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    Is That Facebook Account Hacked? Signs of Scam Activity to Watch For

    Signs That a Facebook Account Might Be Compromised

    1. Unusual Posting Patterns: If an account suddenly starts posting multiple times within short intervals, especially with content that seems out-of-character, that's a red flag.
    2. Links to Suspicious Websites: Links to websites that you've never heard of, especially those with non-standard domain extensions or misspelled names of well-known sites, are often a sign of scam activity.
    3. Posts Promoting Scam Contests: Posts that promise too-good-to-be-true prizes like free smartphones, trips, or large sums of money can indicate that an account has been compromised. 
    4. Asking for Personal Information: Any post or private message asking for personal or financial information should be treated as suspicious.
    5. Endorsement of Unverified Products: Sudden endorsement of products or services, especially those claiming to be "miracle" health products or investment opportunities, can be a red flag.
    6. Changed Contact Information: If you notice a change in associated email addresses, phone numbers, or other personal information without prior announcement, be cautious.
    7. Unusual Language and Grammar: Spelling mistakes, poor grammar, or use of language that the account holder doesn't usually employ can indicate a compromised account.
    8. Friend Requests to People You Don’t Know: If you see that the account has started sending friend requests to people that the owner is unlikely to know, it may have been hacked.

    Steps to Confirm Your Suspicions

    • Check the Profile: A hacked account may have profile changes that the owner didn't make, including changed profile and cover photos.
    • Check Previous Interactions: Look for inconsistencies in the tone and nature of your previous interactions with the account. 
    • Direct Contact: If possible, contact the account owner through another method like SMS, another social media platform, or a phone call to verify suspicious activity.
    • Check Other Friends’ Activity: If other mutual friends are also concerned or have noticed suspicious activity, that could confirm your suspicions.

    What to Do If an Account Is Compromised

    • Report to Facebook: Use the reporting features provided by Facebook to report the compromised account.
    • Contact the Account Holder: If you can, inform the person that their account may be compromised.
    • Unfollow or Unfriend: Until the account is secure, it may be best to unfollow or unfriend the account to avoid interacting with malicious posts.
    • Educate Others: Share information about how to spot compromised accounts to help others avoid falling for scams.
    • Review Account Security: Take this as an opportunity to review and improve your own Facebook security settings.

    Understanding how to spot compromised accounts can not only help protect your information but also helps prevent the spread of online scams. Always exercise caution and encourage others to do the same.


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    ZandraJoi

    People really should not take the internet for granted. Too many people's accounts, on Facebook, emails, etc can be hacked into quite easily.

    Now, why wouldn't Facebook be held accountable for not having better security measures? I know it's up to the individual to be smart but FB is huge; they should have firewalls up where nothing can get through. They have FB Jail for certain keywords. So I'd think they'd make this more of a priority over somebody disagreeing with another.

     

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    Uncrowned Guard
    On 9/23/2023 at 10:45 AM, ZandraJoi said:

    People really should not take the internet for granted. Too many people's accounts, on Facebook, emails, etc can be hacked into quite easily.

    Now, why wouldn't Facebook be held accountable for not having better security measures? I know it's up to the individual to be smart but FB is huge; they should have firewalls up where nothing can get through. They have FB Jail for certain keywords. So I'd think they'd make this more of a priority over somebody disagreeing with another.

     

    I feel like Facebook has major issues with linking apps to their users accounts.  Granted, I have a suspicion that most users would be upset if Facebook was too restrictive with apps as it would be a burden and most people valve security only after something happens.  Oddly enough, one of my original goals of Uncrowned Addiction was to try and be an educational resource for helping "casual" users be a bit more secure online.

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    ZandraJoi
    On 9/27/2023 at 1:49 PM, Uncrowned Guard said:

    I feel like Facebook has major issues with linking apps to their users accounts.  Granted, I have a suspicion that most users would be upset if Facebook was too restrictive with apps as it would be a burden and most people valve security only after something happens.  Oddly enough, one of my original goals of Uncrowned Addiction was to try and be an educational resource for helping "casual" users be a bit more secure online.

    It's the "We'll worry about it later" mindset. & then cross your fingers it doesn't happen to you.

    People have gotten so lazy in today's society. They don't want to do the things for added security yet cry when they've been hacked & even ask, How could this happen to me!

    I'd love to see UA have more educational resources for all of us. I for one like learning.

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    Uncrowned Guard
    4 hours ago, ZandraJoi said:

    It's the "We'll worry about it later" mindset. & then cross your fingers it doesn't happen to you.

    People have gotten so lazy in today's society. They don't want to do the things for added security yet cry when they've been hacked & even ask, How could this happen to me!

    I'd love to see UA have more educational resources for all of us. I for one like learning.

    I keep trying to add info all the time!  Although I actually struggle with keeping the information relevant to new users.  Not that I'm a tech genius or anything, but it is oddly hard to avoid using standard terms and processes that I just assume people would know when a brand new user will get to that point and be lost.

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    ZandraJoi
    On 9/30/2023 at 1:05 PM, Uncrowned Guard said:

    I keep trying to add info all the time!  Although I actually struggle with keeping the information relevant to new users.  Not that I'm a tech genius or anything, but it is oddly hard to avoid using standard terms and processes that I just assume people would know when a brand new user will get to that point and be lost.

    Maybe have in parentheses the definition next to the word. An analogy perhaps.

    What is helpful for me learning is to go straight to books for kids lol Or those For Dummies books. Maybe you can use some of those ideas if you'd like.

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    Uncrowned Guard
    7 hours ago, ZandraJoi said:

    Maybe have in parentheses the definition next to the word. An analogy perhaps.

    What is helpful for me learning is to go straight to books for kids lol Or those For Dummies books. Maybe you can use some of those ideas if you'd like.

    That's actually not a bad idea at all.  They do seem to be very popular.

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