Meta shares tips to avoid payment scams online

(WIFR) – Scammers capitalize on special occasions like Mother’s Day, graduations and wedding season, according to Meta.

Common payment scams online include users being asked to pay before an item is shipped or delivered, and then the seller will stop responding.

Jim Cullinan, a spokesperson for Meta says a good rule of thumb is if something online seems too good to be true, it normally is too good to be true.

Those trying to sell items online may also experience scams. Scammers may send too much money to an online seller and ask for a partial refund. After getting the money back, they cancel the original payment, keep your money and keep the item.

Other scams may include users pretending to be a financial assistant or celebrity promising easy ways to make money, sometimes through cryptocurrency sites, Cullinan says.

Cullinan says Meta has ways to protect users from scams like warning labels on accounts and posts that may need to be validated. He recommends to research any financial advisors you meet online.

There are also privacy check-up settings on your profile where you can check to see if your info is public or only available to friends. Cullinan urges users to check these settings before doing business with anyone online.

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