Not every message sent to you via Facebook Messenger carries goodwill. Similar to spam and phishing messages, Messenger is often used by criminals to find new prey. Whether it’s stealing money or personal identity, the more victims fall into the trap, the more money they make.
It is so attractive that criminals often “reuse” old techniques. An old Messenger scam just resurfaced. About a year ago, millions of Facebook users received strange messages from accounts posing as their acquaintances. It contains only a simple question but hides a dark secret. The message read: “Is this you” and included a link to a video.
However, being linked has been processed through a URL shortening service to look like a video. When clicked, no video is played. Instead, it opens another web page with a fake Facebook login screen. If you enter your login information here, criminals will know your data and attack your account.
Just a few weeks later, the trick died out, but this week it reappeared with little change. No longer asking “Is this you”, the scammer switched to using the phrase “Look what I found” to attract the curiosity of the recipient. It also comes with a link. According to Metro, the link continues to lead users to a fake Facebook login website. In addition to your Facebook email and password, the perpetrator can install malicious code on your device.
To stay safe, it’s best to be on the lookout for any scammers’ tricks. Even if the message comes from a trusted friend, their account is very likely to have been hacked. There are two ways you can protect yourself. First, never click on links or download files from “uninvited” emails or messages on Facebook Messenger.
If your friend sends something, call them to make sure it’s really the sender. Second, install two-factor authentication on every account, including social media and bank accounts. This will greatly reduce your risk of being hacked as you have to verify any login attempts yourself.
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