A large number of fraudulent messages claiming to be Facebook customer service representatives or automated customer service systems have recently been reported to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection’s (DATCP) Bureau of Consumer Protection. These messages claim that a recipient’s Facebook account has been hacked, stolen, or disabled, and urge them to click a link in order to recover their account. If the link is opened, users are asked to “log in” to a website that appears very similar to Facebook but is actually a convincing fake set up by scammers to steal account information.
This practice is known as a phishing scam and may target specific individuals or thousands of people at once. The recent Facebook-related phishing attempts usually arrive via email, text, or Facebook private messages. Similar phishing scams may occur through Facebook Marketplace, Facebook Groups, a friend’s hijacked Facebook account, Instagram, or WhatsApp. If you receive an unsolicited message about your Facebook or other social media account being compromised:
- Do not reply to the message, call, or text any number provided in the message.
- Do not provide any of your account information or passwords.
- Do not click any links or open any attachments in the message. These may contain viruses or malware that could be installed onto your device without your permission or knowledge.
- If you do click on a link in a suspicious message, you may want to have your device scanned for viruses and malware at a reputable computer or cell phone repair establishment. Change your passwords on a separate, secure device as soon as possible. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
