25 Latest Facebook Scams To Avoid: What To Watch Out For?

The latest Facebook scams are destroying people worldwide, and to avoid them, it’s important to stay aware of them.

Facebook was once a platform for connecting with friends and family, but its functions have significantly changed.

Now companies use it to thrive in their businesses, entrepreneurs use it for networking, and, unfortunately, scammers use it to trap people.Like every other platform, there is a dark side of Facebook, too. A study published in the “IJCSNS International Journal of Computer Science and Network Security” by Al Hasib (2009) says that:

Scammers exploit Facebook’s social networking features to engage in social engineering attacks, tricking users into divulging personal information or clicking on malicious links.

The number of these scams has increased with the passage of time. According to Social Media Today, over 62% of Facebook users encounter scams weekly.

This blog will discuss 25 of the latest Facebook scams to avoid.

Facebook Page Deletion Scams

A Facebook page deletion scam is an online fraud in which a page administrator receives a Facebook message saying your page will be deleted.
This message will create an urgency for you to respond; otherwise, your Facebook page will be deleted soon.
It appears to come from Facebook directly, whether in the form of an email or an urgent message.
The scammer may demand some money to resolve this issue urgently, or your page may be deleted shortly.

How to Avoid Facebook Page Deletion Scams?

Double-check the email to see whether it’s an official Facebook email.
Move the email to spam to protect yourself in the future.
Change your password to avoid any unauthorized access.
If there is an urgency to do something, be careful.

FYI: Facebook doesn’t charge a fee to resolve any issues.

Facebook Marketplace Venmo & Zelle Scam

In a Facebook market Venmo & Zelle scam, the scammer contacts you on Facebook Marketplace and shows interest in your product or tries to sell you something.
He will convince you to use Venmo or Zelle for payment by saying it’s faster and more convenient.
Once you send him the payment, he will disappear without sending the product.
Or he can say that the product is lost or damaged and will offer a refund that never materializes.

How to Avoid Facebook Marketplace Venmo & Zelle Scams?

Meet the person physically, choose a public place, and tell a friend about your plans to stay protected.
Research the person and check his profile for reviews and feedback (the newly created account can be a red flag).
Use trusted payment methods like Facebook marketplace built-in payment system, PayPal or credit card, etc.
Scammers can create a sense of urgency; take your time and research thoroughly.

Facebook Job Scams

Fb job scams are the common type of online Facebook scams in which scammers create appealing job posts having good salary and remote work offers.
When job seekers contact them, they offer the job and demand an initial fee, usually a registration or training fee.
When the job seeker sends them the payment, they disappear, leaving the job seeker with an empty pocket.

How to Avoid Facebook Job Scams?

Always research the company through their website or social media pages before contacting them.
Avoid using unusual payment methods like gift cards, as scammers often use these.
Legitimate employers will never ask for money.
Never make a quick decision.

Facebook Ticket Scams

In a Facebook ticket scam, a scammer tricks people by selling fake or invalid tickets.
The scammer creates posts to sell tickets for famous upcoming events like concerts, festivals and sports events.
When a buyer contacts him, he asks for payment.
After receiving payment, the scammer gives the buyer invalid or fake tickets, or he may never receive anything in return.

How to Avoid Facebook Ticket Scams?

Buy tickets from an authorized ticket seller or official sources like the event organizer’s website.
If the price is too good, it can be a scam, so research about it.
Use the buyer protection features if you must use PayPal.
Meet the person physically to exchange tickets & payment, choose a public place, and tell a friend about your plans to stay protected.

Car Detailing Scam on Facebook

Car detailing scams are a type of online Facebook scam in which a scammer shows a car detailing business offering services at a cheap rate.
When a person pays him for the service, he disappears, does poor-quality work, or damages the car to earn extra money

How to Avoid Car Detailing Scam on Facebook?

Always check whether the company is legit through its business registration information, reviews, and social media accounts.
Never give full payment in advance.
Ask if the business has insurance to cover damage during car detailing.
Meet the business representative or owner physically to discuss the cost and process, choose a public place, and tell a friend about your plans to stay protected.
Ask the company to give a detailed written estimate of the services, cost, and timeline.

Renting Scams on Facebook

A house rental scam is one of the popular facebook marketplace scams in which a scammer shows a fake property in below market rates.
Once a tenant shows interest in it, the scammer asks for the payments in advance and gives fake information about the property.
When the scammer receives the payment, he disappears, and the tenant doesn’t get anything in return.

How to Avoid Facebook Rental Scam?

Use Google Maps to verify the presence of the property and its location.
Meet the landlord to discuss the property and check it live, choose a public place, and tell a friend about your plans to stay protected.
A legitimate landlord never asks for the payment in advance before a tenant has seen the property, so consider it a red flag.
Find information about the landlord, such as contact information or any previous rental listings.

Cashier’s Check Scam on Facebook Marketplace

This is one of the Facebook buying scams. In it, the scammer (buyer) asks the seller to accept the cashier’s check for a purchase and offers to overpay for the item.
When the seller deposits the check, the scammers request a refund for the overpayment.
The seller’s bank may initially get the full amount of the check, but later, the check bounces, resulting in a loss.

How to Avoid Cashier’s Check Scam on Facebook Marketplace?

Meet the buyer in person to exchange the item and make the payment directly, choose a public place, and tell a friend about your plans to stay protected.
Use a trusted payment method like PayPal.
If a buyer is paying more than the asking price, be cautious.
Do not send the product until the payment from the check has cleared your bank account.
Check the buyer’s profile for red flags, such as a new account.

Facebook Blackmail Scams

This is one of the common types of Facebook scams in which a scammer blackmails a user to share personal information with the user’s family, friends, or colleagues.
This blackmailing is only to demand some money in return for not sharing that personal information.
The scammer accesses the user’s personal information through hacking, phishing, etc

How to Avoid Facebook Scams of Blackmail?

Always use a strong password, enable two-factor authentication & only click on trusted links and files.
Do not share your personal information online with everyone.
If you have been blackmailed, never agree to the scammer’s terms, instead contact the Facebook support team for Facebook scam help.
In severe cases, it’s essential to consult with a lawyer to take legal action against it.

Facebook Account Fraud

This type of fraud is one of the most severe on the Facebook scam list. In it, scammers gain unauthorized access to your Facebook account.

This can lead to serious consequences like:

Using your personal information
Accessing linked financial accounts
Posting harmful content on your account
Sending spam messages using your account.

How to Avoid Facebook Account Fraud?

Use passwords that are difficult to guess and complex.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication.
Be careful of any emails or links that ask for your personal information.
Check your account activity regularly for any suspicious posts or friend requests.
Never share your login information with someone.
Contact the Facebook support team if you notice any unusual activity on your account.

Facebook Giveaway Scam

In the Facebook giveaway scam, scammers create fake giveaways to trap users.
A giveaway can involve anything, like money or a MacBook, and you’ll have to provide your personal information to enter.
The scammers can also ask you to like, share, and follow his page, and you may be directed to a phishing website afterward.
Or he can say that you have to send some payment to receive your prize.

How to Avoid a Facebook Giveaway Scam?

Verify the legitimacy of a giveaway through its organizer’s profile and previous giveaways he organized.
Do not share your personal information with anyone online.
Never click on any links or download any files from an unknown source.
Be careful if the other person is giving you some unusual tasks.
If you see any scam, report it to Facebook using their reporting tools.

Facebook Investment Scams

This is a common scam in which a scammer uses very impressive language to convince people to invest in a fake scheme, cryptocurrency, or forex trading.
He urges users to invest quickly and promises that their investment will be safe and that they will get excellent results.
He shows endorsements from some experts and may send users phishing emails to get personal information.

How to Avoid Facebook Investment Scams

Before investing in any company, conduct detailed research about it & its reviews.
Check whether the person has qualifications and licenses to sell securities.
Never share your personal information with anyone online.
A legitimate company never pushes you to make immediate decisions; always make decisions wisely.
An investment always has a risk factor, and it can’t be 100% safe, so if someone is saying it is safe, it’s a red flag.

Facebook Loan Scams

The Facebook loan scam is a scam in which a scammer offers a loan on Facebook.
When a person contacts the scammer, he demands upfront fees for insurance, processing and other charges.
When the scammer receives the money, he disappears, leaving the other person at a loss.

How to Avoid Facebook Loan Scams?

Always check the lender’s legitimacy by researching his reviews, history and social media profiles.
A genuine lender never demands upfront money before approving a loan.
Deal with established financial organizations or licensed loan providers.
Verify whether the lender has a license to work in your state
Carefully read the loan contract before signing, and pay attention to interest rates, fees, and repayment terms.

FYI: You can verify a loan provider through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). They have databases to check whether the lender is licensed or not.

Facebook Catfish Scams

A scammer creates a false identity in Facebook catfish scams, trapping people for their benefit.
They send a fb scam friend request to connect with the users.
Usually, they use people who are looking for some emotional support and trap them in dating scams.
They create an emotional bond with a person and, after building trust, ask for some money under false pretenses.

How to Avoid Facebook Catfish Scams?

If someone shows interest in you too quickly, be careful.
Do not share your personal information with anyone online.
Notice the activities of the other person online.
Check the other person’s online presence to find any red flags.
Meet the person physically, choose a public place, and tell a friend about your plans to stay protected.

Facebook Lockout Scam

It is a type of Facebook scam in which a scammer sends fake messages to users that appear to come from Facebook, saying that their account has been locked.
He says that it happens due to violating Facebook guidelines and it will take some money to recover the account.
He’ll create a sense of urgency for the user to take action immediately without contemplating it.

How to Avoid Facebook Page Deletion Scams?

Change your password to avoid any unauthorized access.
Double-check the email to see whether it’s an official Facebook email.
Be careful if there is an urgency to do something or a fee demand.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication to stay protected in future.

Meta Support Team Scams

This is one of the latest Facebook scams in which a user receives a fake meta-support message from a scammer.
The scammer demands a user’s information like login details, credit card details, or account recovery codes.
This information is used for identity theft and other scams.

How to Avoid Meta Support Team Scams?

Never share your personal information with anyone online, even if they claim to be from the Meta support team.
Keep your credit card details private from everyone.
Check whether the message is directly from Meta or not.

FYI: Meta support team email addresses end like:

facebookmail.com
facebook.com
instagram.com
fb.com
meta.com
metamail.com
support.facebook.com
business.fb.com

Facebook Car Accident Scam

In a Facebook car accident scam, the scammers make users believe that they have been involved in a car scam or that some other person they know has been involved.
The emails appear to come from law firms or insurance companies.
Then scammers may ask for some personal information, for example, insurance information, driver’s license numbers, or bank account details.
When scammers get the information, they deceive the victim by making fake insurance claims or stealing their identity.

How to Avoid Facebook Car Accident Scam?

Don’t believe any of these messages; verify the information yourself.
Never share your personal information with anyone online.
Contact your insurance company directly if you believe you have been involved in an accident.
If you suspect that it’s a scam, report that person on Facebook.

Facebook Login Scams on Messenger

It’s a messenger fraud in which a scammer steals a user’s login information by showing recognition or pretending to be a friend.
He sends a link saying that it’s for a photo, video, or other content. When a user opens the link, it directs him to a fake Facebook login page.
The purpose of this fake Facebook login page is to steal the user’s login information.

How to Avoid Login Facebook Scams On Messenger?

Be careful if you receive any message from an unknown purpose & verify it.
Avoid opening a link that doesn’t match the expected website.
Never enter your login information on any website unless it is Facebook’s official platform.
Enable Two-factor authentication for added security.

Facebook Scam of Lottery

The user receives Facebook scam messages from the scammer saying that you have won the lottery.
The scammer then asks for personal information or requests a processing fee to cover taxes.
When the scammer receives the money or information, he disappears, and the user never receives anything.

How to Avoid Facebook Lottery Scam

Be careful if you receive a message that you have won a lottery that you didn’t enter by yourself.
Do not share your personal information or money with anyone because legitimate lotteries never ask for that.
If you receive any of such messages, report them to Facebook.

Facebook Shipping Scams

It is one of the latest Facebook scams in which a scammer traps a user in a fake shipping process, leading to financial loss.
The scammers give fake tracking numbers to a user and make excuses like custom delay or loss of package.
They also charge some extra fees, such as insurance or tax. In many cases, the item is never delivered.

How to Avoid Facebook Shipping Scams?

Use escrow service for high-value items. In this way, both buyer and seller will stay protected.
If you are asked to pay an additional fee that was not decided before, stay conscious.
Contact the shipping carrier if the tracking number provided to you doesn’t work.
Communicate directly with the seller if you have any concerns regarding shipping.

Facebook Scam of Government Grant

In the government grant scam, the scammer send facebook scam messages to users saying that they have won a grant from the government.
They further ask for some personal information like contact and bank account details.
The scammer may demand a fee to process the grant or to cover taxes.

How to Avoid Facebook Scam of Government Grant?

Verify the government agency that is giving the grant.
Original government agencies never ask for personal information or processing fees, so be careful.
If you receive a message that you have won a government grant which you didn’t enter by yourself, be careful.
Never share your bank details with anyone online you don’t know about.

Facebook Scam of Google Voice

In the Facebook Google Voice scam, scammers use Google Voice for their illegal activities so that no one can track them.
They pretend to be members of Facebook, banks, and other reputable organizations to obtain users’ personal information.
Using Google Voice numbers, they may create fake Facebook profiles, making it more difficult for users to identify them.
They use Google Voice to threaten and harass people.

How to Avoid Facebook Scam of Google Voice?

Always verify the caller’s identity by searching their name or company online when you receive a call.
Do not share your personal information with someone you don’t trust online.
To identify and block any unnecessary calls, use the call screening app.

Facebook Charity Scam

In the charity scam, a scammer creates fake charity pages to get donations from people online.
They may send you some malicious links to get your personal information when you click on them.
They make false promises regarding the use of donations to trap as many people as possible.

How to Avoid Facebook Charity Scam?

Research about the charity program before donating through its social media profiles and the website.
Never click on any unknown link.
Donate to a charity’s official website.
Use charity rating organizations to verify the legitimacy of a charity.

Facebook Quiz Scam

In quiz scams, scammers create quizzes and polls for the people, primarily stealing the user’s personal information.
The quiz may contain links that redirect the user to a malicious website. To enter, users must provide their personal information.

How to Avoid Facebook Quiz Scam?

Use a VPN (virtual private network) to protect your privacy.
Never click on any unknown link online.
Be careful if a quiz demands that personal information be entered.

Meta for Business Email Scam

In meta for business email scams, a scammer pretends to be someone from your organization or company you work at.
He asks for payment or information from you. He may send some fake invoices to businesses requesting payment

How to Avoid Meta for Business Email Scam?

Make sure your account is protected.
Verify that it’s the same person he is saying to be.
Check the payment request before sending any money online.
Make your employees aware of these types of scams as well.

Facebook Scam Saying “Someone Died”

A scammer creates fake messages in this type of distressing scam to prove to a person that someone from his family or friends has died.
The scammer’s main purpose in this situation is to get money, saying that it’s for funeral expenses.
He may extract personal information of a person by showing him fake grief for the loss.

How to Avoid Someone Died Facebook Scam?

Never trust someone easily; verify the information on your own through other sources.
Do not share your personal or financial information with anyone you don’t know.

Similarities Between Most of the Scams

Facebook Scam Protection & Recovery

Facebook has become a significant platform now, but as we know, Facebook scams are increasing daily.
Many scams can lead to serious consequences like identity theft if not appropriately handled.
So, it’s important to know what potential measures you should take to protect your account from scammers and how to recover the loss if you have been scammed.
Following are some crucial steps you should take to protect & recover your account:

Prevention of Your Account

Look for the unusual and suspicious activities of the profiles trying to contact you.
If someone asks for your personal information like credit card & contact details, be careful.
Never click on any links or download attachments from unknown sources.
Check the links from a Phishing URL Checker before clicking on them
Never set an easy password; always use complex and unguessable passwords.
Enable two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access to your accounts.
Never respond urgently to someone. Take your time and research before sending any message.
The offers that sound great are mostly scams, so avoid them.
Recheck your privacy settings.
Only accept friend requests from the people you know.

Recovery After Being Scammed

Review your personal information and privacy settings once you regain access to your account.
Use Facebook account recovery tools to recover your account
Change the password right away & use a complex password
Report the scammer’s profile immediately.
Check your bank details and report any suspicious activity to your bank right away.
If necessary, take legal action against the scammer.
Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to protect your security.

FAQs:

I Have Been Hacked on Messenger, What To Do?

Perform these steps immediately:

Change Your Password
Check your account activity
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Report the case at Facebook’s support team
Freeze your credit if you think you need that.

I Have Been Scammed on Facebook What To Do?

Do the following things right away:

Report the scammer using Facebook reporting tools.
Keep a record of the conversation between you and the scammer.
Notice your bank account activities.
If you have paid, contact your provider and repost the transaction.
Consult a lawyer if necessary.

Can I Report a Scammer on Facebook?

Yes, you can report a scammer on Facebook. Go to the scammer’s profile, click on the three dots at the right side of the menu, and select “Report Profile.”

Conclusion:

Scams on Facebook are increasing day by day & by staying informed, we can keep ourselves protected.
It’s essential to do your research when you see suspicious activity. By learning how to protect and recover your account, you can take control of it.
We have discussed 25 of the latest Facebook scams above to make you aware of them so that you can never be the victim of a scammer.
There are many similarities between these scams, such as urgency to action, stealing personal information, financial gain, phishing tactics, and fake promises.
When you notice these things, avoid them and report them to Facebook.