Better Business Bureau: Think Twice About Missing Pet Posts
If you're anything like me, you are also a sucker for cute animals. Nothing pulls at my heartstrings more than seeing one of those missing pet ads, whether on Facebook or Twitter. It seems like scammers have found a new market with these ads.
Scammers are pretty advanced these days. A few days ago, I learned about a USPS scam going around parts of Wisconsin. Scammers are posing as someone with the USPS and sending a text to people in the area, saying if they want a package redelivered, they had to pay.
I probably would fall for a scam like that since everything is going digital these days! Those that get the message likely panic that a package they were expecting didn't make it and click the link. Of course, this is a phishing attempt.
This is the latest in a never-ending string of scams. Whether in Minnesota or Wisconsin, there is a crime or a scam for everything and this new scam going around is no different. Thankfully, you know about it now!
We all see those "lost pet" posts on Facebook. We share them, we comment on them and we try to spread the word but you may want to do some additional research before sharing one of these posts.
Here's where things get weird: after you share it, the post changes to an ad to a rental or a survey that tells your Facebook friends they can get a prize or cash for taking part. This is being reported by the Better Business Bureau in an effort to help get the word out.
As always with these types of scams, scammers are trying to get personal or banking information from people. With this quick switch of the shared Facebook posts, people scrolling on Facebook might think it is legitimate, especially if you shared it on your page.
Another thing to note with this scam is that these "lost pet" posts are originally posted in marketplace groups on Facebook. The Better Business Bureau says there are multiple versions of this scam and that people are likely to share said post without thinking because it pulls at their heartstrings and shares an urgent message.
Just like any other scam, use caution when sharing anything on a social media profile. Take a minute before sharing anything and always do some research to see if it comes from a reputable source. Not only that, but never give out any personal information or banking information online because that is just asking to be hacked.
Another suggestion? The BBB says to reverse search an image to see if it is fake! This takes less than a minute and could save you a big headache down the line. You could also check to see who posted it. If their profile looks fake, it probably is.