I have seen a huge rise in Facebook Page notification scams in the early part of 2024. Mostly in 2023 these took the form of spoof pages tagging or mentioning your small business page but more recently spam messages appearing in the pages inbox.
Scams on Facebook pages can take various forms, and it’s essential to be vigilant to protect yourself, your business and your personal information. Here are some common Facebook page scams:
- Fake Giveaways or Contests:
- Scammers create fake pages that mimic popular brands or celebrities and announce giveaways or contests.
- They ask users to like, share, and comment to participate, collecting engagement and potentially personal information.
- Phishing Scams:
- Scammers may create pages that imitate legitimate websites or login screens to trick users into entering their login credentials.
- Always verify the authenticity of links and login screens before providing any sensitive information.
- Fake Product Sales:
- Fraudulent pages may advertise products at unbelievably low prices to lure users into making purchases.
- These pages often disappear after receiving payments, and users end up with no product or recourse.
- Impersonation:
- Scammers may create pages impersonating public figures, friends, or family members to deceive and manipulate users.
- Always verify the authenticity of accounts before engaging with them.
- Survey Scams:
- Pages may share links to surveys that claim to offer rewards upon completion.
- These surveys often collect personal information that can be misused.
- Clickbait and Malware:
- Pages may share sensational or clickbait content that leads to websites with malware or phishing schemes.
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links and be cautious of sensational headlines.
To protect yourself from Facebook page scams:
- Verify Page Authenticity:
- Check for the blue verification badge next to the page name, indicating that Facebook has confirmed the page’s authenticity.
- Be Skeptical:
- Question the legitimacy of too-good-to-be-true offers, giveaways, or contests.
- Review Privacy Settings:
- Regularly review and update your privacy settings to control who can see your information and posts.
- Report Suspicious Activity:
- If you come across a suspicious page or activity, report it to Facebook.
- Educate Yourself:
- Stay informed about common scams and tactics used by scammers to better protect yourself.
Remember, being cautious and skeptical online is crucial to avoiding falling victim to scams.
For more advice on protecting yourself from page scams you can visit the Facebook help centre