Common Facebook Scams: How to Be Prepared

Fraud on Facebook is depressingly common, and nobody wants to become the next victim. While connecting with others via social media is always powerful, it’s important to be careful and stay aware. Facebook scammers are hoping you won’t. 

Scams on Facebook range from fake ads and posters to fraudulent activity with Facebook Marketplace. We have collected the top recent scams creating consumer issues on Facebook and listed them below to help consumers spot the problems, avoid issues, and resolve concerns when possible.  

Key Insights

1. Consumers in the United States have lost more than $10 billion to fraud, with the amount lost continuing to increase year after year. Scams are getting worse. 
2. Many customers seek help contacting Facebook customer service, including to report Facebook scams and get assistance. 
3. With a range of scams including Facebook job scams, dating scams, ad scams, and more, the best way to protect yourself is to limit your interactions to those you know, avoid clicking links, and work cautiously with shopping options. 

Red Flags of Facebook Scams

Online scams on Facebook may have various forms. Also, social media fraudsters are proficient at performing innovative fraud. However, knowing the red flags can save a ton of stress and help you avoid falling victim. 

Here are the most typical warning signs:

1. You receive an urgent message from a stranger. Facebook messenger scams are increasing in frequency. Thus, be very wary with any messages you receive from unknown people, especially if they claim that your account has been compromised and ask for your login credentials to help resolve the issue. 
2. Too-good-to-be-true investment opportunity. This could be the promise of a get-rich-quick scheme that asks you for money up front. Apparently, 26% of reported fraudulent investment opportunities take place on Facebook, so always double check everything. 
3. Brand new profiles with few friends. Such profiles lack social proof and legitimacy and make them suspicious to users who are wary of potential scams.
4. Deals that appear excessively attractive on Facebook Marketplace. Facebook marketplace scams are increasing, with high-quality goods being sold at unbelievably low prices. 
5. Requests for money or personal security information. Such actions should be seen as major warning signs. If you’re asked to send money over a payment app, this could be a danger zone. Facebook reviews highlight how much of a threat this can be to personal security. 

The Latest Facebook Scams

Facebook scams are now more sophisticated, specifically designed to catch more people out. Fraudsters aim to get your personal information, your account credentials, or data about your bank cards through phishing emails, quizzes, fake giveaways, and other deceptive tactics.

Here are some of the latest trends in Facebook scams for you to avoid. 

Phishing emails

Phishing is one of the most common Facebook scams. Originating in email and social media messaging, phishing is a very urgent message encouraging you to hand over personal information or money. 

The message may state that something has happened to your Facebook account, and the messenger needs access. They may write that you have violated the platform’s terms and then provide a pressurizing limited-time link to click and solve the problem. The goal of these FB scams is to get you to click links and provide personal or financial information. 

Here is an example of a Facebook scam phishing email that looks official to hoodwink innocent users into handing over confidential information.

Facebook removed 413 million spam emails and messages in the third quarter of 2023, yet this may just be the tip of the iceberg. Customer reviews often tell tales of unsuspecting consumers innocently clicking links and then getting locked out of their accounts or otherwise scammed. 

Below is another phishing email example that asks for security information to scam people’s accounts for illegal profit. 

Facebook Marketplace scams

Facebook is no longer just the place to share personal updates, it’s now a thriving commercial marketplace. Brands need to be visible and the platform is a great way to maintain a public presence. Unfortunately, Marketplace is the heart of many Facebook money scams. 

But caution is advised, as some of those enticing ads promoting products are fake. In some cases, scammers create bogus Facebook accounts and then promote fake ads on Facebook Marketplace selling pretend products. 

Scammers will take your money for a product that never arrives and then disappear, or some Facebook money scams are even worse as one Facebook user discovered. Among the Facebook online reviews, a customer explains that 

Somebody was trying to scam me from buying an item Im selling on marketplace for $2500 saying that he Zelle me the money & he wanted me to Zelle him back $500 when zero dollars hit my bank account. 

The reviewer is worried now and states, “I really hope that was Facebook and not somebody else trying to scam me,” but the customer will likely need to report fraud on Facebook after that interaction. 

Romance scams

Dishonest romance scams have been around for years. Now, scammers target people looking for relationships on Facebook in order to dupe them through flattery to increase trust. Facebook dating scams have been around for years and are becoming increasingly common. 

Sadly, there is usually a request for money down the line that should be a red flag to users. In one of the recent Facebook complaints, a frustrated user shares how was nearly taken in by a romance scammer but stopped when realized the person was not authentic. The reviewer tried to report the issue to customer service to protect other women. However, attempts were unsuccessful:

I then decided to block his mobile number and delete my dating profile frim Facebook dating. I have tried reporting this to Facebook, but found Metacom/help TOTALLY USELESS.

Facebook games and quizzes scams

Games and quizzes are big business these days and are popular on Facebook. However, online reviews tell us that these games and bits of fun can be a cover for Facebook scams. Scammers know that gamers are invested, so they will target them to take advantage.

The motivation is to get you to divulge personal information or hand over money. You may pay a Facebook scammer for a game, win and then never receive your winnings. 

These games are popular and often encourage you to invite other friends to play, making it easy for the Facebook scams to spread. That’s why it’s important to report Facebook scams when you spot them in games or various quizzes.

Jobs scams

Not only a social app, Facebook is now a work platform. Plenty of jobs ads are shared and many are real, but some are not and innocent job seekers can fall prey to fraudulent tactics. 

Facebook job scams are a great way for scammers to gather personal information about you, including your social security numbers and financial account information. A job scam can quickly turn into a Facebook money scam if you’re not careful.

These Facebook job scams can be convincing, however. Consider the authentic Facebook ad below. The post offers a remote job with benefits and a great salary, and all this with no experience needed. Sounds great, right? However, you should be careful with such urgent propositions, especially when they don’t have a legitimate way to contact a recruiter.

Facebook giveaway scams

There’s nothing better than a free gift, right? Wrong, when it comes to some Facebook giveaway scams. Giveaways usually have an incredible gift for a tiny amount – but in return for your personal information. The information you have to provide to be entered in the giveaway or to “claim” your fraudulent prize often creates opportunities for a serious data breach of your personal or financial information. 

For example, in complaint #6144231 user claimed: 

I used my debit card to pay for a Gibson guitar I supposedly won. I paid for shipping, then found out it's a scam.

The customer then tried to report fraud on Facebook but “got kicked off Facebook."

Facebook Messenger scams

Messenger allows users to contact one another about buying or selling items or coordinating meetups or rentals. Unfortunately, there are many common Facebook scams on Messenger. 

Messenger can be the base of many financial, and romantic scams on Facebook as well as opportunities for credit card fraud or other money grabs. 

If you receive a suspicious message through Facebook Messenger, your first step will be to attempt to validate its authenticity – never just trust it. Visit the profile of the person who sent you the message. Do you know them? Do you have mutual friends? If not, it may be a scam.

However, scammers often hijack accounts and then contact friends through them for fraudulent purposes. For example, in Facebook review #640380, user user claims their “account on Facebook was hacked tonight, and they managed to scam me. They’re now reaching out to my friends.”

The user complained, “this person is harassing my friends, asking for money,” which is how many Facebook money scams operate. 

If you receive a strange message from someone you know through Messenger, your first step may be to simply contact them off the platform. A quick call or text message can let you know if the message is real or simply another one of the many Facebook scams through Messenger. If it is a scam, report the account and have your friend or family member change their password as quickly as possible. 

What to Do After Getting Scammed on Facebook

If you experience a Facebook scam, then acting quickly may help to minimize damage. Follow these steps to regain control over your personal information:

Change your Facebook password

If you believe someone has hacked your Facebook account, immediately update your password. Remember to check if you use the same password on other resources, and if you do, change it on these as well. A simple password update can thwart many Facebook scams. 

Check your accounts and freeze any vulnerable cards

By doing so, you can prevent further unauthorized access and protect your finances from additional harm.

Seek expert help

Navigating the aftermath of a Facebook scam can be overwhelming, but the PissedConsumer Club offers resources to simplify the process. After becoming a member, you’ll receive step-by-step instructions, complaint letter templates, and expert tips to help you address the issue with the company involved. Though PissedConsumer doesn’t contact businesses directly, the tools provided allow you to effectively communicate your concerns.

Report scammers

It’s easy to report Facebook scams. Find the ‘Report’ button on any page and share your experience. Such actions may help avoid the same Facebook scams in the future by allowing social media to study the case and take the appropriate actions.

You can also report fraud on Facebook beyond the social media platform. You can report recent Facebook scams through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and also to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This will help the agencies track and identify common social media scams.

Perform a malware scan on your devices

After falling victim to Facebook scams, checking if malware was installed on your device during the fraud is essential. It can compromise your data and lead to further security breaches.

Tips on How to Avoid Facebook Scams

Keeping pace with Facebook scammers is tough, but knowing how to recognize and avoid criminal activity is vital for your online safety. Here are some practical tips to help:

• Enable two-factor authentication for extra security. When any user tries to log in to your account, a one-time code is sent to your phone, and you must enter it with a username and password. 
• Ignore dubious personal messages. Never answer any messages asking for money or requesting to send money via an app. 
• Only 'friend' people you know. If you are unsure that you know the person or the account has no profile photo, you can't be certain that they aren't a scammer. So, it's best to decline the request. 
• Avoid clicking on suspicious links. Clicking on them can be risky, so always double-check before opening unfamiliar links. 
• Have control over your Facebook privacy settings. In settings, you can click 'Privacy Checkup' to review and strengthen your privacy. 
• Use a strong Facebook password. Protect your account with a strong password that you don't use anywhere else, and consider storing it in your password manager. 

Stay Social Media Savvy

There is nothing inherently wrong with Facebook or other types of social media. Common Facebook scams can be spotted and avoided if you’re paying attention and moving carefully. Knowing how to identify a scammer on Facebook will keep you and your money safe, and let you enjoy the social media platform for its original purpose – building connections with others. Have issues or stories about recent Facebook scams?