How TikTok protects our community from frauds and scams

Being online opens up a world of possibilities, from connecting with friends and families to planning a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. But just like in life offline, scams can occur online.TikTok's Community Guidelines and Terms of Service prohibits content that promotes or facilitates scams, frauds, or deceptive schemes. However, a few simple habits can help keep you safe from these schemes. Check out some of our top tips below:Secure your accountsTreat your online accounts like keys to your digital life:Review your settings using the security checkup feature in-app.Use strong passwords for every account.Not re-using passwords across online services.Turn on 2-step verification wherever possible.Update your devices and apps regularly to get the latest security features and fixes.Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive logins unless you use a VPN.Stay scam smartWhen dealing with an unknown message, stay smarter than a scammer:Pause before clicking links in unexpected emails, texts, or DMs, and think twice if someone is urging them to move the conversation to another service.Check sender addresses and website URLs for small changes (like “tikt0k.com") that could lead you to fraudulent sites.Remember that banks, government agencies, and big companies will never pressure you to act immediately, send money or share personal details over email/text. Remember, TikTok will never reach out to you and ask you for your password.Trust your instincts — if something feels “off,” it probably is. When in doubt, go directly to an organisation's official website or contact an organisation's customer service through a verified phone number.Deep Dive: Phishing & QuishingPhishing is when scammers use fake emails, text messages or phone calls to trick their victims by mimicing real people or organisations. It’s a form of social engineering, designed to build trust by claiming to be someone they already know or do business with. Common signs include urgent messages, unfamiliar or slightly altered sender addresses, unexpected attachments or links, or requests for information like login or payment details.Quishing is phishing but by using a QR code, which seem "neutral" and are easy to use. QR codes hide the actual URL, making it harder to spot a scam. Scammers will often paste fake QR stickers over real ones in public places, like cafés or bus stops. To stay safe, check the physical QR code for stickers placed over originals, and don't scan QR codes from unknown sources or random flyers. Most phones let you preview the link and see the URL before opening it, and use a trusted QR scammer app with built-in security checks if possible.Talk about itThere's power in community, and everyone can benefit from sharing knowledge about online safety. Talk with friends, family, and coworkers about new scams and security risks you’ve heard of, and utilize online reporting channels when you spot a scam. Encourage kids, teens, and older relatives to come to you if they see something suspicious online or receive unexpected communications.And remember - don’t be embarrassed if you fall for a trick. Scammers target everyone and anyone can fall victim to a scam no matter how careful they are. While being informed and cautious is the best defense, being scammed is never your fault, and talking about it can help protect you and others.How TikTok protects your accountAll of TikTok's EU users benefit from the protection that comes from our compliance with the EU's strong data protection rules.We go further to make users aware of how their data is used, and how we keep it secure. Our Global Privacy Centre is available in multiple languages, and helps users understand how data is used and their data rights.Additional safeguards are built in for younger users on TikTok, such as default private accounts and limitations on Direct Messaging.We also apply enhanced security protections - following data protection by design principles, and testing our security through external audits and bug detection programmes.Check out the TikTok Safety Centre for more information.