In Pictures: 15 social media scams

The 419 scam

Scammers hack into Facebook accounts and pretend to be traveling and stranded somewhere without any money. The ruse, called a 419 scam, usually begins an IM on Facebook to someone in the victim’s network pleading for help. The scammer claims to have been robbed or hit with another such tragedy, leaving them without any cash or credit cards. They typically ask the target to wire them money for a return ticket home and promise to pay them back upon return.