Sussex Police share tips on how you can avoid being scammed on social media

A spokesman for Sussex Police and Neighbourhood Watch said: "With billions of people using social media every day and the trust many place in the platform and fellow users, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. Plus, at the moment, you have a lot on your mind, so it could be easy to drop your guard.

"There are a number of ways that social media is used as a means to commit fraud. Examples include links in posts or DMs which advertise content, free items, special offers or quizzes, but which actually lead to fraudulent websites designed to steal your money, identity, or both. Posts instructing you to call or text a number, which turns out to be premium rate. And fake customer service Twitter accounts with fraudulent support links."

GetSafeOnline safety experts have put together some simple tips to help you avoid becoming a victim of social media scams, which can be found at www.getsafeonline.orgThey advise that you:

Don’t click on links in posts, tweets or direct messages unless you’re 100% certain that they’re genuine and well-intentioned.

Don’t respond to posts offering free app downloads, as these may be fraudulent. Download apps only from the authorised app store for your device.

Don’t respond to online quizzes or questionnaires, however engaging they seem. The data you provide may be sold to third parties, and developers could obtain sensitive information from your profile, friends and IP address.

Fraudsters frequently use social media platforms to advertise fake or non-existent goods. Do all you can to check the authenticity of the seller, and never pay by bank transfer in case it’s a fraud.

Don’t click on shortened URLs (website addresses) or QR codes, as they may divert you to a fraudulent website.

Think twice before responding to approaches such as friend/contact requests or approaches to take some unusual or irregular action.

Learn to recognise fake notifications or warnings of financial problems, or offers that seem too good to be true. These could include investment opportunities, get rich quick schemes, unusual work opportunities or free supermarket vouchers.

Check that any communications via Twitter feature the correct handle of the authentic organisation. Even if they appear to have come from an organisation you trust, their account may have been hacked or spoofed.

If in doubt, call the correct number of the organisation or individual who the post or tweet claims to be from, to check its authenticity.

Ask yourself if a genuine organisation or individual would really contact you in the way they have.

Get into good basic habits like using strong, unique passwords for social media accounts, not sharing personal information, making your accounts private, having up-to-date information security software/app and not using public Wi-Fi when what you're doing is confidential.

If you become a victim of a social media scam you can report it to the social media network via the reporting mechanism on the site or app.

If you have lost money as a result of social media scams or via any other fraudulent activity, report it to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting centre by calling 0300 123 20 40 or by visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk.