TikTok is massively popular—which means it’s also really popular with scammers. Here are a few security risks you need to keep your eyes peeled for.
TikTok ranks among the fastest-growing social networks. It gained one billion users worldwide in less than a decade—millions regularly spend hours watching videos.
Along with this success, however, comes security risks. Cybercriminals exploit the platform’s massive popularity to execute various social engineering attacks, from phishing links to honey trapping. Here’s how you can spot and prevent TikTok scams.
Crooks take advantage of TikTok’s growing influencer culture to promote get-rich-quick schemes. They often go viral. Ambitious yet naive young professionals quickly fall for profiles promoting instant wealth and success.
But get-rich-quick schemes rarely work. Scammers exploit trends to create seemingly lucrative yet pointless business proposals. They’ll repurpose the same “courses” until the fad dies.
Take the below images as examples. They come from a fake guru advising viewers to pass off AI-generated content as their own on freelancing platforms. The practice is deceptive and unsustainable. You might make a few bucks peddling AI articles, but clients will fire you once they find out.
Don't just look for the easy way out. Remember: influencers flexing their lifestyle on TikTok merely delude people into thinking about instant success. No venture guarantees profits.
TikTok has a unique algorithm. Unlike other social networks, it doesn’t prioritize popular users. Instead, the app focuses on relevance. New accounts could land on the For You Page (FYP) if they jump on the right trend or use popular background music.
The algorithm supposedly helps creators jumpstart their careers. While it levels the playing field, scammers exploit the system to promote fake business accounts. They just need a few viral videos. Even dummy accounts run by bots would look credible if they had thousands of followers and viewers.
To weed out fake profiles, cross-check them on other social media sites. Avoid shady, no-face accounts with zero presence on other mainstream social networks, regardless of their TikTok follower count.
Dropshipping remains as popular as ever. You’ll find thousands of videos about building eCommerce shops and finding direct suppliers. Many even offer step-by-step coaching plans.
Although dropshipping is a legitimate business model, you need to be extra careful with transactions. The industry is riddled with scammers. Some “gurus” sell useless, overpriced programs—others deliberately rip off victims with non-existent supplies and inventory.
The entire dropshipping process occurs online. Yes, it’s convenient, but it also makes it more challenging to verify business partners. Scammers know this vulnerability. And they exploit it by posing as dropshipping suppliers and asking for up-front down payments.
Double-check your prospective dropshipping partners. Back out if they have no official website, publish low-quality videos, and refuse to provide official receipts.
You’ll find bot accounts on various social networks. But TikTok’s unique algorithm gives them better chances of gaining momentum. Again, the platform pushes videos based on relevance. Even bots could land on various users’ FYP feeds if they get enough likes, views, and shares.
Bot accounts execute scams after boosting their follower count. They could sell useless courses, impersonate finance influencers, or distribute infected links, among other schemes.
Learn to spot bot accounts quickly. Watch out for red flags like profile photos using stock images and usernames with special characters.
Scammers spread fake versions of TikTok. They lure victims by promising unique features, e.g. anonymous profile views, automated followers, and guaranteed views. You won’t find them on official mobile apps.
Sadly, most third-party APK files of social networks are scams. They’ll likely charge you subscription fees, steal your data, and/or infect your device with spyware. Take the below APK files as examples. They claim to have dark themes, VPN compatibility, and bot followers, but their download links only trigger random ads.
Ignore unofficial apps altogether. Running random APK files exposes your smartphone to unnecessary risks. Only download apps from Google Play or the App Store.
Every aspiring influencer has at least considered buying followers. The idea is to invest in fake followers until real fans notice your profile. You can probably get thousands of followers for a few hundred bucks.
Although tempting, we strongly advise against paid followers. Nobody will find it impressive. If anything, you’ll look unusual for having thousands of followers with generic handles like user182729.
Also, TikTok might shut down your account. And if that happens, you’ll lose your paid and organic followers alike.
Impersonation scams are common on finance and business TikTok accounts. Posers copy pictures and usernames of reputable personalities, hoping to trick fans into trusting them. They often hide in comments sections. If you answer them, they’ll try leading you to another messaging platform.
Most impersonation scams involve financial transactions. Cybercriminals convince victims to send money in exchange for supposedly lucrative opportunities, like mentorship programs, online courses, or crypto investments.
To combat these scams, avoid fake profiles altogether. They’re easy to spot. If a profile isn’t verified, has no posts, and uses a weird username, it’s likely a poser.
Pig butchering scams follow a similar tactic. These scammers will reach out via instant messaging apps, chat with you for several weeks, then pitch random investment schemes.
While online dating scammers typically lurk in dating apps, they also exploit social networks. In fact, romance scams are common on TikTok. The site pushes various profiles into users’ feeds, allowing crooks to engage with a broad range of victims. They don’t even need a large following.
Scammers typically steal images and videos from random models. They look for personalities with limited reach—victims are less likely to recognize these. For instance, a middle-aged American might not know many nano-influencers from Asia.
Once they have a convincing profile, they’ll chat with victims. Executing romance scams takes time. They spend weeks, sometimes months, earning their targets’ trust before asking for “favors.” Some want a few hundred bucks. But others would steal thousands of dollars and collect confidential Personally Identifiable Information (PII).
So be careful with your online acquaintances. Cut ties with them if they ask for money or personal details.
While TikTok proactively removes scam-related videos, many still fall through the cracks. Filter your feed yourself. TikTok is a fun app, but note that identity thieves, hackers, and bullies take advantage of unsuspecting users. Stay alert and safe when consuming content.
Likewise, expect cybercriminals to exploit other widely known social networks, e.g. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Security risks are everywhere. Familiarize yourself with these schemes and know what to do if you encounter them.
Jose Luansing Jr. is a staff writer at MUO. He has written thousands of articles on tech, freelance tools, career advancement, business, AI, and finance since 2017.
As a writer, Jose’s goal is to share advice on self-improvement and upskilling. He helps readers understand the real-life applications of various systems, plus how these support career advancement.
Recently, Jose has also been testing AI systems. He believes that AI is inherently unbiased—all hallucinations, inconsistencies, and security risks stem from humans.