Like, Comment, Get Scammed: Characterizing Comment Scams on Media Platforms

Xigao Li

Network and Distributed System Security (NDSS) Symposium 2024 · Day 2 · Platform Security

In an era dominated by vast digital media platforms like YouTube, the sheer volume of user engagement creates fertile ground for cybercriminals. This talk, "Like, Comment, Get Scammed: Characterizing Comment Scams on Media Platforms," presented by Xigao Li, sheds critical light on the escalating menace of comment scams. These sophisticated social engineering attacks leverage script-controlled accounts to post enticing or misleading comments and replies, aiming to lure unsuspecting users into direct contact for fraudulent purposes, ranging from fake prize giveaways to high-yield investment schemes. The ultimate objective is financial exploitation, often facilitated through cryptocurrency transactions.