CyberSecurity Tip: Should I add someone I don’t know on social media?

The Hidden Dangers of Adding Strangers on Social Media

CW Fong
3 min readJun 16, 2024

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn have become integral parts of our lives. They not only help us stay in touch with family and friends, but also help us network professionally. While this connectivity has its advantages, it also comes with significant risks. Especially when we connect with people we do not know.

Scams have become the number crime in the world, and scams have risen in sophistication. To get around our guard, scammers now engage in two-stage phishing attacks which exploit personal information obtained online which is why you should always think twice before accepting that friend request from a stranger.

Understanding Two-Stage Phishing Attacks

Phishing is a deceptive attempt to obtain sensitive information by masquerading as a trustworthy entity. Traditionally, these attacks involved a single-step approach, where scammers would directly trick victims into providing their information. However, as netizens have become savvier, cybercriminals have had to evolve their tactics and they now use two-stage phishing attack.

Stage One — Reconnaissance

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CW Fong

I blog therefore I am. Passionate about #Singapore, #Leadership, #PublicRelations, #SocialMedia, #Marketing, and #PersonalDevelopment. Above all, I do no evil