Social Media Scams Are on the Rise – Here’s How to Protect Your Business

 

We’ve been seeing a surge in phishing direct messages across our clients’ Instagram and Facebook accounts – and if you’ve noticed them too, you’re not alone. Business owners are reaching out to us more than ever, asking the same urgent question: “Is this real?” 

 

The answer? No. 

 

These messages usually follow the same pattern: someone posing as the Facebook (or Meta) technical support team sends an alarming message, claiming your account is in violation of policies and at risk of being restricted. They include a so-called ‘verification link’ that, if clicked, could compromise your login details and hand control of your account over to an attacker. 

 

🚨 A scam message might look like this: 

 

*"⚠️ Urgent Meta Account Alert! 

The Facebook page associated with your Instagram account has been found to be in serious violation of our Meta policies. As a result, some features of your account have been immediately restricted. This is a security measure to protect the integrity of the platform. 

You can log back into your account by clicking the link below and following the instructions. 

🔗 Verification link: [scam link here] 

This is your final warning. Failure or delay in complying with this notice may have irreversible consequences. 

© Meta Support Team"* 

 

Now, if you receive a message like this, here’s the golden rule: DO NOT CLICK ANY LINKS. 

Instead: 

✅ Report it as phishing. 

✅ Block the sender. 

✅ Delete the message. 

✅ Alert your team so no one falls for it. 

 

 

To dig deeper into the security side of things, we’ve teamed up with Neil Jenkins, cyber security specialist and founder of Attacker Mindset Consulting Ltd. Here’s what you need to know: 

 

While social media platforms have strong security measures in place, hackers don’t need to break into Meta’s servers to access your account—they just need your password. 

 

The most common ways social media accounts are compromised include: 

 

No multi-factor authentication (MFA) in place. 

Sharing login details among multiple team members. 

Reusing passwords across different platforms. 

 

Hackers use a technique called credential stuffing, where they take leaked username and password combinations from unrelated data breaches and try them on multiple platforms. If you’ve reused passwords, you could be at risk without even realising it. 

 

A real-world example? The 23andMe breach, where attackers exploited reused credentials and accessed the personal data of 6.9 million users. 

 

 

If your social media account gets hacked, the impact can be significant: 

❌ Reputation damage – Hackers can post misleading or offensive content under your name. 

❌ Lost business opportunities – If customers can't reach you, they might go elsewhere. 

❌ Misuse of ad accounts – Attackers can drain your budget by running fraudulent ads. 

 

Once a hacker gains control of your account, recovering it can be a frustrating, time-consuming process. 

 

 

The good news? With a few smart steps, you can reduce your risk significantly: 

 

✅ Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – Ideally, use an authenticator app or passkey instead of SMS for extra security. 

✅ Avoid sharing login credentials – Set up individual access for team members where possible. 

✅ Use strong, unique passwords – A password manager can help keep track of them. 

 

💬 Neil Jenkins, cyber security specialist, adds: 

"Most social media account takeovers don’t happen because of sophisticated hacks, but because of simple human error—reused passwords, weak security settings, or clicking a link without thinking. Attackers rely on businesses being too busy to double-check security. But taking just five minutes to set up proper protections can save hours—if not days—of stress trying to recover a compromised account. Prevention is always easier than the cure." 

 

Taking these precautions makes it much harder for attackers to gain access – and much easier for you to keep control of your accounts. 

 

 

Let’s be honest—love it or hate it, social media is here to stay. It’s a crucial tool for brand awareness, customer engagement, and visibility. However, it should never be your only digital presence. 

 

The platforms aren’t yours. If Meta goes down (taking Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp with it), or if you lose access due to a hack, your entire online presence could disappear overnight. 

 

This is why owning your marketing channels is essential. Your website, email list, and other owned content are yours—you control them, and they’re not at the mercy of platform changes or security breaches. 

 

A strong marketing strategy blends social media with owned platforms to ensure your business remains visible, no matter what happens on the tech side. 

 

 

If you’re unsure whether your business’s social media accounts are properly protected, we can help. 

 

🔍 Book a social media audit – We’ll check your setup, security measures, and overall presence. 

🔐 Concerned about cybersecurity? Speak to an expert (we know a great one!). 

📲 Need help managing your business’s social media? The Rumour Mill Creative team is here to help. 

 

Your social media should be a tool for growth, not a risk—let’s make sure it stays that way. Get in touch to find out how we can support your business. to edit it.