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Are you sharing too much possible viruses included in the questions,” according to Readers Digest. So

how do you protect yourself?
DON’T ANSWER FUN QUIZZES ON FACEBOOK.
information on Facebook?
REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES TO FACEBOOK. Avoid websites
You could be putting your financial security at risk especially if you’ve that force you to log in or ask for an additional email address. Just because a
answered those fun quizzes that pop up from time to time. Social Media friend shares a link doesn’t mean you can trust it. A person may be
sites like Facebook can lead hackers into obtaining information, such as trustworthy in real life, but sometimes friends share things without checking
your bank accounts and important data within your systems. Older adults are them out first, and online accounts can be hacked.
frequent targets because seniors are perceived to have greater financial REPORT SCAMMERS TO PROTECT YOUR REAL FRIENDS. You can
assets and less technical savvy to protect them. Studies conducted by the report scammers to Facebook to help protect your real friends and family
team at Pew Research Center show just how many older adults are signing from a scam, plus you can report impersonations. You can reduce the risk
into Facebook. In 2012, just 21% of those born before 1945 were on of having your profile impersonated by tightening up your privacy settings
Facebook compared to 37% in 2019. Today, Facebook and YouTube are and hiding your Friends list. Do a “Privacy Checkup” by clicking on the
two of the most used platforms among this older population. question mark at the top of your Facebook home page.
DO YOUR RESEARCH. Go to BBB.org/scamtracker to see if the online
The Better Business Bureau issued an alert on September 16, 2021 advising website that is selling masks (or whatever product the friend is mentioning)
against taking Facebook quizzes. You’ve probably seen them or perhaps is truly legitimate. If you can’t find a website, it’s most likely a fake. If you
participated in one or two. These online personality tests or any seemingly can find a website, look for contact information (no contact info is a red
innocent games are meant to be fun for everyone to get to know each other. flag).
But hackers may get enough information about you “within the answers” to PRESS FOR DETAILS. Ask strategic questions without giving any
accurately guess at your security questions. personal information to confirm you are actually talking to someone you

DID YOU KNOW QUESTIONS know. If your “friend” can’t give you straight answers, leave the
According to CommonSenseMedia, hackers can create these quizzes to conversation, block them and then change your Facebook settings as well as
acquire private information from you to hack your accounts or steal your your password.
identity using personal information that Facebook provides them. DID YOU CHECK YOUR FRIENDS LIST. If you've gotten a friend request from
KNOW questions like answering things about your first dog, where you someone you think is already your friend, check your friends list to see if
were born, or anything with personal information will lead to figuring out this could be a duplicate, fake account.

your security questions for bank accounts. “Facebook quizzes may lead you Mia Winter, Director
to a website with dangerous downloads, or have malicious links and Keeping our neighborhood safe -- The Neighborhood Watch Team

Contact

Duane Smith
1+(916) 871-5587

January 2022 Page 29