With 33.8 % of the population using Facebook monthly, what do we really know about one of the world’s most popular brands? Is there a way to protect the information we put out on Facebook? One of the unique aspects of Facebook is its flexibility to be used in different ways. For example, it is used for business, to connect with friends, work colleagues, and even people you do not know. Because of this, it serves as a literal hotspot for Facebook scammers. In this Blog, you are going to learn some tips to identify these potential scammers and how to report a scammer on Facebook.
Signs you are talking to a Facebook Scammer
Did you receive a friend request from a pretty lady and are unsure if she’s a potential scammer? Or maybe the person you are trying to buy an item from on Facebook Marketplace keeps asking you for a code to prove you are legitimate? Here are some signs you are talking to a Facebook scammer and some different scams to look out for:
- The Facebook Marketplace Scammer: Be on the lookout for any deals too good to be true, anyone seeking advance payment, and that wants you to send a code to verify you are the real deal. Often times they are using this code to reset one of your passwords. The code will unlock the Facebook or email account, which is then used to perpetuate further scams, including identity theft.
- Fake Charity of GoFundMe Scammer: A lot of potential scammers make fake charity sites to get your money. Look out for minimal details, fake sites usually run with the less is more technique. If you can, check the account that is the organizer of the group. Make sure to research your charity before you donate your money to a fraudulent organization.
- The Suspicious Links Scammer: When you receive a message from a friend that says “OMG is this you or have you seen this?”, usually attached to a link. It’s a sign their account got hacked by a scammer. The purpose is to get you to click on the link so they can then hack or install malware on your account also.
- Lastly, the most dangerous is the Facebook Sextortion Scammer: Let’s say a stranger added you on Facebook. They started up a conversation and quickly gained your trust. After a while, you exchanged explicit information with each other. Suddenly the threats start pouring in. Try a reverse image search on their profile picture and see if any other profiles do come up. If this happens that means the account is most likely fake and the picture has been stolen. Also, keep an eye out for how they message often scammers have bad spelling or use broken English.
Can you Report the Scammer to the Police?
The most important thing that you can do is seek professional help and report the crime. We recommend filing a report with your local police station and going on to the FBI’s crime complaint center. 1 in 3 victims are staying silent.
How to Report the Scammer on Facebook?
When you report something on Facebook It gets reviewed. If it doesn’t follow community standards Facebook will remove it. Below are some simple ways to report on Facebook:
To Report a Profile:
- Go to the profile you want to report by tapping its name in your Feed or searching for it.
- Tap in the top right.
- Tap Find support or report.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
To Report a Facebook Group:
- From your Feed, click Groups in the left menu or search for the name of the group you want to report.
- Click below the cover photo and select Report group.
- Select what’s wrong with the group, click next then click done.
To Report a Message:
- From Chats, tap a conversation to open it.
- Tap the person’s name at the top.
- Scroll down and tap the report.
- Select a category to help us understand what’s wrong.
- Tap submit report.
Conclusion
Reporting a scammer on Facebook is an important step in taking back control after being scammed. It is also a way of protecting yourself and others from becoming victims of scammers. We hope that this blog post has shown you how easy it is to report a blackmailer on Facebook and gave you the right tips to avoid these pesky scammers.
