Scams on Tiktok take place in many forms, here are some to yake note of.
Tiktok is a multifunctional app. The hub af short video content which was designed to entertain has become a search engine for Gen-Z users and has even been harnessed for social goods and activism.
However, the app is no stranger to controvacies, likely because it has unprecedented level powers. These powers are derived from colossal user base. Immense popularity with celebrities, influencers and and brands alike and rising dominance over rival platforms. Do this castle of contents with billions of users has inedvertently developed into an ideal starting point for scams, which are increasingly taking over.
Across the social media, the regularity of Tiktok scams is well documented the sub reddit r/Tiktok help features, dozen of inquiries and posts about Tiktok scams posted in the last 10 months alone. A scroll through the forum shows just how much scams or illegal activities are common in the platform.
Users warn of scam accounts, share emails they have received that appear suspicious and disclose various occasions that scam activities have taken place.
Over on twitter, people outline scams they've witnessed and meme-ify the ubequity of them. When I posted a call on twitter to find out if people have actually faced such scams. I got a DM from someone who'd wish to remain anonymous. He told m3 that he had lost $24000 over the course of 2hrs in a Tiktok scam.
Tiktok itself has a wealth of scam information making the company's stance clear. "At Tiktok we prize user safety and content authenticity." Last October during cybersecurity awareness month, the company launched #becybersmart campaign to create awareness.
Suffice to say, Tiktok scams are real, ongoing trend and something to take note of if you count yourself one of the app's many loyal users.
Here are some of the most common scams to look out for in your feeds:
Job scams
In 2022,Singapore based paper today looked into the job scams, a journalist was offered SGD$200 per day for a social media-esque job, one that he did not apply for or know anything about. Messages from recruiters from Tiktok began increasing with many asking the said journalist about his bank account details and some even sending threats.
This isn't an isolated story, there's an up stick in seemingly prestigious and high paying jobs on Tiktok. The subject "job scam" has a 5.3 million views, with video narrating the many job offers people have received with attractive stipulations from companies that do not exist.
The app says that these offers will most likely include a "registration fees" which victims never recover. Like many cyber scams, these exchanges also involve give out your personal details.
Pyramid and Ponzi Schemes
In 2021,Tiktok banned investments that promised high returns like ponzi schemes or a business model in which additional investors are periodically included. Such schemes are common on Tiktok such that the UK's Financial Conduct Authority(FCA) warned users to be aware of high risk investments in the app.
Mobile game scams
If you are a gamer and a Tiktok user, you've likely come across the many game scams that have plagued the app. These have likely been sutiated around the roblox. Which has 8.9 million views on it videos. Many of these sort of scams whether are for roblox or other apps are in the shape of in app purchases at cheaper rates or at no cost at all. They often involve clicking a link which can then expose the user to various losses.
Romance scams
Ahead of the Valentines day last February, Tiktok released a statement from Lloyd Temple, a financial Crimes investigator at the company, warning against the rising romance scams, in which the so called suitors obtain private information, asks for funds, offer crypto currency deals among others.
The recommendations for discerning this sort of scam includes taking it slowly and looking out for red flags or anything that seems amiss.