How These Three Scams Use What You're Already Looking For

Scammers have learned something simple but effective: you're more likely to click on something that looks exactly like what you're searching for. This month, we're seeing three different scams that follow this pattern. Each one impersonates a familiar app or service. Each one counts on you not noticing the small differences. The good news is that once you know what to look for, they're easy to avoid.

The WhatsApp Vote Scam

You get a message on WhatsApp from someone you know. It says something like "Vote for me in this contest" and includes a link. The message feels urgent but friendly. You click it.

What's actually happening: the scammer has taken over your friend's account, and the link leads to a fake login page. When you enter your WhatsApp username and password, the scammer gets them. Then they lock you out of your own account and can message all your contacts pretending to be you.

The protection is straightforward. If a friend sends you a link asking you to vote or verify anything, don't click it in the message. Instead, call them or text them separately and ask if they actually sent it. Real friends won't mind the extra second of verification. Scammers count on you moving fast.

The Fake Adult Content Sites

You search for adult content on Google or another search engine. Several results look like they're from TikTok. They rank high in the search results. They look almost identical to the real thing.

But they're not. These fake sites are designed to trick you in one of three ways. Some try to get you to download something that installs malware on your device. Others ask you to "verify your age" or "upgrade your subscription," charging you money for nothing. A few ask for payment to unlock content, then disappear once they have your card information.

The key detail here is that TikTok doesn't have a separate "adult content" site. If a search result claims to be from TikTok but looks a little off, it probably is off. Look at the website address (called a URL) at the top of your browser. Real TikTok sites start with "tiktok.com." Anything else is a fake. If you're unsure, go directly to TikTok through your app or by typing the address yourself rather than clicking a search result.

California's Tool to Stop Data Brokers

This one is actually good news for people who live in California.

Data brokers are companies that buy and sell information about you: your address, phone number, shopping habits, and more. They get this data from public records, purchases, and other sources. They sell it to other companies, which is why you sometimes feel like ads are following you across the internet.

California just launched a free tool called DROP that lets you ask all registered data brokers to delete your information at once. Before this, you had to contact each company individually. Now you can do it in one place.

If you live in California, you can use DROP at dropcalifornia.com. If you don't live in California, check whether your state has a similar tool. Many states are starting to offer them. Even if you're in a state without a tool yet, you can still contact data brokers individually and ask them to remove your data, though it takes more time.

The takeaway across all three of these situations is the same: scammers succeed by looking like something you trust, and data brokers succeed because most people don't know they exist. Once you know what to look for, you have the power to protect yourself.