This scam has been around since August/September 2023, but this weekend my client accounts were being hammered with 10+ Facebook messages each day, claiming that we had violated Facebook community guidelines. My own account has been receiving at least one per hour!
I thought that it was important to share what these messages look like, and what you should do about them.
“Violations Detected on Your Page”
Facebook hackers are trying to steal your information via legitimate looking warnings from Meta. The message appears to come directly from Facebook, warning that your account will be permanently disabled if you do not immediately confirm your identity. A link is provided supposedly leading to Facebook’s ‘Account Confirmation’ page. However, the URL actually directs to a convincing phishing site designed to steal login credentials and compromise accounts.
There are a few different versions of this message:
EXAMPLE 1
EXAMPLE 2
EXAMPLE 3
What Should I Do?
Look out for generic greetings, suspicious links, typos and poor grammar and requests for sensitive information.
Report suspicious messages and mark them as Spam.
DO NOT click on any links!
Change Which Countries Can View Your Page
Another way to limit these kinds of messages is to set which countries can view your page. I have now edited my own page so that only people from Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States and Canada can view my page.
In Facebook, switch to your page profile (Top left)
Select Settings
Select Privacy
Select Public Posts
Scroll down and edit Country Restrictions
Save
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by scam and spam control, I can help! Please send me a message and I will send you my obligation free Business Information Kit.
Stay safe online!
Donna 💜
