Fitness scams are rife in the lead-up to a new year, with cybercriminals preying on people's desire to get fit and healthy. On social media platforms like Facebook, you'll often see ads promising discounted gym memberships or personal training deals that seem too good to be true. But, beware - these ads may be outright scams.
The tactic is simple: create a convincing ad that looks identical to one from a legitimate business, but with slightly different characters in the web address. This can include swapping out letters like "O" for zeros. Once you've clicked on the link and paid your money, the scammer will have your bank details and may even offer a fake training plan or app to keep you hooked.
Experts warn that these scams are often cloned from legitimate sites, using freely available AI technologies to manipulate images and make muscles appear more bulging in order to lure people in with tales of success. The real goal is always the same: get your money and then collect as much data as possible about you.
So, how can you spot a fitness scam? First, be wary of ads that create a sense of urgency - if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Check for limited-time offers or extreme discounts, which are common tactics used by scammers to prompt people into acting quickly without doing their research.
When it comes to paying for any membership or training plan, be cautious about handing over your bank details. The scammer will take the payment you expect and then store it for use in a future fraud. To avoid falling victim, pay close attention to the address of the website you land on - if it looks too good (or bad) to be true, it probably is.
If you think you've been scammed, contact your bank immediately and report the incident to Action Fraud, the central hub for fraud and online crime. Remember: it's always better to go directly to the official website or app of a gym or fitness brand rather than following a link from an unsolicited email or social message.
The new year may be a fresh start, but scammers are already on the lookout for their next victim. Stay safe out there!
The tactic is simple: create a convincing ad that looks identical to one from a legitimate business, but with slightly different characters in the web address. This can include swapping out letters like "O" for zeros. Once you've clicked on the link and paid your money, the scammer will have your bank details and may even offer a fake training plan or app to keep you hooked.
Experts warn that these scams are often cloned from legitimate sites, using freely available AI technologies to manipulate images and make muscles appear more bulging in order to lure people in with tales of success. The real goal is always the same: get your money and then collect as much data as possible about you.
So, how can you spot a fitness scam? First, be wary of ads that create a sense of urgency - if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Check for limited-time offers or extreme discounts, which are common tactics used by scammers to prompt people into acting quickly without doing their research.
When it comes to paying for any membership or training plan, be cautious about handing over your bank details. The scammer will take the payment you expect and then store it for use in a future fraud. To avoid falling victim, pay close attention to the address of the website you land on - if it looks too good (or bad) to be true, it probably is.
If you think you've been scammed, contact your bank immediately and report the incident to Action Fraud, the central hub for fraud and online crime. Remember: it's always better to go directly to the official website or app of a gym or fitness brand rather than following a link from an unsolicited email or social message.
The new year may be a fresh start, but scammers are already on the lookout for their next victim. Stay safe out there!
they're like everywhere now and honestly who can even trust those ads anymore? I mean I know some legit gyms offer discounts or promotions but these ones are always too good to be true... have you guys noticed how fake the pics of fit people look in those ads? Like, I'm all for getting fit but come on scammers get their own workout routine 
like wut's wrong w/ ppl who cant even do thier own research? its not that hard 2 spot a scam. ppl just wanna get fit n healthy, but scammers r makin bank offa it . i swear, these cybercrims r getting cleverer by the day 
. u gotta be careful online, dont click on suspicious links or give out ur personal info 2 random ppl who r tryin 2 sell u somethin. just go direct 2 th official website n check if its legit 
. Fitness scams are just the tip of the iceberg - it's like they're playing a game of cat and mouse with our bank details. I mean, how hard is it to spot a fake gym membership ad when you can use Google to fact-check? It's not that complicated! 
If we can spot a fitness scam, surely we can spot a fake politician trying to sneak something past us 
like dont fall 4 it if its 2 good 2 b true & they wanna rush u into payin think twice, trust me u dont wanna give ur bank deets 2 some fake dude on instagram 
. I mean, who wouldn't want a discounted gym membership or a personal trainer? But the thing is, those ads are always trying to trick you into handing over your bank details. It's like they know how much we all want to get healthy and fit, but really they're just trying to scam us out of our hard-earned cash 
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. And if you think you've been scammed, report it to Action Fraud ASAP. It's always better to be safe than sorry 
. It's just lazy scamming, you know? Anyway, gotta say, these fitness scams are low. Can we please just be smart and do our research before handing over our hard-earned cash 
The worst part is that these scammers just want your money and all this personal info... it's not even about the actual gym membership or training plan anymore.
i mean they look legit at first but its all just a scam to steal ur card info or personal deets 
they r trying to steal ur money & personal deets so dont click on suspicious links or give out ur bank info 2 strangers 
also dont b fooled by ads that say "limited time offer" or "extreme discount" cos thats just a tactic 2 get u 2 act fast 
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. Your personal info is worth way more than some fake gym membership 
. Don't be tempted by "limited-time" offers or "extreme discounts" 
! Your bank info is worth way more than any fake fitness plan 
!
. Cybercriminals are adept at exploiting people's desire to improve their physical and mental well-being, often using tactics that blur the lines between legitimate business and illegitimate schemes 
. To navigate these scams effectively, one must be vigilant and exercise caution when encountering ads with characteristics that seem too good (or bad) to be true 
, we can minimize the risk of falling victim to these scams 
. Let's prioritize our financial security and well-being in this new year 
. And the worst part is, once you hand over your bank details, it's game over 
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. It's all about being vigilant out there, folks!
I'm like super annoyed when I see those ads on Facebook that promise you'll get ripped in no time if you join this gym or download this app 
. I mean, I'm all for a good deal, but if it sounds too good to be true... it probably is