An old friend contacts you on Facebook Messenger. You haven’t heard from your friend in years, and they are just letting you know about this great way to get free money that they learned about online. Has this ever happened to you? It is a scam, and sadly thousands of people have fallen for this trick.
First, you need to be aware that scammers can copy someone else's account information to impersonate that person. Whether it is Facebook Messenger or an email, it is possible that someone's account has been compromised and your friend is no longer in charge. If you suspect an imposter, then contact your friend using another method to confirm your suspicions.
When I was approached with this type of scam, the scammer had done their homework. The scammer knew my friend’s name. The scammer knew my friend’s wife's name. The scammer can also know other things such as addresses, hometowns, schools, jobs, family members, and more.
Why do Facebook Messenger scammers know so much? The main reason is that they review the information that is freely available on Facebook and other websites. Facebook is a social media platform where users share personal information, photos, news, and more. A scammer has access to this information as well. There are a few ways to try to increase your privacy settings on Facebook, but scammers are always looking for ways to take advantage of your weaknesses.
Even if you restrict your settings and limit what you share on social media, it is likely that all of your friends have not restricted their usage of social media. Your friends may be sharing information about their schools or places they grew up, and it isn’t difficult for a scammer to presume that those same details apply to your life.
Scammers have been getting smarter, so you need to remain vigilant. If an offer sounds too good to be true, then it is a scam. If someone is using high-pressure tactics to get you to send them money, then it is a scam. If an old friend or acquaintance contacts you about free money, then it is a scam. Never send someone money expecting to get more money back in return. Legitimate businesses and real people do not ask you to send them $100 right now in exchange for $10,000 a little later.
When you get a suspicious Facebook Message, you should report it to Facebook in case your friend's account is being used to lure multiple victims. To learn more, you can read https://www.guidechange.com/post/beware-of-scams-from-friends-on-facebook-messenger