Scam Alert: Beware of Phishing Scheme Targeting Facebook Users and Pages
Amit Singh
Pune, 17 September 2023: In the ever-evolving landscape of social media scams, a new phishing scheme has emerged, aiming to dupe Facebook users into divulging their login credentials. Understanding the workings of this scam is crucial for protecting your account from potential hackers.
How the Scam Operates:
The scam typically begins with a message received via Facebook Messenger or email, seemingly from Facebook itself. The message carries a tone of urgency and may read something like this:
“Your Page Has Been Disable. I.N.C International Concepts has reported that your article:
1. Using someone else’s fake name/photo.
2. Share content that misleads other users.
We’ve warned in the past that if your Page that infringes some one else’s intellectual property rights, your Page will be disabled.
If you believe this an error in our system, please verify your account at the link below.
Account Confirmation: https://#####-####.co###
Confirm your account within the next 24 hours otherwise our your Page may be permanently disabled.
Meta Security Team
The message includes a link that appears to direct you to Facebook.com. Understandably, you might feel inclined to click the link to safeguard your account. However, it’s essential to remain composed and scrutinize the message closely.
Upon closer examination, you are likely to identify telltale signs of a scam. These could include typographical errors, email sender addresses unrelated to Facebook, and, if you hover over the link in the email (without clicking on it), you may discover that it does not lead to Facebook’s official website.
Clicking on the link may take you to a page that looks legitimate, prompting you to complete a form to appeal the alleged policy violation. The form might request your login email, phone number, name, and other personal details. When you submit the form, it may ask you to confirm your password. If you do so, scammers will obtain all the information needed to compromise your account.
How to Protect Yourself from Phishing Scams:
1. Stay Calm: In the face of such alerts, it’s essential not to panic. Always carefully examine suspicious emails for signs of scams before taking any action, as scammers often target social media accounts with fake alerts.
2. Verify Claims: To confirm the legitimacy of any issue, log directly into your Facebook account rather than relying solely on external messages.
3. Direct Logins: Always log into your accounts directly. Even if an alert appears genuine, use your social media app or enter the URL manually into your browser’s address bar rather than clicking on links sent to you.
4. Guard Credentials: Safeguard your login information rigorously. Never input your login details on third-party websites or pages other than the official Facebook site. Additionally, avoid sending your login information via email or Facebook Messenger. If you mistakenly provided your login credentials through a fake form, promptly change your password to secure your account.
