The number of rental scams is increasing. Pay attention to the three major rental scam tactics and follow these five steps to protect yourself.
001: Prize Draw Scams While most prize draws and giveaways on Instagram are genuine and commonly used by brands as a marketing tactic, it's still important to exercise caution. Checking the authenticity of the account posting the content beforehand is crucial. Scammers sometimes create fake accounts, steal photos, and then hold prize draw events, requiring "winners" to transfer money or share unnecessary personal information such as bank account details. Additionally, be wary of requests to click on external links after winning; if a link appears suspicious, it's likely a phishing attempt.
002: Phishing Phishing involves using fake web pages to lure users into sharing personal information, such as your bank or Instagram login details. Apart from direct consequences like theft of funds or loss of control over your Instagram account, there's also a risk of being extorted, impersonated, or having your Meta information used to log into other services. However, with basic internet security awareness, phishing can be easily avoided. Meta/Instagram typically won't ask you to suspend your account unless verification is necessary, and they won't ask you to click on email, WhatsApp, or SMS links. Phishing URLs also differ from genuine company URLs, so if the URL doesn't start with something like "instagram.com," it's likely a red flag.
003: Fake Stores Some scammers set up online stores selling luxury goods often at heavily discounted prices. After making the payment, you might either receive no goods at all or receive low-quality counterfeit products. Such scams are quite common. If you come across an ad for a product with unbelievably cheap prices, it's likely a counterfeit ad. For instance, bags from Hermès or Louis Vuitton wouldn't suddenly become super cheap, and Apple rarely offers discounts on new iPhones. Like phishing, you can identify these scams through misspellings, improper translations, or unusual or misleading URLs.
004: Impersonation of Celebrities These impersonators are usually easy to identify through their profiles, which often have vague descriptions or prompt you to open external links, something you should avoid to prevent falling victim to phishing or malware attacks. Moreover, these scammers' photos typically feature an attractive woman, often stolen from another Instagram account or a model's portfolio.
005: Cryptocurrency Scams Some accounts claim to help you legally get rich through cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. You might see ads persuading you that anyone can buy a Ferrari or become wealthy within a week by following them. However, anyone guaranteeing profits from cryptocurrency may be a scammer. More aggressive scammers may claim they can bring you profits within hours or days. But even if someone promises a more realistic timeline, they could still be a fraudster. Before investing in any cryptocurrency, research from objective sources, invest on your own, and be prepared; real-world investments rarely guarantee profits.
006: Investment Scams These scams make you believe that simply investing in the early stages can make you rich quickly. This might resemble cryptocurrency scams mentioned earlier but could also involve stocks or physical commodities. More likely, once they have your money, the scammers disappear or cut off contact. Warning signs of these scams are similar to others, with them promoting their "success" through their Instagram accounts, showcasing a wealthy lifestyle and pushing the idea of being your own boss.
007: False Sponsorships If you're an influencer or content creator, you might receive messages from people promising sponsorships and agreements with unclear conditions. They might ask you to meet in a distant place and require you to advance payment for related travel expenses, promising reimbursement later. Generally, any company wanting you to travel should be willing to prepay hotel and flight expenses. Being lured to a distant place, you could be robbed, kidnapped, sold into prostitution, or even murdered. Before agreeing to anything, research the company and its social media accounts to ensure they're legitimate and keep verifiable records.
008: Fake Recruitment When you're unemployed, you might be eager to find a new job to cover various living expenses, making you vulnerable to falling into traps. While some real job opportunities are shared on Instagram, if someone asks you to share personal information like your bank account details without going through the interview and signing process, it's a scam. You can typically find jobs on dedicated job websites to avoid such scams. Generally, any promise of making big money with minimal effort is often a scam.
009: Romance and Prostitution Scams Many men on Instagram have likely been contacted by women offering paid or unconditional sexual relationships, but these scams are usually quite obvious. You can spot suspicious links or other content in the scammer's profile. However, some scammers take a longer approach, creating a sense of a relationship through prolonged flirting and companionship, eventually waiting for the right time to request money, deceiving you. They often claim to be in urgent situations like medical emergencies or visa issues to make you believe and defraud your money. While online relationships can be real, Instagram isn't a dating app, so it's best not to trust someone you've never met too quickly.
010: Fake Music Agents Many people share their music on Instagram, hoping for recognition and fans, making them potential targets for scammers. They might claim to promote your music to the public, characterized by continuing to string you along if you pay, even providing statistics to praise your excellent performance, which might be partly fabricated using fake accounts. You can avoid this type of scam by refusing invites from strangers and maintaining skepticism about the terms. If you truly have talent or an image that fits market demands, there will be genuine, trustworthy agents waiting to work with you.