Increasing fraud on the rise: Meta and Facebook face cyber scams
17 July 2024 12:58
Cybercriminals have increasingly frequently committed fraud using Meta and Facebook's image. Fake messages can be received on Messenger, as well as via SMS or email.
The process of the cybercriminals' operation begins with a message that, at first glance, seems to come directly from Facebook. If you receive it through Messenger, the sender often uses a profile picture with the characteristic "F" symbol or "Meta" logo. The account name suggests that it is from the Facebook Help Centre. In the case of emails, the title usually indicates that Meta Business Suite sent the message. Sometimes, scammers tag you in a shared, collective post.
Scammers inform you that your access to the platform may be blocked or restricted. The message's content may also include threats to delete your profile, increasing the sense of urgency. To prevent this, they recommend clicking on the provided link.
Such action redirects you to a website that closely resembles Facebook. You are asked to fill out an appeal form and provide your login credentials there. Entering these results means scammers are taking over the account.
Problem for businesses and individuals
CyberRescue describes the effects of this type of fraud. A company employee received a fake message and, wanting to unblock access to the portal, provided their login details.
According to the client, she suddenly lost access to the company's fan page, and "strange contests and cryptocurrency offers" started appearing on the page. Simultaneously, it was reported that money had disappeared from the page owner's bank account due to a payment card linked to the Facebook page. The funds were spent on promoting fake contests.
How to protect against such an attack?
"We should always apply the principle of limited trust. Even if the message seems to come from the support of a given service, we should exercise caution," advises Wojciech Łupina from CyberRescue.
If you have fallen victim to scammers, you should try to regain access to your account as soon as possible through the form facebook.com/hacked. Next, you should change your password and activate two-step verification. It is also worth considering setting limits on the payment cards linked to the platforms you use.
In today's world, where the number of online frauds is increasing daily, remaining vigilant and applying appropriate security measures is crucial to protecting your data and finances.
