Top 5 Fake Social Media Giveaways You May Encounter
1. “Like, Share, and Win” Scams
- Post: “Win a brand-new iPhone! Just like this page, share this post, and comment ‘Done.’ Winners announced tomorrow!”
- Red Flags:
- No official verification badge.
- Unrealistic prize (e.g., multiple iPhones for free).
- No clear terms or conditions.
2. “Pay Shipping Fee” Trap
- Post: “Congratulations! You’ve won a free luxury watch. Just pay $9.99 for shipping.”
- Red Flags:
- Requests for payment or credit card info.
- Links to suspicious websites.
- Poor grammar or generic branding.
3. Fake Brand Pages
- Post: “We’re giving away $500 gift cards to celebrate our anniversary! Click the link to claim yours.”
- Red Flags:
- Page name slightly misspelled (e.g., “Starbuks” instead of “Starbucks”).
- No official logo or inconsistent branding.
- Link leads to phishing site.
4. “Tag Friends to Win” Hoax
- Post: “Tag 10 friends and you could win a luxury vacation!”
- Red Flags:
- No official contest rules.
- Unrealistic prize value.
- Often used to boost engagement for fake accounts.
5. “You’ve Already Won” Message
- Direct Message: “Congrats! You’re our lucky winner. Click here to claim your prize.”
- Red Flags:
- Comes from an unknown account.
- Urgent language like “Act now or lose your prize.”
- Links to external sites asking for personal info.
Examples of Scam Requests for Payment by Gift Card
1. “Claim Your Prize” Scam
- Message: “You’ve won a $500 Amazon gift card! To claim your prize, purchase a $50 gift card and send us the code.”
- Red Flags:
- Legit giveaways never ask you to buy something first.
- Requests for gift card codes are a major scam indicator.
2. Fake Job Offer
- Message: “We’re hiring! To process your application, please pay a $100 fee using Google Play gift cards.”
- Red Flags:
- Real employers never require payment for job applications.
- Asking for gift cards instead of secure payment is suspicious.
3. Tech Support Scam
- Message: “Your computer is infected! Pay us with Apple gift cards to fix it immediately.”
- Red Flags:
- Tech companies do not accept gift cards as payment.
- Urgent language and threats of data loss are common scam tactics.
4. Romance or Friendship Scam
- Message: “I need help buying a plane ticket to visit you. Can you send me $200 in Steam gift cards?”
- Red Flags:
- Emotional manipulation combined with gift card requests.
- No legitimate reason for using gift cards for travel.
5. Impersonation Scam
- Message: “Hi, this is your boss. I need you to buy $500 in gift cards for a client meeting. Send me the codes ASAP.”
- Red Flags:
- Urgent tone and authority pressure.
- Requests for codes instead of physical cards or receipts.
Top 5 Bank Imposter Scams
1. Fake Fraud Alert Call
- Scenario: You receive a call claiming to be from the Bank’s fraud department.
- Message: “We noticed suspicious activity on your account. Please confirm your card number and PIN so we can secure your account.”
- Red Flags:
- The Bank never asks for full card numbers or PINs over the phone.
- Caller pressures you to act immediately.
2. Phishing Email
- Subject: “Important: Verify Your Account Immediately”
- Body: “Dear Customer, your account will be suspended unless you click this link and update your details.”
- Red Flags:
- Generic greeting (not your name).
- Links lead to fake websites mimicking the Bank’s site.
3. Loan or Credit Offer Scam
- Message: “You’ve been pre-approved for a special loan! Just pay a small processing fee via gift card.”
- Red Flags:
- The Bank never requests gift cards or upfront fees for loans.
- Too-good-to-be-true offers.
4. Fake SMS Alert
- Text: “Your account is locked. Click here to unlock: [suspicious link].”
- Red Flags:
- The Bank uses an official app and secure channels, not random links.
- Urgent tone and shortened URLs.
5. Impersonation in Person
- Scenario: Someone visits your home claiming to be a bank representative.
- Message: “We need to verify your account details for security purposes.”
- Red Flags:
- The Bank rarely sends employees to homes for verification.
- Requests for sensitive documents or cash.
Counterfeit Bill Alert
We’ve recently seen an increase in counterfeit bills being presented at our branches. Most of these are movie or prop money designed to look like real currency.
These fake bills are often purchased online in bulk and passed off in low-dollar transactions to get real money as change. They’re frequently found in customer deposits or brought in by individuals who unknowingly received them through social media sales. According to the Secret Service 80 percent of the counterfeit bills in circulation are movie/copy/replica money.
Key Red Flags:
- Bills feel off to the touch
- Dirty or wrinkled to hide “COPY” or “FOR MOTION PICTURE USE ONLY” markings
- Denominations from $5 to $100
- Commonly passed at fast food and retail stores
Impersonator Scams
Be wary of scammers who attempt to impersonate Citizens Bank employees by either identifying themselves as such or by spoofing our phone number.
Our fraud department may call, text, or email you about suspicious transactions, but would never ask you to provide:
- Full card number
- PIN
- Digital Banking password
- Full SSN or Tax ID
- 3 digit code on the back of your card
- Verification codes
We'll also never ask you to verify a code sent to you by text, nor will we ever ask you to enter a code by text.
If you receive a suspicious call, text, or email that appears to be from Citizens Bank and are uncertain or uncomfortable, call us at 877-543-8745 or after hours Click Here to send us a message. You can also contact us by using the chat feature at the bottom of the page.
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