Quilters Are Being Targeted by Scammers!

Dear friends, I want to talk to you about some Internet safety when it comes to sharing photos of your sewing projects and quilts online. There are so many scammers out there these days! And right now they are hitting the Facebook quilting groups pretty hard.

They are targeting innocent quilters and sewists and are stealing photos of quilts and sewing projects that sewists and quilters have posted and then reusing them (without permission) on another Facebook group page or website. You may ask yourself, “What’s the harm in that?” Perhaps you think they were simply inspired by your work and wanted the share your gorgeous project with others. Nope. That’s not the case. They are using your photos as bait. Clickbait to be exact. They are luring in other unsuspecting sewists with your photos. Clickbait refers to content designed to attract clicks and engagement, usually for financial gain or other ulterior motives. What are they hoping to accomplish with their clickbait? It could be one of several things. Here’s the breakdown:

1. Data Harvesting: Scammers often create fake Facebook groups and posts to collect personal information from users. They may use enticing clickbait to encourage users to comment, share personal details, or click on external links that prompt them to enter sensitive information like email addresses, phone numbers, or passwords. This information can then be used for identity theft, phishing attacks, or sold on the dark web.
2. Engagement and Legitimacy: Fake Facebook groups may use clickbait to increase engagement, such as likes, shares, comments, and followers. This can make the group appear more legitimate and attractive to potential victims or advertisers. A group with a large number of members and interactions may seem trustworthy, even if its content is fraudulent.
3. Monetization: Some scammers aim to monetize fake Facebook groups by using clickbait to drive traffic to websites containing advertisements or affiliate links. Each click and page view can generate revenue for the scammer through ad networks or affiliate marketing programs.
4. Spreading Malware: Clickbait in fake Facebook groups can lead users to malicious websites or encourage them to download files that contain malware or viruses. These can compromise the security of the user’s device and lead to further scams or data theft.
5. Phishing: Clickbait may lead users to fake login pages that resemble legitimate websites (e.g., Facebook, email, banking). Users might unwittingly enter their login credentials, which can then be stolen by scammers for unauthorized access to their accounts.
6. Financial Scams: Some clickbait within fake Facebook groups may promote fraudulent schemes, such as get-rich-quick schemes, investment scams, or pyramid schemes. Users who click on such content may be lured into making financial transactions or investments that result in financial losses.
7. Social Engineering: Scammers may use clickbait to manipulate users emotionally, psychologically, or politically. This can be done by spreading sensational, false, or divisive information to influence public opinion, manipulate sentiments, or incite conflicts.

To protect yourself from scams and clickbait in fake Facebook groups, it’s important to:

1. Be Skeptical: Question the credibility of posts and groups that seem too good to be true or make sensational claims.
2. Verify Information: Before clicking on links or sharing information, independently verify the information through reputable sources.
3. Review Privacy Settings: Adjust your Facebook privacy settings to limit exposure to unknown groups and posts.
4. Report Suspicious Content: If you come across fake Facebook groups or clickbait, report them to Facebook for review. They probably won’t do anything about it, but you can still try.
5. Educate Yourself: Stay informed about common online scams and tactics used by scammers to better protect yourself and others in your network.

So, what can you do to protect yourselves? There are several things you can do. Post only in Facebook groups and pages that you have been a member of or that have existed for years. Just because a group has a lot of posts and comments, doesn’t mean it is legit. Look for multiple admins on each page. Observe groups before posting in them. And consider adding a watermark to your photos before sharing them online (whether it’s a picture of your quilt or a picture of your dog… any picture, any social media). Watermarks take time for a scammer to remove and they will bypass your photo and go for one without a watermark. A watermark is a faint, semi-transparent mark or text that’s superimposed onto an image. It’s typically placed in a way that doesn’t distract from the image but makes it difficult for others to steal or misuse the photo.

How Do I Add a Watermark To My Photos

There are several apps and websites out there that will add a watermark to your photos for you. An easy and free one to use is Visual Watermark. Click here to visit their website. It is a very simple process and within a few easy steps, you have added a watermark. Trust me, even a beginner can do this! Here is one I just made of my Jane Stickle quilt…

Stay vigilant, friends, and continue to share your quilting treasures with the world, while keeping your quilts and your online presence safe from those who seek to deceive.

Happy sewing!

‘Til next time,

Beth

Want to hear more from Beth? Check out Beth Said Sew on Nancy’s Notions! Click here!