FRAUD FACT: Social Media Account Hijacking

As the number of frauds and scams continues to grow in the Nicola Valley, Merritt & Nicola Valley Crime Stoppers, and Q101 are teaming up to present Fraud Fridays, a feature designed to inform those in the community of the dangers of fraud, what they should look for, and what to do if they are a victim of fraud.

Marlene Jones, chair of the local chapter of Crime Stoppers, says that her organization is making fraud and fraud prevention a top priority in 2026, with hopes to keep the community safe from those looking to scam people out of their money and personal information.

Today’s Fraud Friday: Social Media Account Hijacking

These scams look like login alerts or friend requests, but they’re really attempts to take over your social media accounts.

How They Work

• Scammers send phishing links disguised as login pages.

• They request verification codes pretending to be friends.

• Once inside, they lock you out.

• They use your account to target others.

Steps to Protect Yourself

• Enable multi-factor authentication.

• Never share verification codes.

• Check URLs before entering your password.

• Use strong, unique passwords.

What to Do If Targeted

• Reset your password immediately.

• Report the takeover to the platform.

• Warn your contacts about suspicious messages.

Bottom Line

” Protect your accounts like you protect your wallet—once stolen, they’re hard to get back.”

The Merritt & Nicola Valley Crime Stoppers are also looking for volunteers this year to help out with local events. If you can spare just a few hours a month or would like to become more active within the organization by reaching out to Crime Stoppers via their website at www.nicolavalleycrimestoppers.com.