Top 8 scams of Snapchat of 2024 & how to avoid them

If you have not gotten caught by Snapchat scammers yet, that’s your good luck. Yes! Due to a flood of users with real and fake accounts, Snapchat has become a breeding ground for various scams. Unknown persons behind fake accounts use their tricks in newer ways every time and exploit people.

If you are looking for ways to stay protected from Snapchat’s creepy dodgers in the future, then this update is for you. In this article, we are going to cover several types of commonly seen scams on Snapchat in 2024 and practical tips to avoid them. So keep learning and stay protected!

What are Snapchat scams?

“Cybercriminals use fraudulent schemes on Snapchat to steal sensitive information from other users, defraud and trick them into making illegal money.”

According to an estimate, Snapchat has garnered almost 800 million active users/month worldwide and almost 400 million users who stay in touch daily. Yes! Due to a robust combination of unlimited amazing features (such as messaging, Snapstreaks, funny and beauty filters, etc.), there’s no wonder in a wide pool of Snapchat audiences that has outranked even Pinterest and Twitter.

But this huge crowd isn’t limited to the fun; many predators always remain in chase of other users to send them helping or seductive messages to demand money, gift cards, Bitcoin, etc. Many scammers can access you by sending fake password resets, verification codes, or reminders via email or text messages.

Scamming dangers are not limited here; it is more likely that the scammer will steal money from your bank account, destroy your digital identity, etc. Apart from this, they can get your personal media from Snapchat and use you as bait in front of others’ eyes.

8 most common scams on Snapchat of 2024

You know Snapchat has a strong audience assembly; therefore, hackers try to use different tricks on different people to avoid getting caught. Do you want to know how their scam works? Okay! Let’s talk about this:

1. Fake account: First, scammers will create an account with an ID that people want to talk with, such as a popular celebrity, a friend, or any trending personality. 
2. Find random users: Scammers can add everyone from their suggestions, or they can search for any user by any random profile.
3. Operate their scam: After selecting targets, scammers use phishing tactics and social engineering to gather the user’s personal information.

Scammers try to get the user’s private information or money. They tempt users to take action, like replying to messages or accepting friend requests. Alternatively, some use thoughtful, attractive quotes to lure victims, such as: “Hey! You won the foreign lottery.” “Free cash, never repay.”

So, to protect you from complications, embarrassment, and heavy losses, we are going to discuss the eight most common Snapchat scams.

i) Friend account recovery scam

Impersonation (to act as another person for fun or fraud) is the most powerful trick a scammer can apply to you. What happens is that a scammer pretends to be your friend who has been blocked from Snapchat, and the only way he can get out of the situation is to enter your login details.

Once you hand over your login ID, the scammer will log you out and exploit you by demanding money, taking illegal photos or videos from your contacts, or engaging in some other cheap activities. 

ii) Romance scams

Romance scams (Catfish scams) often start with an online befriending with an unknown person. Scammers try to build the target’s trust in them so that they may assume it is a genuine relationship.

But the story doesn’t end here. Once the scammer has built a trust foundation, he will ask for personal photos or videos and then demand money and gifts. Yes! After achieving the goal, the scammer would threaten the user to send more money or sensitive videos. Otherwise, their older videos would be leaked.

So, we can say that you shouldn’t blindly trust people you meet online. Moreover, if it happens by any chance, you shouldn’t send them money or any precious item, no matter how you feel about them.

iii) Phishing scams

To send fraudulent emails or messages by acting as an authorized social app developer to take users’ login details is called a phishing scam.

Hackers use to send such types of messages that gain users’s attention and make them press to ponder and open it, such as:

• Your amazing snaps require verification to be secure.
• Your Snapchat account has been removed.
• You won the streak contest; for the prize, we need to testify about your identity.
• Verify and access the advanced Snapchat feature.

That’s reality! Once you enter your information in those fake messages or emails, do you think there will be an official Snapchat? No chance it will lead you to a dummy website with no use. Until now, scammers would have stolen all of the login details ( User and password ) and taken over your account.

iv) Blackmail scams

If you have become prey to Blackmail scams on Snapchat, it’s not your fault! All these ticklish moves played by scammers are intended to make money illegally by threatening people to leak their private information, photos, or videos. 

But the thing you can do is take quick screenshots at the very moment and then cut off your contact with the scammer. Don’t try to argue or persuade them. Just report the blackmailer. (The reporting method is mentioned in the coming segments of this article.) 

v) Sexting scams

The sexting scam involves sharing erotic pictures and videos of girls through a fake account and instigating other people to be involved in seductive activities to trap them.

Moreover, they charge for premium content (extra vulgar photos and videos). When some intermittent people get caught by them, scammers just receive their target money and give nothing in return, no matter how much money you give them.

vi) Sugar momma and daddy scam

Regarding this type, scammers ask users to send them their private photos and videos and offer a heavy amount in return. Other than this, they can ask you for your bank account details. And once you share your personal account details, your account will be washed in no time. 

So, if you mistakenly have fallen prey to such a scam, all you can do immediately is call your bank to stop the transaction. Also, before reporting that scammer on Snapchat, you should file a report with the local police station.

vii) Fake contest scam

It is human nature that if a person hears abrupt good news about winning a prize, especially from a popular platform like Snapchat, he will feel elated. Scammers are so clever that they will make you believe they are from an authorized organization and want to hand over your prize. 

But this is the red flag; they will ask for your bank account details to present you with your prize. It’s a way to get your personal details so that they can take over your bank account and transact money.

viii) Imposter scams

In imposter scams, cybercriminals use the hoax of impersonation to make people believe that they are their favorite celebrity, a friend, or anyone they like.

They fool them by saying they need urgent money because they are robbed on the spot. This fraudulent activity aims to exploit the target Snapchat users and extract heavy amounts from them. Unfortunately, the young generation becomes prey to this scam too fast, as it triggers their emotions, making them overexcited, and they send them money without thinking twice.

Snapchat scammers are trying new innovative techniques on people day by day. The dangers that are really approaching you are not necessarily the eight types mentioned above but new ones. So it’s important to know how to deal with it if you ever feel a catfish is roaming around you.

How to spot a catfish on Snapchat?

Like any other social platform, Instagram has unlimited real accounts of influencers and famous people. Therefore, it’s really challenging to separate fake accounts (by scammers ) from the real ones. However, some signs can help you differentiate between a fake and a real user. So, let’s discuss how to spot scams on Snapchat before predators come to scam you.

• Check out Snapchat score: Snapchat score describes the number of snaps you send and receive. A regular real user would undoubtedly have a healthy snap score. But if it is only a few hundred, then be aware that it could be a scammer.
• Match their real-life location: Through the map, check whether the location matches the given address on the profile. 
• Bitmoji avatar: Most Snapchat users have Bitmoji, and if you do not see a Bimoji in the suspected account, be attentive. It could be a red flag.
• Pay attention to their wording: Ponder what they are talking about. Are they asking for help by showing helplessness or sending strange messages? If the situation is the same, then it would definitely be a scammer’s move. 
• Show off: If a person tries to be too rich to be true and sends you luxurious items, photos, cars, cash, or something like that, then it could be a trap for you.

How to get a fake Snapchat account deleted?

Well! Let’s discuss how to get a fake Snapchat account deleted! Thanks to the built-in reporting feature of Snapchat, you can report a user with any suspicious behavior like harassment, threats, or any absurd chat to Snapchat’s Trust and Safety team. They will hand over the situation and will take action within two hours. If they find it an actual scammer, the scammer’s account will be deleted in no time. 

The reporting procedure is just so simple and fast.

Step 1. Search for the username and click on the suspected profile.
Step 2. Click on the three dots at the top right corner, and a menu bar will appear.
Step 3. Simply click on the “Report” option and tap “Done.” That’s all!

Protect you and your family against Snapchat scammers

After learning about too many warning signs, you will no doubt be looking for practical tips on protecting yourself and your family from online scams. Therefore, some useful tips are mentioned below so that you and your family can take a side from those catfish. Help your family enhance security with the following settings or use a powerful monitoring tool for kids.

• Preview external links: Before clicking on any external link, pass it through a verification process by checking the logo, URL, or business name.

• Set a strong, unique password and use the password manager to save it.

• Don’t share your personal information with anyone online, no matter what.

• Hide location: Don’t let anyone locate where you are at present.

• Parental monitoring is also essential on kids’ phones.

We all know that kids also use Snapchat with much excitement these days, but their innocent minds are unable to spot a catfish. So here’s the turn for parents. Monitoring children’s phones will be a great solution to protect them from online hazardous scams, which is only possible through a kids monitoring app like the FlashGet Kids app.

The FalshGet Kids app has countless fantastic features to restrict your child from involving in false online connections, some of which are:

+ App blocker: The app blocker feature of the FlashGet Kids app is just amazing. If you ever feel insecure about your child’s safety on any social platform, you have the option to block that app so that scammers can’t access your child at all.

+ Keyword detection: Customize keywords you think are sensitive or toxic. Build another layer of protection for your kid’s online world.

+ Screen monitoring: You can mirror your screen with your kid’s phone, which will allow you to see message notifications, emails, and all the snaps posted or received on your child’s phone, helping you spot a catfish on your kid’s Snapchat.

Summary

To sum up, innovative social apps like Snapchat are double-edged swords. While they may have provided users with advantageous uses, they also have many undeniable drawbacks, such as toxic content, money scams, and harassment. So, if you want to protect your family and kids from online scams/predictors, especially on platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, etc., make sure to share our guidance with them or use a kids monitoring app, follow protective tips, and keep an eye on the signs of fraudsters.

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