Meta joins forces with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch a campaign warning people about 4 online investment scams.

Meta has partnered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch a special campaign to raise awareness and warn the public about the rampant online investment scams. The campaign will highlight four key scams that investors should be aware of to prevent falling victim to scammers.

In this digital age where everything is connected, online transactions and investments have become part of everyday life. However, this convenience comes with increased risks from sophisticated and resourceful cybercriminals who target unsuspecting internet users.

Meta, a leading technology and social media platform, continues to collaborate with governments, law enforcement, technology companies, and banks around the world to protect users from increasingly sophisticated investment and payment scams. In Thailand, Meta has partnered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the “Prevent Investment Scams” campaign to raise awareness about common online scams and enhance the safety of Thai users on Meta platforms.

July 31, 2568 Professor Dr. Pronong Busaratrakul, Secretary-General of the SEC said “This campaign aims to promote investment knowledge and resilience among the public and investors, enabling them to be aware of fraudsters, stay away from increasingly sophisticated online threats, and enable them to conduct due diligence and make informed investment decisions in the modern financial world.”

The SEC has been proactively working under its strategic plan, which focuses on elevating itself to the status of an Anti-Investment Scam Center. This center aims to provide services to the public, investors, regulated businesses, and entities in the capital and digital asset markets, raising their awareness and awareness of online threats. This center also integrates cooperation with all sectors, both public and private, to develop preventative mechanisms to create a safe online environment.

Despite these precautions, scammers continue to develop new strategies and use the latest technology to avoid detection, so internet users should be extra cautious, especially when contacted by strangers or when they encounter advertisements that seem too good to be true.

4 Common Types of Online Scams

Scammers often adapt their strategies to trends and interests of internet users. Four common scams include:

1. Cryptocurrency investment scams

This type of scam often impersonates crypto investment experts or representatives from popular crypto trading platforms. They use social media or even phone calls to persuade victims to invest, promising high returns. They often use phrases like “secret trading tips” or “insider information.” They may also use fake, profitable accounts or offer to recover losses from previous investments, hoping to repeat the scam.

2. Romance Scam

This scam begins by creating a fake profile on a dating app or social media, using photos of attractive people and fabricating either pitiful or impressive life stories. The scam then spends time building a relationship with the victim, building trust, and then begins asking for money under various pretexts, such as emergency medical care, travel expenses, business problems, or joint investment to build a future.

3. Common investment scams

This scam is similar to crypto scams, but uses other assets, such as fake stocks, real estate, gold, or non-existent projects. Scammers offer “special opportunities” or “insider information” that promise high returns with low risk. Some may set up fake investment groups or invite people to seemingly legitimate online seminars, but the funds disappear without a trace.

4. Celebrity impersonation scams

This scam uses images or videos of celebrities, such as actors, athletes, financial experts, or successful businesspeople, to create fake profiles, pages, or advertisements that appear to be promoting or recommending investment opportunities. This attempt uses the celebrity's credibility to trick victims into believing the investment is genuine.

General tips for protecting against online scams

While Meta continues to update its detection systems, the best defense remains “awareness” in avoiding online scams. Meta also shared key tips for users to stay safe from online scams:

• Verify the source before making an investment decision. Check the information of the person, company, or agency that contacts you, especially those who claim to be investment advisors or secretaries to investment experts. You can check whether the information is licensed by the SEC.
• Be wary of offers that are too good to be true. If someone offers unusually high returns without much risk, or claims it's a special, limited-time opportunity, be suspicious.
• Do not disclose personal information. Do not give your password, account number, or OTP code to anyone, even if they claim to be a bank official, police officer, or government agency.
• Be careful about transferring money in advance. If a new seller or store page asks you to transfer money in advance, be sure to check carefully before proceeding.
• Beware of over-transfer refund scams. If a buyer claims to have over-transferred money and then asks you to refund them, verify that the money has actually been deposited and avoid rushing to refund them before you're sure.
• Stay informed about new scams. Scammers are constantly developing new strategies and methods. Learning about the latest scams can help you stay on top of them.
• Consult an expert if you are unsure about investing. Call the SEC "Investment Fraud Hotline" at 1207, press 22.

In addition, Meta's security tools help users stay safer every day:

• Messenger: Meta may display a warning in Messenger when a payment is requested in advance, prompts you to use the money transfer method immediately, or if a contact's account behaves suspiciously.
• Messenger and Instagram: Facial recognition is available to help verify your identity and prevent celebrity scams, including account recovery.
• Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp: Users can check their privacy settings and set the visibility of personal information, such as their online status or profile picture, to avoid contact from strangers.

Meta is committed to working with law enforcement, civil society organizations, and partners around the world, including our key partner in Thailand, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to create a safer online environment. Fighting fraud is a shared responsibility, and together, we can protect our assets and build a safe and trustworthy online community.

Learn more about Meta's approach to protecting against investment scams. https://about.fb.com/news/2025/05/avoiding-investment-payment-scams-online/

Follow the collaborative campaign between Meta and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to educate people on investment scam prevention at the SEC's Facebook page, the SEC's Instagram page, and the SEC's website. www.sec.or.th/scamalert Or you can check the service providers and those who have been approved under the supervision of the SEC at www.sec.or.th/seccheckfirst Or install the SEC Check First application. You can also inquire for more information at the SEC "Investment Fraud Hotline" at 1207, press 22.

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