Love Snapchat? So do scammers. The social media platform is a hotspot for connecting with friends and sharing life’s special little moments, but it’s also a magnet for fraudsters looking to take advantage of unsuspecting users. From fake giveaways to fictitious charities looking for “donations”, Snapchat scams are many and varied—but they’re all designed to exploit your trust (and often your wallet). Learn how common scams work, what red flags to look out for, and how to help safeguard your account from cybercriminals. Don’t stop there: Help secure your digital life and data with trusted protection from Avira Free Security.
What are Snapchat scams? And what is Snapchat?
It’s easy to think that cybercriminals focus on people who have less experience and knowledge of the internet (like your elderly aunt Agatha who still thinks TikTok is a clock). Social media apps like Snapchat have become popular hunting grounds for fraudsters preying on young users and anyone can fall victim to scams, even the most technologically savvy. Hang on…if you’re not a fan, what exactly is Snapchat anyway? The popular app offers cool filters, an interactive map, and allows users’ messages and images to disappear after they’ve been received. It’s all about fast, fun interactions but that’s precisely where the danger lies. There’s less accountability if things can disappear in a flash. Teenagers hope to stop their parents from seeing what they post, which can put them at risk of exploitation—and scammers use it to their advantage too.
Snapchat scams aren’t exclusive to Snapchat but are part of a broader effort by cybercriminals to defraud users. Have you or your children ever received a message saying you/they have won a cash prize, for example? It’s exciting, but unless you recently entered a contest, it’s most likely a scam. Fraudsters often pose as accountholders from legitimate companies, complete with logos and official-sounding messages, to trick you into sharing personal details or clicking on suspicious links. And is a message from a cool Brazilian influencer in a bikini legit? Careful. It could be “Snapchat impersonation,” whereby scammers create fake accounts pretending to be a friend or influencer. They might ask you for money or sensitive information under the guise of needing “help”.
The anatomy of a Snapchat scam: How does it work?
A Snapchat scam typically uses social engineering tactics like phishing attempts to trick us into engaging with the sender and, hopefully, sharing our personal details (or hard-earned cash). Scams usually follow these steps:
Step 1: The scammer creates a fake account: They usually pretend to be a friend, celebrity, or possible romantic partner, hoping that their photos and profile will appeal to you. Taking on an identity that a victim will trust is called spoofing. And luring in a potential love interest with a fake romantic profile is catfishing. Please note: It’s not illegal per se to use a fake profile—but when that profile is misused for fraud, extortion or coercion, it’s a wildly different story of course.
Step 2: They find people to engage with: Now it’s time for the scammer to populate their list of contacts. They tend to add everyone on their suggested friends list and search for random usernames. Anyone is a potential target.
Step 3: They start scamming. Now that all the parts are in place, the scammer tries to con their Snapchat friends and subscribers into parting with personal information (like their full name, date of birth, and address) or sending money. They can use the details they gather about you to commit identity theft. By “borrowing” your identity, they’re free to go online shopping in your name, apply for a credit card, or even commit more fraud.
Whom do Snapchat scammers target?
These fraudsters don’t discriminate and will target anyone who replies to their messages or accepts their friend requests, regardless of age, gender, race, nationality, or income. Consider these Snapchat statistics for a second, and you’ll understand why the app offers cybercriminals such a huge global pool of potentially lucrative pickings, particularly among young people: According to Statista, Snapchat had 443 million daily active users worldwide in the third quarter of 2024. This is up from 432 million global daily active users in the second quarter of 2024. Age plays a significant role. And here is the Statista distribution of Snapchat users worldwide in January 2024: One in five global Snapchat users are men between the ages of 18 and 24 years, and almost 20 percent of users are very young, aged just 13 to 17 years. If you’re over 35, you’re very unlikely to use Snapchat.
Forewarned is forearmed they say. So, let’s explore the most notorious Snapchat scams currently doing the rounds.
Top ten Snapchat scams—and their tell-tale signs
Snapchat scams try and gain your trust (plus personal information and money) and we fall for them because we want to believe that we live in a world where amazing prizes rain from our screens and beautiful people fall in love with us. Here are a few to watch out for:
1. Fake contest scams
“Win a million-pound holiday home: All you have to do to change your life forever, is fill in this online form and pay the £10 entry fee!”
Scammers create fake contests or giveaways and trick you into believing you could win valuable prizes. In reality, there’s no dream house nor holiday to win—instead, victims are in with a chance of having their personal information and even money stolen.
- Red flags: Too-good-to-be-true prizes, entry fees, requests for personal details, no terms and conditions.
- Do NOT: Pay for entry or provide your details.
- Do this instead: Look closely to see who is hosting the competition and ensure they are reputable and adhere to lottery/sweepstake rules. Report suspicious giveaways or prizes to Snapchat.
2. Romance scams
“I wish I could visit you, my angel, but a ticket from Lagos to London is too expensive. Can you help me? I can’t stand to spend another day apart!”
The fraudster cons you into believing that they’re in love with you. Instead of a virtual Romeo or Juliet, it’s really a catfish using fake photos and videos. Once the scammer has gained their victim’s trust, they ask for money and expensive gifts like plane tickets.
- Red flags: Inappropriate/unexpected declarations of love, requests for personal information and money.
- Do NOT: Send money or personal details.
- Do this instead: Run their photos through a reverse image search tool (to find the source of an image) or AI image checker (to see if it was taken of and by an actual human or created by a machine). Block the contact and report them to Snapchat.
3. Fake product scams
“In stock again! The glow-in-the-dark snowshoes that have taken the internet by storm.”
Social media sites often showcase new products, but scams can be mixed in with genuine promotions. You could be redirected to a fake website to enter your credit card details—and you’ll never receive your order.
- Red flags: Great deals that are hyped up, brand-new products from a company you’ve never heard of, no online reviews to be found, no return address on the website.
- Do NOT: Engage with the ad, purchase the product, or provide personal details.
- Do this instead: Research the company and find genuine reviews. Report them to Snapchat if you’re suspicious so they can investigate further.
4. Employment and investment scams
“Ella H. makes 10K a month working from home! You could too. Start selling our popular vitamins to family and friends. Call us, or we can call you to send you your starter kit!”
These fake opportunities offer great returns or pay for little cost or effort. They might look legitimate but usually involve an upfront fee and can turn out to be fake investments, multi-level marketing schemes (MLMs) and illegal pyramid schemes, or jobs that don’t exist. Even if the MLM is legitimate, many people make little or no money, and some lose money.
- Red flags: Bad financial advice, unsolicited job offers, big promises of easy money.
- Do NOT: Apply for the job or pay fees without extensive research.
- Do this instead: Do your research before applying and look up the person or business name. Read reviews. Report employment and investment scams in the US to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). If you’re in the UK, contact the Financial Conduct Authority.
5. Adult content or premium account scams
“Hello, gorgeous! Here I am in a bubble bath. Want to see more? I’ll show you everything if you subscribe.”
In this scam, someone poses as an adult content creator. They’ll most likely have stolen suggestive or explicit, images and videos and are trying to lay their hands on your payment details.
- Red flags: Unsolicited, provocative friend requests, messages, photos and videos offering premium deals on adult content, suspicious links, premium-rate phone numbers, demands for payment.
- Do NOT: Trust or engage with strangers who send you suggestive content.
- Do this instead: Remember that legitimate adult content creators use official channels and don’t request payment via Snapchat. Report scams to Snapchat and also your local law enforcement because these scams may involve other types of illegal activities.
6. Charity/good-cause scams
“Help! Little Joshua is dying from a rare form of leukaemia and must travel to the US for life-saving treatment. We are grateful for every small donation.”
Although it looks like the real account of a legitimate non-profit organisation, it’s a Snapchat scammer trying to solicit donations. You’ll be redirected to a spoof website to enter your details and might also be asked to contribute via a crowdfunding platform like Venmo, Cash App, or GoFundMe. The criminal will pocket what they collect.
- Red flags: No official website, requests for donations via apps, gift cards or cryptocurrency, requests for personal information to “verify” your donation.
- Do NOT: Send money or personal information and never help promote the scam.
- Do this instead: If you’ve been caught out, you can try to dispute the transaction with your bank, notify your local law enforcement, and file a complaint with the FTC (US) or FTA (UK). Always contact a charity directly if you want to support them.
7. Meet-up scams
“You’ve been identified as having cover-girl potential. Call us to arrange a photoshoot with our expert photography team.”
These are often part of romance scams, but the con artist might also pretend to be a photographer, model scout, record producer, or anyone that their victim would be delighted to meet. They’ll tell tall tales that play on our dreams, egos, and aspirations and try and trick us into sending details and money—a real-life meeting and helping your future career aren’t on their to-do list.
- Red flags: Unsolicited messages and invitations, vague requests to make payments, excuses as to why they can’t meet up.
- Do NOT: Arrange a meeting, provide your personal details, or transfer money.
- Do this instead: Block them and report the account to Snapchat. If a scammer is trying to meet minors, report them to your local authority.
8. Unlocking account/account recovery scams
“Hello Nadia, your Snapchat account has been deemed a security risk. Please set a new password by following this link.”
Fake IT support staff contact a Snapchat user to warn them that their account has been compromised or locked and that they need to verify their account or set a new password. If you fall for the scam and share your login credentials, you’ll hand access to your account over to the fraudsters. Sometimes, the scammers also demand a fee to unlock your account.
- Red flags: Unsolicited messages from Snapchat Support, requests for personal information, links to unofficial web pages, messages with poor spelling and grammar.
- Do NOT: Open support messages unless you request assistance, provide your login credentials to unverified third parties or click on random links.
- Do this instead: Delete unsolicited messages. Only reset your password using official emails that you requested yourself.
9. Imposter scams
“Calling all extra-special Tiger Kitten fans! Get your official fan bracelet here and support us on our mission!”
“Hi! I just got mugged in Ibiza! Can you please transfer me some cash?”
Cybercriminals impersonate the people we trust and admire, like influencers, celebrities, and even legitimate businesses. Especially younger users may get overly excited and act without thinking if they hear from their favourite “star.” You might also get a message from someone pretending to be a friend in trouble. Once the scammer has established contact, they can manipulate their target into sending personal details or taking other actions like paying money.
- Red flags: Spammy messages that don’t sound genuine, unsolicited friend requests, fake photos, avoiding video calls.
- Do NOT: Respond in any way before verifying the account’s legitimacy.
- Do this instead: Look up a friend’s profile to see if duplicate results appear, and if you’re still unsure, let them know that their account may have been hacked. You also can use the Snapchat “Friend Check Up” feature to remove anyone you’re not interested in from your friends list. If you’ve sent money, contact your bank and local law enforcement. Always follow only the official account of a celebrity.
10. Fake survey scams
“I’m doing a survey for my psychology masters, and you’ll really help me out if you answer these questions. It only takes five minutes! Enter your name, address, and email to start. As a thank-you, I’m offering all respondents a £5 gift certificate.”
Like fake contests and imposter scammers, these fraudsters again pose as legitimate businesses, celebrities, influencers, or even just as a school child or student to try and convince others to fill out a survey for a chance to win a prize. Follow the link to the survey at your peril—you’ll almost certainly end up on an infected or fake website.
- Red flags: Impressive rewards, links to unverified websites, messages pestering you to take part.
- Do NOT: Participate in surveys from unverified companies that demand too much information.
- Do this instead: Ignore the messages and block the contact. If you are redirected to a spoofed website, close it, clear your browser cache, and reboot your phone.
Spot a Snapchat scam fast with this quick overview
Commit this handy tick-box of red flags to memory and beat a hasty retreat.
- Unverified accounts: Snapchat verifies official accounts with a small emoji badge. If someone claims to represent a brand but lacks this badge, proceed cautiously.
- Unsolicited messages: if someone contacts you out of the blue or seems overeager, be very suspicious, particularly if they’re requesting money or personal information.
- Too-good-to-be-true offers: If it sounds amazing, it’s probably fake. Scammers thrive on false promises.
- Urgent requests: Messages pressuring you to act quickly are designed to make you panic and act without thinking.
- Suspicious links: Be wary of links that direct you to unknown websites.
- Errors in language or tone: Messages with typos, weird phrasing, or poor English often indicate a scammer behind the screen.
When in doubt, trust your instincts. If something feels off, report the account and block it. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
How to help protect yourself and family members from Snapchat scams
Cyberthreats and cybercrime come in all forms and if you’re online, your devices, data, and even identity are potentially at risk. Social media platforms, websites, email…scammers target them all. Have you heard of WhatsApp scams or vishing attempts, for example? Whether you’re on Snapchat or beyond, good online safety habits apply everywhere.
- Check 1: Use secure passwords and multi-factor authentication
First, make sure that your account isn’t an open door, guarded by a single, weak and guessable password like your pet hamster’s name. Always create a strong, unique password for all your online accounts to help prevent account hijacking. Good passwords are hard-to-guess combinations of at least 12 upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Never rely on your memory or a Post-it note: Store and manage all your passwords in a password manager like Avira Password Manager (available stand-alone or as part of Avira Free Security).
Then give your lonely password good company by adding two-factor or multi-factor authentication (2FA/MFA). This helps make your Snapchat more secure by sending a unique code to your device via SMS or email when you log in. You’re still in trouble if your phone is stolen, so using an authenticator app for 2FA/MFA is an even safer choice.
- Check 2: Be vigilant about what you click and be suspicious of everyone
Don’t click on links and QR codes in messages, even if they come from your friends, as their account may have been hacked. If you suspect this is the case, check with them directly. Never accept unknown friend requests or add strangers to your Friends List, even if they try and convince you that you know them.
- Check 3: Be careful what you share and what others can see
Never share your login credentials, even if the message seems to come from Snapchat. Remember that Snapchat never asks for your password or My Eyes Only passcode! Also check and adjust your privacy settings on Snapchat to limit who can send you Snaps, view your Stories, see you in Quick Add, and find your location on the Snap Map. Ghost Mode is a good idea as it helps turn you invisible so no one can see where you are. Also, make sure that the email and phone number associated with your account are up to date in case you need to verify that your account belongs to you if you lose access to it.
- Check 4: Use reputable antivirus protection
Whatever your device and operating system, anti-malware is essential to help keep your machine and data safer from online threats and attacks from cybercriminals. Reliable antivirus can identify and block a range of malware, from viruses and adware to ransomware and worms, before it infects your computer. Avira Free Security by the born-in-Germany security specialists, Avira, is available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
What to do if you fall victim to a Snapchat scam
Don’t beat yourself up. Cybercriminals can be masters of deception. Every mistake is a valuable lesson and you’ll be much less likely to fall for their online tricks in future! If you believe that your Snapchat account may have been hacked and someone is attempting to access any personal information, act fast.
- Submit a report to Snapchat. They can help secure your account and investigate. Provide the support team with a safe, alternative email that you still have access to. Remember never to share your password with anyone, not even Snapchat Support.
- Set a new password immediately and scan your device for malware. Don’t let the scammer back into your account. Ideally, use a password manager to create and store a strong, random password.
- Enable 2FA/MFA. When your account has been restored, double up your security with two- or multifactor authentication, preferably via an authenticator app.
If you’re concerned about specific content or a user, you can report an individual Snap or story by pressing and holding on it, then tapping ‘Report Snap’. You can also report a public profile on Snapchat by going to the profile, tapping the three dots at the top and then tapping ‘Report’. Choose the reason you’re reporting the profile, and then click ‘Submit‘. For more information, including how to report a chat message or account, and what to do if you can’t access your account, see Snapchat Support.
Is Snapchat safe?
Should you let your children use Snapchat? Like any social media platform, the platform can be enjoyed safely but remember: No safety is absolute. The app remains a popular venue for scammers, sexting, cyberbullying, and online predators looking to target young people. Users must be highly cautious plus mature enough to deal with difficult situations and to follow the guidelines we’ve already outlined. They may feel pressured to share content to keep up with trends or look impressive. And they can be contacted anytime by strangers with unknown intentions.
Then there’s the issue of disappearing content. Snapchat is unique in deleting the photos you send others after a specified amount of time. While this may make it sound safer, there are other risks. It’s an ideal environment for cyber bullies, scammers, and other toxic individuals because it’s tougher to hold them to account if the “evidence” is deleted. The fleeting nature of the site can give users a false sense of security and bravado. Even if your child wanted to show you disturbing content, it could already be gone! There are other safety concerns too, including location sharing and third-party tracking.
Snapchat has a range of measures to help make it a safer space. Please see the Snapchat Safety and Security resources. The platform promises to:
- Alert you if someone takes a screenshot of your photo within the app.
- Notify you of suspicious activity within your account.
- Scan URLs posted to check if they are safe.
- Let users choose who can see their location or go off-grid altogether in Ghost Mode.
- Let parents see with whom their child interacts via a parental monitoring tool called the Family Center.
- Make a Trust and Safety team continuously available to help respond to concerns and keep users safer.
- Deploy a Strike System to immediately remove inappropriate content that it detects or is alerted to. Repeat offenders are banned.
If you’re still concerned that the risks outweigh the benefits, perhaps it’s time to delete your or a family member’s Snapchat account. Before you do, it might be worth reading the Snapchat CitizenSnap Report which aims to provide regular insight into the platform’s values, how it’s run, and how it strives to help communities connect.
Add extra layers to your security and privacy (and demand more speed too)
Robust online protection has multiple layers. That’s why Avira Free Security blends a range of privacy, security, and performance tools as one convenient solution. The integrated antivirus helps block even the latest malware, a password manager helps store, manage, and generate strong, unique passwords for all your online accounts, and a software updater helps keep your system free of the security vulnerabilities in ageing software. Time to be more invisible online? Avira Phantom VPN can hide you from those trying to track you online. Ready for faster starts and more storage space? Your devices will also appreciate the added oomph a good system clean-out can give them, thanks to the integrated performance tools. Versions of Avira Free Security are available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
Please remember: Apps like Snapchat are a great way to connect, but staying informed and deploying trusted security technology are key to enjoying them safely.
Snapchat is a trademark of Snap, Inc.
