As the holiday shopping season begins worldwide, Meta has initiated a comprehensive anti-scam awareness campaign aimed at safeguarding online shoppers. Scammers have become increasingly sophisticated, employing various tactics such as phishing emails, fake websites, and deceptive social media posts to target unsuspecting consumers.
This year, Meta has introduced several safety tools across its platforms, including Facebook Marketplace, WhatsApp, and Instagram, to help users avoid scams. Collaborating with internet safety expert Rachel Tobac, the campaign aims to educate users on recognizing and avoiding potential scams during the festive season.
Key features of the new tools include:
WhatsApp: Users will receive context cards when contacted by unknown numbers, providing additional information about the user or group.
Instagram: A reminder will alert users to be cautious of suspicious follow requests from potentially scammy accounts.
Marketplace: Enhanced warnings will inform users about messages that match known scam patterns.
Meta's efforts extend beyond its platforms. The company is part of a global initiative called FIRE (Fraud Intelligence Reciprocal Exchange), allowing financial institutions to share information on scams. This collaboration is crucial as scammers often target multiple platforms simultaneously, making it essential for companies to work together to combat these threats.
In addition to removing over 15,000 phishing URLs in Vietnam and 9,000 URLs impersonating Meta services in Singapore, Meta has taken down more than two million scam-related accounts this year. The company is also running educational campaigns globally, partnering with public figures and organizations to raise awareness about online safety.
With over 30 million people reached through recent safety tips across various countries, Meta's campaign seeks to empower users to shop safely this holiday season.