How To Avoid Online Scams On WhatsApp, Instagram And Other Social Apps: A Step-By-Step Guide

Meta-owned platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram are widely used to share information and personal data like photos, videos, and more. Making it easier for scammers to scam via such apps. With increasing scams, the fraudsters are also expanding their ways to scam people by offering them money or sharing sensitive information that hampers their mental health. Today it has become really important for us to stay alert to avoid such scams. This simple guide will help you with how you can avoid online scams. WhatsAppStep 1: In your WhatsApp, open settings by clicking on the three dots. Step 2: Scroll down and go to “Advanced”. There you’ll find three options: “block unknown account message”, “protect IP address in calls”, and “disable link previews”.

Step 3: Enabling all three settings will help you prevent messages or calls from unknown and spam callers. Step 4: Below “Advanced” you’ll find “privacy checkup”. Here you can keep track of who can view your profile, last seen and online status. You can, in fact, silence calls from unknown numbers. Step 5: For more protection, you set a two-step verification pin.Also Read: How To Protect Your WhatsApp’s Privacy: 8 Hidden Privacy And Security ToolsInstagramStep 1: In your Instagram account, click on the three lines in the top right corner and go to account centre. Step 2: There you can set a two-factor authentication and verification selfie. Step 3: Select the account you want to protect. Click next, and a code will be sent to your linked email address. Step 4: After entering the code, you click a selfie for verification. Step 5: Under two-factor authentication, you can choose to get a code either via authentication app or SMS or WhatsApp. Things To Make SureAvoid clicking on suspicious links, downloading PDFs from unknown numbers and receiving international or spam calls. Scammers on Instagram ask for your email address and ID, as well as a code. Make sure you do not entertain such messages, even if they come from a known follower. There are high chances that their account has been hacked.