Disinformation Roundup: Social Media Shopping Scams, Their Frequency, and What’s Being Done to Combat Them

Social media, as a shopping platform, has enabled thousands of small and large businesses to reach new customers and remain stable in the face of economic uncertainty, pandemic lockdowns, and technological disruption. 

However, the rate of shopping scams on social media platforms is on the rise, affecting thousands of people across the globe every year. These scams erode the credibility of social media platforms as a reliable place to shop and cost private citizens billions of dollars. 

Content Science has gathered some of the most pertinent information on the rise of these scams, how they operate, and what’s being done to eliminate them from popular social media platforms: 

The State of Social Media Shopping Scams  

Online scams are nothing new, but social media shopping scams grow more numerous and damaging every year. These scams purposely target vulnerable populations such as the elderly and financially insecure. 

• Celebrities Warn Followers Not to be Duped by AI Deepfakes
  Unlicensed deepfake ads use celbrity likenesses to sell questionable products 

• How Facebook and Instagram May Have “Fake Shopping” Problems
  Meta social media platforms overtake eBay and Amazon as the center of counterfeit product selling

• You Probably Know Someone Who Has Lost Money in a Social Media Scam
  Social media shopping scams are one of the leading causes of fraud in the US

• Social Media: A Golden Goose for Scammers
  Online shopping scams account for 44% of reported social media scams and 8% of total money lost

• Online Shopping Scams
  The Better Business Bureau reports that 40% of online shopping scams originate on Facebook or Instagram

• Social Media Sites are Wild West for Shopping Fraud, says UK Bank
  In the UK, two-thirds of all online shopping scams start on Facebook and Instagram

• The Sociotechnical Evolution of Product Counterfeiting: How Social Media, Social Networks, and Social Commerce are “E-Socializing” Product Counterfeiting
  Unprecedented accessibility to fraudulent product offerings is a major driver behind the growth of shopping scams

What’s Being Done 

More world governments than ever realize the danger social media shopping scams pose to their citizens. From technological intelligence investments to establishing dedicated subcommittees, governments the world over are fighting back against scammers. 

• Banks, Telcos, and Social Media to be Made Responsible for Scam Safety
  Australia invests in new intelligence centers and pushed for platform companies to payback fraud victims

• Harry Styles Files Lawsuit Against Chinese Counterfeiters Selling on Amazon, Alibaba, & More
  Celebrities take legal action against unlicensed uses of their trademarks

• Philly Instagram Influencer Settles Lawsuit Over Scamming Customers
  Fraudulent influencers face legal penalties for false promises

• A New Approach to Fighting Fraud While Enhancing Customer Experience
  McKinsey analyzes the growing threat of online fraud and suggests modern methods to fight back

• Victims Speak Out Over “Tsunami” of Fraud on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp
  Meta faces increasing pressure to address “tsunami” of fraud on their platforms

• Home Affairs Committee Launches Inquiry Into Fraud
  The UK Home Affairs Committee evaluates efficacy of fraud prevention measures

• Tackling Fraud: Lords Committee Report
  The UK House of Lords establishes a special committee to fight against fraud