Facebook is a social media platform and instant messaging app headquartered in the United States
About Facebook scam texts, emails and phone calls
There is a variety of Facebook scam emails and text messages. Such scam messages can also be delivered through Facebook itself through fraudulent or compromised accounts.
Popular examples of Facebook scams can include
- The claim a recipient’s Facebook account has been disabled or restricted because of a violation or security concern
- The claim a recipient need to confirm or update their Facebook details by logging in
- The claim that someone has tried to access the recipient’s Facebook account or tried to change the password, which the recipient can review by clicking a link and logging in
- The claim a recipient won a promotion, competition, raffle or lottery held by Facebook
- A request to view activity related to the recipient’s Facebook account, such as seeing a comment to a post they made or checking a new friend request.
As is typical with scam texts, messages and emails, these have been designed specifically to lure a recipient into clicking a link attached to a message. Let’s look at some examples.
The below fake SMS claims the recipient violated Facebook’s policies and needs to click a link to resolve.
The below SMS claims the recipient’s password is being reset and to click a link to review or stop the notifications.
The below phishing email claims a recipient needs to update their Facebook details by clicking a link.
The below message delivered through Facebook Messenger from a compromised account claims the recipient’s account will be disabled for a violation and asks the recipient to click a link to resolve.
Report a Facebook phone, text or email scam
How to report a Facebook scam text?
You can forward scam text messages to Facebook at phish@fb.com
How to report a Facebook scam email?
You can either attach the scam email or forward it to Facebook at phish@fb.com
How to report a Facebook scam phone call?
Facebook does not have a facility for reporting scam phone calls to them.
If you're in the UK, you can ALSO report scams...
- Scam emails can be forwarded to The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) at report@phishing.gov.uk
- Scam texts can be forwarded to your phone carrier on 7726
- All types of cybercrime and fraud can be reported to the police via ActionFraud by calling 0300 123 2040 (or 101 in Scotland) or by using ActionFraud's online reporting tool here.
If you're in the USA, you can ALSO report scams...
- Scam texts can be forwarded to your phone carrier on 7726
- All types of cybercrime and fraud can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by using their complaint assistant here or by calling 1-877-382-4357 (9am-8pm ET)
From a different country? Click here.
You can also forward SMS or email scams to us at scam@thatsfake.com
Avoiding Facebook phone, text and email scams
With all text and email scams claiming to come from Facebook, these links either trick visitors into downloading harmful files or lead to spoof websites designed to harvest any information entered into them and sends them to the cyber crooks.
The best course of action, as with nearly every phishing scam conducted through email or text message is to simply avoid clicking links in these messages, and don’t download any files they may link to. You should also never reply.
Be especially wary of scams that seem to try and alarm a Facebook user into thinking there is something wrong with their account that needs immediate action. Instead of clicking on links in emails, messages and texts, open your browser and go directly to Facebook instead. This way you can be confident you’re on the real Facebook website and not an impostor site.