![]() On the app, tap the profile photo, scroll down, and tap Block. Then tap Report to report the issue. Block the person who sent you the message, and report the incident to Facebook right away from within Messenger. Chances are good that an unusual message is fake.ģ. If you aren’t sure who’s doing the typing, contact your real friend in another fashion (a phone call, email or text message) to confirm he or she sent the information. This holds true even if you recognize the person or have talked in the past on social media platforms. Be suspicious of messages on Facebook Messenger or Instagram, especially when they veer into areas where you are directed to take action or divulge personal information. ![]() Never accept an invitation from someone you don’t recognize - or, worse, from just “Facebook User” - without a photo.Ģ. “Criminals are using social media to gather personal information and build profiles of potential victims they can target.”ġ. “Hackers have set up shop on social media as more people move toward social media sites like Instagram and Facebook,” Puri says. The messaging features on Facebook and Instagram, both owned by parent company Meta, have been able to work between the apps in addition to within each app since September 2020. These schemes may be similar to so-called grandparent scams, by which con artists exploit grandparents’ love by pretending to be grandchildren in need of emergency cash. You also may find that swindlers will try to get you to leave Facebook Messenger, to avoid being tracked, and request that you continue the conversation over email. “In these cases, a hacker impersonates a family member to avoid the appearance of fraud creates a fake, time-sensitive reason to need money, such as being in an accident and asks the target for something of value.” “Unfortunately, impostor scams are all too common, and we see older demographics targeted more frequently,” says Sachin Puri, vice president of marketing at cybersecurity firm McAfee. I blocked the person, reported the incident to Facebook and sent a text to my friend to let him know his account was compromised.Īlthough the pitch may vary, always be suspicious when someone you know or think you know asks for something, often with a sense of urgency. Let me send you a link about it.”Īt that point I knew it was a scam. “You should apply, too, as they’re granting a lot of money, but only until the end of the month. Did you hear about the money I received from the International Financial Corporation Grant?”īecause this was the first time I had seen such a message, my response was sincere: “Wow, that’s great, congrats!” I figured it was something tied to my friend’s work as an educator who publishes reports on teaching techniques for those with special needs.īut my Spidey sense started tingling with what came next. So I had no reason to question it - at first. ![]() I got a note over Facebook Messenger that appeared to be from a friend, right down to the name and photo. This happened to me recently, and it’s typical of how scammers operate. Messaging apps are a great way to keep up with friends and family, but they can also be a method for scammers to defraud you.
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