in the photos. You‘ll just lose your money and possibly compromise your personal data.
Here are the facts:
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Snapchat does not have an official premium account subscription service. Anyone claiming otherwise is a scammer.
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The adult content industry is ripe with scams, especially on social media. Never pay for adult content from strangers online.
According to SocialCatfish, over 1,300 people report falling prey to risky adult content scams every month. Don‘t become a victim! Block and report any shady accounts promoting premium Snapchats.
How To Stay Safe on Snapchat
Now you know how Snapchat scammers operate. Here are some pro tips to keep your account secure:
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Be selective about who you add as friends. Don‘t accept requests from strangers.
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Use privacy settings to limit who can contact you directly or view your stories.
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Enable two-factor authentication and create a strong, unique password for your account. According to Google, 68% of compromised social media logins are due to weak or reused passwords. Don‘t let that be you!
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Don‘t open unexpected message attachments in case they contain malware or viruses. These can be used to hack your account.
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Watch for poor grammar, spelling errors, and other signs of fake accounts.
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Never send money or personal info to unverified accounts. Always check that celebrity or company accounts have the official blue verification checkmark before engaging.
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Report suspicious accounts or messages to Snapchat immediately. The sooner their security team investigates, the less victims a scammer can harm.
Staying alert and being cautious about who you chat and share information with is the best way to avoid the worst. But just in case those schemers sneak through your defenses, let‘s talk about what to do if you do get scammed.
What To Do If You‘re Scammed on Snapchat
Yikes – you got tricked and lost money in a Snapchat scam. It happens, but don‘t panic! Here are the steps to take right away:
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Notify Snapchat. Report the scam or compromised account to Snapchat‘s safety team. Provide details on exactly what happened including usernames. Act fast to get the fake account deactivated before more people get targeted.
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Contact your bank or payment provider. If you paid via credit card, wire transfer, gift card, or any way besides cryptocurrency, notify your bank or payment company immediately. Report the charges as fraudulent so they can reverse the payments if possible and issue refunds.
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Change passwords. Reset your Snapchat password and any other account passwords that use the same credentials. Enable two-factor authentication anywhere it‘s offered for an extra layer of security.
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Monitor your identity. Many scams are aimed at stealing personal information for identity fraud. Sign up for an identity theft protection service to monitor your credit reports, financial accounts, and more for suspicious activity. Many offer resolution services if your identity is compromised.
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File an official complaint. Report the scam to the FBI‘s Internet Crime Complaint Center and the FTC to aid investigations. Provide all the details on how the scam occurred, payment methods used, and the scammer‘s Snapchat handle.
By taking action quickly, you can limit damages and prevent the scam from spreading further. Don‘t let embarrassment or shame stop you from making those important calls and reports. The longer you wait, the worse it could get.
You can also reach out to me anytime for personalized tips on beefing up your social media security. I‘m always glad to help friends avoid scams!
The Bottom Line
As Snapchat continues growing, we‘ll unfortunately see more scamming going on. But you can stay safe by being smart about what information you share and who interacts with. Always trust your gut – if a Snapchat friend seems suspicious, block them.
I hope this inside look at the latest Snapchat scammer tactics helps you identify and avoid risks. But scammers come up with new schemes every day, so stay alert out there! With vigilance and caution, you can enjoy Snapchat while keeping your accounts and money protected.
Stay savvy, and don‘t let the scammers win!
