8 Biggest Snapchat Scams of 2024 and What To Do About Them

Dive into Snapchat’s biggest scams so you know how to avoid them.

Last updated Nov 24, 2024

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Are you one of the 414 million users who logs into Snapchat daily to keep up with your social network? With private photo sharing, video messaging, live video chatting, and story sharing, the social media app is a popular choice when it comes to communicating with friends and family. In fact, it's one of the most popular global messaging apps.^[1]

Snapchat seems straightforward for sharing messages and photos, but is it a safe social media platform?

We investigated the platform’s security and privacy details and the biggest Snapchat scams to watch out for in 2024. We'll show you how to block people on Snapchat and which of the best identity theft protection services can help you recover your personal data if a Snapchat scammer takes advantage of you.

Robust Phishing Protection Backed by $1 Million in ID Theft Insurance

On Guardio's website

Antivirus Software

Guardio

7-day free trial for paid plan

Easy-to-use online security tool that cleans up your browser, removes malicious extensions, and checks for privacy violations
Blocks harmful emails, texts, and webpages
Stops invasive notifications and monitors data breaches for your information
Doesn't block suspicious downloads

In this article

8 most common Snapchat scams
Is Snapchat safe?
What to do if you’re scammed on Snapchat
Tips to stay safe on Snapchat
FAQs
Bottom line

8 most popular Snapchat scams

We have highlighted eight common Snapchat scams and how each scam works so that you can learn how cybercriminals are attempting to obtain your information.

1. Fake celebrity impersonation scam

Scammers often make fake accounts and pose as celebrities on Snapchat to directly message you, asking you to send money to a charity or for some other reason. The “celebrity” could also send a link to a spoofed website that can fraudulently obtain your payment details.

It would be rare for a celebrity to directly contact you. The best practice is never to send money to anyone you don't know, especially if it's based on something you saw on Snapchat. If you're interested in a specific charity or cause, do some thorough research online and donate directly through a verified link on a legitimate website.

2. Fake contest scam

Upon first hearing you have won a contest, you may feel elated, which is what scammers count on! If you’re informed through a social media platform like Snapchat, then it's a scam. In this type of scam, cybercriminals may pretend to be from a legitimate organization and ask for your personal details to award a prize to you.

It’s a red flag if you’re asked to pay money or give your bank account number or credit card information to claim a prize. Before interacting further, it could be helpful to part ways with the individual contacting you, look up the organization on the internet, and double-check with its verified customer service team.

3. Fake survey scam

Some reputable companies conduct surveys and offer compensation prizes for completing them. Snapchat, in the course of its business model, may eventually send you a survey, but beware. Scammers can mimic these “company surveys” in a phishing attempt to steal your personally identifiable information.

How do scammers get your info? Bad actors can purchase your leaked email from the dark web. Plus, hackers can use your leaked info to target you if there's a Snapchat data breach or any other data breach with your credentials.

Regardless of how it originates, the hackers' main goal in the fake survey scam is to get you to click on fake website links or call a phone number where they will obtain your credit card number for the aforementioned prize. Make sure to double-check email addresses before you click on any links, as emails are a prime method for phishing scams that lead you to fake websites that could install malware on your device. A reputable survey company will never ask you for sensitive information, such as your social security number or bank account specifics.

4. Bogus investment opportunities

Cybercriminals love to use social media apps like Snapchat for investment scams. The FTC reported that half of the investment scam losses reported in 2021 originated on social media.^[2]

Many cryptocurrencies and the blockchains they are tied to are legitimate. But more fraudsters are using cryptocurrencies that offer no real returns to steal your money. With this scam, a social media developer or influencer may contact you directly, telling you about a cryptocurrency investment and offering a blockchain address of a particular scam token. Once you make a purchase, you may never hear about the token online again. Or, in a more extreme case, the developer and project may disappear entirely from the web with your money.

It’s good to remember that all reputable investments will have ample information online, including potential studies and whitepapers backing the project’s main ideas. For cryptocurrencies, you can take a few extra steps to evaluate projects, such as reviewing the organization’s website and the project’s tokenomics.

5. Fake product scam

While social media sites like Snapchat are great for showcasing new products to consumers, product scams can be mixed in with the ads. In 2021, 45% of money lost in social media scams was due to online shopping, primarily where the product was paid for yet never delivered.^[2]

If targeted, you may be redirected to a fake website to enter your credit card details. To prevent this from happening, try to opt out of targeted advertising, do ample research on the company before purchasing, and be wary of any vendor that accepts only a gift card or cryptocurrencies for payments.

6. Unlocking account scam

Many people panic when they feel they have lost their password or that there is unsuspected activity on their account, and these feelings can make you susceptible to account unlocking scams. Not only may a scammer compromise your account, but they may also pretend to be a Snapchat employee trying to help you. The red flags to watch out for in this type of scam are contacting you to unlock your account or asking you to pay to unlock your account.

If someone initiates contact to help you unlock your account, don't respond. You should be the one contacting Snapchat Support, and Snapchat Support rarely would reach out to you unless they were responding to your initial request. (And even Snapchat Support won’t ask you for your login information.) If your Snapchat account was compromised or you forgot your password, Snapchat help is just a few clicks away.

A password manager like NordPass is an easy way to enhance your online security. Your passwords, profiles, and credit cards are all protected with XChaCha20 encryption.

5.0

Editorial Rating

On NordPass's website

Password Manager

NordPass

Up to 56% + 3 extra months

#1 ranked password manager with a strong history
Trusted Nord name backed by above industry standard encryption
Grab NordPass on its own or opt for a fully-featured security bundle
Free version limited to one device at a time

7. Snapchat premium scams

Do you ever encounter Snapchat accounts with non-family-friendly photos? There are also suggestive accounts that promise adult content if you upgrade your account to “Snapchat premium.”

There’s no premium version of Snapchat, so you do not need to pay anyone to upgrade your account. Without encountering an official website that accepts payments, you can almost guarantee that your money will go missing, regardless of the nature of the material involved.

8. Romance scams

Not least, we have all heard of the tried-and-true romance scams on social media. Romance scams, or catfish scams, are subtle and often start with someone befriending you online. The next thing you know, you have so much in common with your new friend or even a romantic connection, so you don’t feel cautious before sending them money.

If this has happened to you, you are in good company, as this is one of the most common financial scams on social media. In 2023, losses due to romance scams topped at over $1.14 billion.^[4] One way to avoid this scam is to never send money to anyone you don’t know online, no matter how you feel about them.

Is Snapchat safe?

You can use any social media platform safely, if you have a bit of awareness. Snapchat’s most unique feature is tied in with its servers — the platform deletes your photos that you send to others after a specified amount of time. At first glance, this feature may make you feel like less risk is involved, but there are hazards associated with photo sharing in this unique manner.

You could be more likely to encounter cyberbullying on Snapchat because it’s harder to hold toxic individuals accountable for their online actions when their photos and messages disappear. Another risk is a false sense of security.

It’s easier to share images or personally identifiable data that you may later come to regret if you think they can’t be shared or viewed by others. Although Snapchat will alert you if someone takes a screenshot of your photo within the app, people have found ways around that feature to take screenshots without your permission.

Aside from general photo sharing, you may have other safety concerns, such as location sharing or third-party internet tracking. Snapchat Support has taken the initiative to build out an online help center with various articles on keeping your account up-to-date and secure, and we have summarized some of this information for you.

With more than one in four individuals reporting to the FTC that they have lost money to social media scams, you have good reason to take precautions now to avoid Snapchat scammers in the future.^[3]

Concerned about the transparency of your Snapchat location? Learn how to hide your Snapchat location with a secure VPN.

What to do if you’re scammed on Snapchat

If you believe your Snapchat account was compromised and that someone may be attempting to access your information, follow these steps.

1. Submit a support ticket with Snapchat. Provide Snapchat with a safe email you still have access to, and remember, never provide your password to anyone, including Snapchat Support.

2. Change your password. Ideally, use a random password generator to create a complex password.

2. Once your account has been restored, set up two-factor authentication to further enhance your security.

3. After reporting any cybercriminals within the Snapchat app, make sure to also report them to the Federal Trade Commission, a government agency where you can report fraud and identity theft. The agency also provides many practical tips for dealing with online scams, including helpful next steps for multiple fraud scenarios.

The best identity theft protection services for securing your personal data

Service
Individual monthly price	Starts at $7.50/mo (billed annually) for first year	Starts at $9.00/mo (billed annually)	Starts at $10.00/mo
Family monthly price	Starts at $18.49/mo (billed annually) for first year	Starts at $17.00/mo (billed annually)	-
ID theft insurance	Up to $3 million	Up to $1 million per adult	Up to $2 million
Credit monitoring
3-bureau credit reports
Details	Get LifeLock Read Our LifeLock Review	Get Aura Read Our Aura Review	Get Omniwatch Read Our Omniwatch Review

10 tips to stay safe on Snapchat

Here are 10 top tips for staying safe while using Snapchat:

Think twice if someone's overly eager to chat. If someone is consistently more excited than you are to chat — and they're trying to persuade you to do something like click on a website or send funds — it’s most likely a scam.
Trust your gut and don't be afraid to block. Always trust your gut instincts and block suspicious individuals immediately.
Keep your password a secret. Never share your Snapchat login and password with anyone, not even support. Choose a strong password and use a password manager to store it securely.
Install and update antivirus software. Some scammers aim to infect your device with spyware or keyloggers, while others try to scam you out of your personal info with a phishing attack. Antivirus software can help protect you against phishing and malware, whether on Snapchat or elsewhere.
Add extra layers of account security. Set up two-factor authentication to make it harder for hackers to access your account.
Don't talk to strangers. Be cautious when chatting with and accepting friend requests from people you don’t know.
Hide your location. Make sure that only the people you choose can see your location by customizing your location on the map, or use Ghost Mode to protect your location.
Share with friends and family only. Review your privacy settings regularly and manage who can view your stories. Never share any photos or videos that you would not share publicly.
See something suspicious? Report it. Report any abuse or scams to Snapchat immediately.
Protect your personal info. Identity theft protection services help you lock down your personal data, including bank account info and Social Security numbers. Having this type of protection in place before a scam happens means you have immediate access to expert help and tools.

FAQs

How do I spot fake Snapchat accounts?

Snapchat keeps Snapscores on each account, calculated with the number of completed snaps, stories, and more. Snapchat users with a higher Snapscore are more likely to be real accounts. Moreover, a real account will have an authentic photo versus a stock photo, a unique username, recent activity, a verification mark, or mutual friends. Looking for these items on any new account that contacts you is another great way to spot a hacked account that’s looking for potential victims to scam.

How do I report Snapchat scams?

If you believe your account has been compromised or that someone is attempting to scam you, you can contact Snapchat Support to report the incident.

Are Snapchat texts secure?

It depends on how you define secure. The premise of Snapchat is to delete your messages, or “Snaps,” after a specified amount of time. There is no automatic record kept of what was posted unless you choose to save a Snap before you send it.

Keep in mind that the user on the other end can also take a screenshot via Snapchat itself or by other means like a separate phone camera.

Additionally, Snapchat offers end-to-end encryption for photos and videos so that only you and the person sending you the message can view the content. Moreover, this encryption prevents Snapchat from storing your data on its servers, making your conversations more private.

Should I let my kids use Snapchat?

Snapchat is safe for teens and young adults. The app’s Family Center and parents' guide both have plenty of information on how it interacts with kids. Be sure to adjust your child’s story and map content in their privacy settings before they start using Snapchat.

Bottom line

The biggest Snapchat scams mirror other social media scams (AKA social engineering scams). The common thread is that a fraudster is on the other side of your screen, attempting to obtain your financial details by any means necessary.

As social media technologies have created advantageous uses and given us more exposure to people throughout the world, the types of scams have also grown more complex. It is best to take some time once per year to read up on the latest scams within your favorite applications to stay safe and update your privacy settings—especially on social media.

Additionally, we recommend investing in your security with reputable identity theft protection services for an added layer of protection.

4.9

Editorial Rating

On Aura Identity Theft's website

Identity Protection

Aura Identity Theft

Best Sale of the Year: Up to 78% Off

#1 rated ID theft protection service with a full suite of monitoring tools
Includes up to $1 million in ID theft insurance for up to five adults
Protect your children with robust parental controls and gaming alerts

Author Details

Robin Moore

About the Author

Robin Moore is a freelance writer and editor specializing in blockchain technology, including wallet security and data privacy. She is the current Managing Editor for Watcher.Guru, a startup blockchain and finance news publication with 1.7 million followers on Twitter. Robin has also been the lead content editor with Genfinity.IO, another startup blockchain research publication. Before entering the Web3 space, she was a business analyst within the oil and gas industry. When she is not offering advice on the best ways to protect data privacy, she is hiking, doing yoga, or networking with her Web3 family on crypto-Twitter.

Kate Quinlan

Kate is an Editor at All About Cookies. She has 8+ years of digital publishing experience as a content manager, developmental editor, and curriculum writer. She leverages specializations in EdTech and educational publishing to create impactful, well-researched content that aids learners of all ages.