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  Geebo 8:00 am on September 18, 2025 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Cash App ( 44 ), CFPB, hoax, money glitch, TikTok ( 13 ), Zelle ( 73 )   

  TikTok’s Fake Payout Promise 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Social media users are being lured by a new wave of videos that promise free money through popular peer-to-peer payment apps such as Zelle and Cash App. The pitch is presented as a simple process of filling out a government form, but the claims have no basis in reality. What is being pushed is not a legitimate way to recover lost funds. It is a misleading scheme that has already convinced many people to waste their time and money in pursuit of a payout that does not exist.

  The idea preys on those who have been victims of online payment fraud and are searching for ways to be reimbursed. Some online personalities are claiming that a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will automatically generate compensation, even for those who were never victims in the first place. This false promise has been paired with the sale of templates and financial guides that add yet another layer of exploitation.

  Consumer advocates have made clear that the tactic has no legitimacy. Zelle has stated that consumers were misled into filing complaints based on a fabricated settlement, while Cash App has said it has improved how it identifies and responds to customer issues. Reports also note that with reduced oversight of federal consumer protection agencies, opportunists are taking advantage of the situation to target those who are already financially strained.

  There is also a legal risk that has gone largely unspoken in the videos encouraging people to try this method. Filing a false complaint with a government agency can rise to the level of fraud. While many viewers may see it as a harmless trick, in reality submitting knowingly inaccurate claims could have criminal consequences.

  The situation echoes a familiar pattern on TikTok and other platforms where so-called “money glitches” are promoted as a quick and easy path to financial gain. Not long ago, similar videos circulated claiming that hidden glitches in Cash App or other services could be exploited to receive free transfers. Those claims, too, were proven false and left behind a trail of disappointed users. The latest version of this scam follows the same formula. It dangles the promise of effortless money before viewers who are encouraged to act quickly before the supposed opportunity disappears.

  Consumer protection experts urge anyone who has been defrauded through a payment app to pursue legitimate channels of recourse. Filing a proper complaint with full documentation can help build a case, but there is no shortcut to a payout and certainly no promise of free money for those who were never affected. In the end, the only people profiting from these social media claims are those selling false hope.

   

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  Geebo 9:00 am on January 29, 2025 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Facebook ( 182 ), hoax, Scams ( 1,575 ), serial killer hoax ( 2 ), social media ( 88 )   

  Fake Killers Alert: The Scam Behind the Panic 

  

  By Greg Collier

  In recent weeks, communities across the United States have been targeted by alarming social media posts warning of killers on the run. These posts, often crafted to incite panic and urgency, are spreading rapidly through platforms like Facebook, particularly in informal groups such as local yard sale pages. Despite their convincing appearance, authorities have confirmed that these posts are scams designed to manipulate and exploit unsuspecting users.

  The posts generally follow a predictable pattern. They claim a dangerous situation is unfolding nearby, such as a pair of suspects fleeing after committing violent crimes. The tone is always dire, urging residents to share the information widely and take immediate precautions. While these messages may appear credible at first glance, a closer look reveals their recycled nature. Law enforcement agencies have noted that the same images and stories are being used in different parts of the country, slightly altered to fit the targeted location.

  The purpose of these scams is more insidious than simply spreading misinformation. By preying on people’s instinct to help or protect their communities, scammers aim to generate viral engagement. Once the post has gained significant traction and shares, it can be edited to include a scam offer, such as a fraudulent link, a fake charity appeal, or a phishing attempt. These links often lead to malicious websites designed to steal personal information or install harmful software on devices.

  Authorities have emphasized the importance of verifying the authenticity of such posts. It is unlikely that law enforcement would use informal community groups as the primary method to disseminate critical information. Instead, updates on genuine emergencies are typically shared through official channels, such as police department websites, verified social media accounts, or trusted news outlets. People are encouraged to report suspicious posts directly to the relevant platform or local law enforcement to help prevent further harm.

  The rapid spread of these fake alerts highlights the growing challenge of navigating misinformation in the digital age. Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, exploiting both the trust within online communities and the immediacy of social media. To counteract this, users must remain cautious and critical of what they see online, particularly when posts are designed to provoke strong emotional reactions.

  By staying informed, individuals can help curb the spread of these scams and protect their communities from falling victim to malicious actors. Taking a moment to verify information before sharing it can make all the difference in breaking the cycle of deception.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on August 16, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: buy sell and trade, hoax, missing child ( 4 ), missing person ( 9 ), Scams ( 1,575 ), social media ( 88 )   

  Scammers target ‘Buy, Sell, Trade’ groups with missing child posts 

  

  By Greg Collier

  We’ve all done it. We’ve all shared a post on social media that appealed to our emotions that turned out not to be true. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. We all thought we were helping someone by sharing the post. Whether or not the information in the post was outdated or a hoax to begin with, misleading posts get shared with the best intents in mind. Scammers, who are modern amateur masters of psychology, are using posts with emotional appeal to further their scams, and they’re using local community pages to do so.

  According to several police departments around the country, scammers are targeting local swap pages on social media. Specifically, scammers are targeting pages that are what’s known as ‘buy, sell, and trade’ groups. Scammers have been joining these groups and have made posts that are designed to grab your immediate attention. Most of these posts have been about a missing child or baby. Well-meaning members of these groups have ended up sharing these posts, which can lead to the posts being shared thousands of times.

  When these posts reach critical mass, the scammers change the posts to peddle their latest scam. Instead of a missing child post, the post can then become about any number of scams designed to steal people’s money.

  If you’re going to share a post on social media that demands community attention, please make sure it comes from legitimate sources like police departments or legitimate news sources. If you share an unverified post on social media, you’re potentially opening up your entire friends’ list to potential scammers. And even if you’re sharing a post from a legitimate source, try to verify that the information is current, as years old posts often find new life when someone mistakenly shares one.

   
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  Geebo 9:41 am on October 26, 2016 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Election ( 21 ), hoax, Reddit ( 4 )   

  No, you can’t vote in the US election online 

  

  What started as a joke turned out to be a full-blown hoax that have resulted in allegations of voter fraud.

  A section of Reddit, known as a subreddit, that is supportive of Donald Trump shared a graphic between each other that appeared to be a pro-Hillary Clinton ad that jokingly advised Hillary supporters that they could vote online from the comfort of their own homes on election day. It suggests all you need to do to vote for Hillary Clinton is to write ‘Hillary’ on Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag ‘#PresidentialElection’.

  Of course Reddit is full of internet jokesters and trolls, and before you know it, this joke leaked out to the rest of the internet where of course there were people who believed it. This included a Republican councilman from Pennsylvania who shared it on Twitter. The councilman later deleted the tweet claiming that he knew it was joke.

  One of the major problems with the internet is, while we can access the world’s information, we can also spread misinformation to the world and a large group of internet denizens will believe it. If you happen to see some one attempting to ‘vote’ on Twitter or Facebook, please remind them there is no online voting in the United States.

   
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  Geebo 11:59 am on September 28, 2016 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Brad Pitt, Facebook ( 182 ), hoax, malware ( 28 )   

  The rumors of Brad Pitt’s death have been greatly exaggerated, but the news of it will infect your device 

  

  Whether you wanted to know it or not, you’ve no doubt probably heard the news of Hollywood couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are getting divorced. The power couple, nicknamed Brangelina, are calling it quits after an 11-year-relationship, two of which they were married. Facebook news feeds filled up with links announcing the split, usually followed by people saying they don’t care while posting the link.

  However, even this minor news story has brought some hoaxsters out in full force. In your Facebook news feed you may see a story that claims Brad Pitt has committed suicide in the wake of his recent talks of divorce. Not only is the story not true, the link is disguised as a Fox News link to send you to a hoax page. (Insert your own joke about Fox News and hoax page here.) The fake page is designed not only to get your Facebook details but to also inject malware into your device.

  If your Windows computer does become compromised with malware many tech experts recommend downloading anti-malware protection. Malware Bytes is one of the most trusted anti-malware tools in the industry. If you have been infected by malware, ,start your computer in safe mode by pressing the F8 key while your machine boots up. Then run your anti-malware program to clean out your system.

  To modernize an older quote, don’t believe everything you see and only half of what’s posted on Facebook.