4 minute read
Facebook, Fraud, and Fake Links
By CALEB O’CONNOR
The internet is a wonderful place. You can make friends, learn, and get news quicker than has ever been possible. However, the anonymity that comes with it can give power to the wrong people. This comes in the form of misinformation for nefarious purpose.
It’s a scary thought, and one that might make us second-guess our time online. How should we proceed online? Is there a point to it? Luckily, it’s easier than you might think!
Let’s look at the example pictured:
Facebook is going to start charging for subscriptions.
This headline is believable and would (rightfully) make you angry if you saw it there. This is an outrage, especially as Facebook themselves haven’t said a word! Other people have shared John’s anger, and their friends will undoubtedly push it further.
BUT!
This is where we take pause. What is the source in the article? Is there one? Maybe it’s one you’ve never heard of, or maybe the article is old and has been debunked. Are reputable sources commenting on this? Take a moment here to search the idea on Google, or even just to check Facebook’s official news. These headlines are designed to create outrage, and this is how they get spread.
A solid rule of thumb is not to believe everything you read online.
Don’t Believe Everything You read
This rule extends, surprisingly, to texts.
In recent years, texts and calls from strange numbers and stranger robotic voices have increased, and every week, it seems we have a new one to look out for. These fake texts are aiming to get details in aims of using them to their own ends. They’re designed to induce anxiety, usually with the worry that your account has been tampered with. Usually they will include:
• Asking you to confirm details.
• Demanding fees with a sense of urgency.
• Saying your account will be deleted.
Similarly with fraudulent calls, they will ask you to confirm your date of birth, bank account details, password details etc despite being the ones to call you.
All of these messages will include a link - let’s take a look.
First off, a closer look at the links can be telling - often they only look official at a glance, but like with the examples, they’re not quite right. The rule of thumb on this end is to NEVER click a link from an untrustworthy text or email. These often lead to convincing fake versions of the sites that will save your details for the criminal’s rather than use them to log in.
As stated, these are designed to make you anxious, and even when you’re certain it’s fake, there can be a niggle of fear in the back of your mind.
In these cases;
• Call your bank. Alert them to the text or email and let them know this is going around. If there IS an issue with your account, you can ask them directly this way.
• Check their website. From your browser or search engine, go to their site and login. This way you can still have the peace of mind of checking but on your own terms
• Ask. Do not be afraid to ask someone if the text or email looks legitimate. A second opinion can soothe your mind. Life becomes more and more technologically reliant every day, but with a little help from each other, we can learn together and avoid falling for misinformation or fraud.
