Social media scams
Scams here blend into normal activity — DMs offering free products, fake job offers, money-flipping schemes, and messages from a friend's account that's actually been hacked.
How it works
A "brand" offers free product for a small fee, a "recruiter" pitches easy modeling or remote work, or someone promises to turn $50 into $500. Many of these start from the compromised account of someone you actually know.
A separate and serious one: a stranger turns flirtatious, asks for an intimate photo, then threatens to share it unless you pay. That's sextortion — and the right response is to stop, not to comply.
Common forms
Red flags
Spot it in the wild
This is a hacked-account move. That "recovery code" is actually the code to take over your account next. A friend wouldn't really need a code sent to your phone, and the rushed, casual tone is meant to lower your guard. Confirm with them on a call or in person before doing anything.
What to do instead
The right response
Don't send money, codes, or photos. If a friend's account asks for something, confirm with them another way first. If someone threatens you over photos, stop responding and tell a trusted adult — sextortion is a crime and you are not in trouble for reporting it.
If you fell for it
- 1Don't send money, codes, or more photos.
- 2If a friend's account is involved, tell them another way so they can recover it.
- 3If you shared a login or code, change your password and enable two-factor.
- 4Being threatened over photos? Stop responding, don't pay, save the evidence, and tell a trusted adult. Report to the platform and the CyberTipline (1-800-843-5678) — paying rarely stops it.
- 5None of this is something to be ashamed of — involving an adult is the fastest way out.
Test your judgment
See if you can spot scams like this one in our quiz.