Millions warned to look out for ‘how are you’ scam message

Replying to a polite message from someone you know may seem harmless – until your bank account has been emptied and your identity has been stolen. 200 million Americans on Facebook, and other users across the world, have been warned to look out for a scam which uses hijacked accounts and often starts with a simple ‘how are you doing today?’ (Picture: Getty)

The message seems normal enough, especially considering it's likely to come from the account of someone you really know. However, there is a chance that the message has come from a criminal who has stolen their account. The Daily Mail reports that these scammers use profiles to message friends and relatives, pretending to offer government grants, giveaways, or discounted items like trucks and hot tubs. And these profiles are hard to detect (Picture: Getty)

Since the hackers use real people’s accounts, it gives the illusion the person on the other side is to be trusted. So for many victims, they do not know they are being scammed until it is too late. So, if they are pretending to be someone you know, how does that lead to them stealing your money and perhaps even your identity? (Picture: Getty)

What is phishing?

This scam relies on phishing. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre says phishing is when criminals use scam emails, text messages or phone calls to trick their victims. The aim is to make you visit a website, which may download a virus onto your computer, or steal bank details or other personal information. Often you’re told to reset your password using a link which leads you to a fake website (Picture: Getty)

A common scam is sending fake offers. For example, the scammers send a promise of a $150,000 government grant, and they tell the victim that they must pay a $2,500 processing fee to receive it. But this can also be done through fake product listings and photos of cash or boxes to make the offers seem real (Picture: Getty)

What are the signs you’re being scammed?

Pressure is a major sign to tell if something is a scam. This could come in the form of ‘act urgently’ or ‘this deal will run out soon’. If you feel like you’re being pressured, ask if it is ok to get back to them at a later time, and if they keep messaging you or pressuring you, you know they are likely a scammer. A lot of the time, emotional language and guilt is also used to bait you into clicking links (Picture: Getty)

But also be aware, that this may not always be ‘bad guilt’. For example, someone may ask you to support them in something like winning an award, and all you have to do is fill out a form, which leads to them stealing your details. Always check their name too, sometimes scammers use emails that are a scramble of letters which definitely would not the official address a business would use (Picture: Getty Images)

What to do if you’ve been scammed?

Inform your bank and change your password immediately. Then keep an eye out on your bank transactions and if there seems to be any suspicious activity, report it to both your bank and the police, who will advise you on what to do next (Picture: Getty)