Social media can be a very valuable tool for businesses. However, social media can also cause challenges for business owners and executives, as online communication has made business fraud easier to perpetrate.
Plenty of people will use social media to defraud others. Some companies may end up embroiled in litigation when they seek to hold an individual or another organization accountable for behavior on social media that amounts to fraud.
What types of fraud occur on social media that could result in a lawsuit?
There are certain forms of social media fraud that are less likely to impact a business than an individual. Romance fraud, where someone leverages a digital relationship to convince someone else to send them money, is much less likely to affect a business than an individual.
However, businesses could fall victim to impersonation schemes, cryptocurrency scams and market manipulation efforts. One business or an individual might pose as another party online, tricking people into investing in an idea or a project with fraudulent information. There are also organizations that may make exaggerated or outright fraudulent promises regarding cryptocurrency trading.
Finally, business professionals and executives may be at risk of market manipulation schemes on social networking platforms. Those attempting to influence how others view a company or a specific stock offering may engage in a robust attempt to manipulate public opinion and could trick businesses along with individual investors into committing resources because of that manipulation.
Those who have fallen victim to such schemes will often need to consider initiating litigation as a means of holding the business or individual fraudster accountable. Being aware of the different types of social media fraud that exist and why they may force a company to take civil action could help executives and entrepreneurs avoid situations that could cost their organization money.