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You may already know that it’s important to keep safe on social networking sites – making sure you use privacy settings to your advantage, don’t give out too much information to people on the Internet and refrain from posting information about that fabulous vacation you’ll be taking that leaves your house unprotected for two weeks. But what you may not know is that even your friends’ accounts may be something else you have to worry about.
One of the most popular social networking scams take advantage of the friends of people who are known to travel frequently, and is known as the London Scam. While the London Scam can actually use a variety of locations as the setting for the lie that the scam is built on, the most frequently cited place is London. The scam goes like this: a friend, co-worker or distant relative messages you on Facebook. They’re in London, their luggage has been lost and they need you to message them money as soon as possible so they can survive in a foreign city until their luggage gets here. Sometimes they’ve even been mugged and there’s an even more dire need for cash.
As you may have guessed, the story is a scam. Unscrupulous characters get into a Facebook account and then message as many “friends” about the situation as possible, hoping a couple will fall for it and wire money. By the time the scam is found out, they’ll be long gone with your hard-earned paycheck.
If you know about the scam, you won’t fall for it. You’ll call your friend and verify where they are. Easy.
