Social media makes it easy to connect with friends, shop, and discover new businesses. It’s also giving scammers another way to reach you.
A scam might come from a fake or hacked account that looks like it belongs to a real person or business. Before you click a link or send money, take a minute to make sure the social media account or offer is legitimate.
If something feels off, stop. Verify it through a trusted source before you do anything else.
Warning signs of a social media scam
Be careful if someone:
- Contacts you out of nowhere
- Pressures you to act quickly
- Promises easy money or guaranteed returns
- Asks for your password or a one-time passcode
- Sends a link to log in or make a payment
- Wants to move the conversation somewhere else
- Insists on gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a wire transfer
- Refuses to meet or video chat
- Tells you to keep the situation secret or hide it from Numerica
Common social media scams
Fake shopping, Marketplace, and rental listings
That expensive item is suddenly selling for next to nothing. Or you find the perfect rental, but you have to send a deposit before you can see it.
Scammers often use low prices and urgency to push people into paying before they have time to check the details.
Selling something online? Scammers may pose as interested buyers and offer to pay through Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, or another payment service.
They may claim they've sent the money, then tell you that you need to click a link, verify your account, pay a fee, or provide additional information before the funds will appear. The link may lead to a fake site designed to steal your payment or account information.
Open the official app or website and confirm the payment there. Don’t trust a screenshot, email, or message from the buyer as proof.
Something still look strange? Don’t send money back or move it somewhere else. Contact the payment service or Numerica before taking action.
Before you pay or sell:
- Research the seller, business, property, or buyer
- Check reviews outside the seller’s page
- Inspect local purchases in a safe public place
- Read the platform’s purchase protection rules
- Avoid unfamiliar payment methods
- Confirm that the seller or the person listing the item are legitimate
- Verify payments directly through the official app or website, not through a link someone sends you
Keeping a conversation or payment on the platform may make it easier to report a problem later. However, it doesn't mean the transaction is safe.
Read: Peer-to-peer statements scams
Hacked or copied accounts
You get a message from a friend asking for money. They might say it’s an emergency or investment opportunity.
Before you respond, contact the person another way. Call or text them using a number you already have. Their social media account could have been hacked, or someone may have created a copycat profile.
Fake giveaways
A post or message says you’ve won money or a vacation. There’s just one catch: You need to pay a fee or provide financial information to claim it.
Real prizes don’t require upfront payment.
Scammers also create fake fundraisers after disasters or emergencies. Before donating, find the organization’s official website and give through that site.
Read: Protect yourself from charity scams
Fake jobs and side hustles
A recruiter promises high pay, easy work, or a flexible schedule. Then they ask you to pay for training or equipment.
Another version involves a check. You’re told to deposit it and send some of the money elsewhere. Later, the check turns out to be fake.
A legitimate employer won’t ask you to pay for a job or return money from a check.
Fake loans and unexpected deposits
A social media ad promises quick loan approval, even if your credit isn’t perfect. Sounds helpful. Then the person asks for your Online Banking login or a one-time passcode so they can “deposit” the money.
Stop there. A real lender doesn’t need your password or passcode to send you loan funds.
With access to your account, a scammer may change your contact information or deposit a fraudulent check. They could also move money from another Numerica account or line of credit.
The money may appear in your account. That doesn’t make it a legitimate loan or direct deposit.
If you see money you weren't expecting:
- Leave it where it is
- Don’t send any of it to someone else
- Contact Numerica right away
- Let us help you confirm where it came from
Investment and cryptocurrency scams
Someone you met online offers to teach you how to make fast money. They may show you impressive earnings or an investment account that appears to be growing.
Don't assume the account or screenshots are real. They can be fabricated to make an investment look successful.
Every investment carries risk. No one can guarantee a return. Be especially cautious if someone you've met through social media is pressuring you to invest or telling you exactly where to put your money.
Cryptocurrency is a form of digital money. Cryptocurrency payments can be difficult or impossible to recover, which makes them attractive to scammers.
Romance scams
A new online connection can feel real. The person may spend weeks or months building trust before asking for money.
They might claim they have an emergency or introduce an investment opportunity. They often avoid meeting or appearing on video.
Don’t send money or financial information to someone you’ve only met online.
How to check an account or offer
Take a closer look
Check the username and posting history. Has the account recently changed what it posts? Are there duplicate profiles or small spelling differences in the name?
A verified badge doesn’t guarantee that an offer is safe. A legitimate account could be hacked. The badge also verifies the account, not every product or investment it promotes.
Verify it another way
If someone you know asks for money, call them using a number you already have.
If a business contacts you, open its official app or type its website into your browser. Don’t use the link or phone number in the unexpected message.
Do a little research
Search for the person, business or product name along with words like “scam,” “review” or “complaint.”
Do the same before applying for a loan online. Search the lender’s name with words like “scam” or “complaint.” A quick search may reveal fake websites, warnings or reports from other people. Also a real lender won’t need your Online Banking password or one-time passcode to deposit loan funds.
Check the company’s official website to see whether it lists the same offer. Don’t rely only on comments or reviews posted on the social media account. Those can be fake too.
Pay attention to payment requests
Stop if someone insists on gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a wire transfer. These payments may offer little protection if something goes wrong.
Peer-to-peer payment apps are designed for sending money to people you know and trust. Be cautious when a stranger or seller asks you to use one.
Read: Peer-to-peer payment scams
What to do if you responded to a scam
Don’t panic, but don’t wait. What you should do next depends on what you shared or sent.
Before you block the account, save the evidence first
Take screenshots of the profile, messages, and payment information before you block or delete anything.
Also keep:
- Usernames and profile links
- Email addresses and phone numbers
- Payment receipts
- Dates and amounts
You may need this information to report the account or dispute a payment.
If you shared a password
Change it right away. If you use the same password anywhere else, change it there too.
Turn on multi-factor authentication when it’s available. Multi-factor authentication adds another login step, such as a temporary code from an authentication app. It can help keep someone out even if they know your password.
Never share a one-time passcode. Numerica will never ask you for this by phone, email, text, or social media.
Read: Phishing scams: How to spot and avoid them
If you shared financial or personal information
Contact Numerica right away if you shared:
- Your Online Banking username or password
- A one-time passcode
- Debit or credit card information
- Your Social Security number
- Account or routing information
We’ll help you secure your account and figure out what needs attention.
You may also need to change the password for the email connected to your account. Then, using the official Numerica Mobile app or numericacu.com:
- Update your Online Banking password
- Make sure the phone numbers used for multi-factor authentication belong to you
- Turn on deposit and withdrawal alerts
- Give your account activity a close look, including deposits and money moved between your accounts
Don’t skip the money coming in. A scammer may deposit a fraudulent check or move money from another account to make it look like you received a loan or direct deposit.
If other personal information was exposed, follow the steps in our identity theft guide.
Read: What to do if your identity is stolen
If you sent money
Contact Numerica immediately if the money came from your Numerica account or card.
You should also report the payment to the app, company, or service used to send it. Ask whether it can stop or recover the payment.
There’s no guarantee you’ll get the money back. Still, the sooner you act, the better.
Read: Peer-to-peer payment scams
If someone took over your social media account
Use the platform’s official recovery process. Change your password and check which devices are logged in. Remove any you don’t recognize.
Let your contacts know what happened. The scammer may have messaged them while pretending to be you.
Report the scam
Once you've saved the evidence:
- Report the account or post to the social media platform
- Block the account
- Delete suspicious messages
- File a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
If you lost money or believe a crime occurred, you can also report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Share less online
Details from your profile can help a scammer impersonate you or answer your security questions.
Review your privacy and location settings. Think twice before publicly sharing your full birth date, address, phone number, or travel plans. Keep photos of financial documents and identification off social media.
Read: What to do if your identity is stolen
Will Numerica contact me through social media?
Numerica will never use social media to ask for your:
- Online Banking password
- One-time passcode
- Full card number
- Account information
- Social Security number
Numerica also won’t ask you to move money to “protect” it, hide account activity from us or mislead a Numerica employee. A scammer may copy Numerica’s name, logo, or photos. If an account claiming to be Numerica asks for sensitive information, stop communicating with it.
Use numericacu.com, the Numerica app or the number on the back of your card to contact us.
Read: Phishing scams: How to spot and avoid them
Think you shared information or sent money?
Contact Numerica right away. We’ll help you review your account and figure out what to do next.
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by Numerica’s Fraud and Security team serving eastern and central Washington and North Idaho
