A new scam on Facebook has reappeared – account cloning. It has been spotted in 2012 and now users have posted complaints that the scam is back again. The scam has already affected some people and scammers have obtained money using fraudulent practices.
A Fox News insider report has indicated that this Facebook scam is primarily associated with Facebook account cloning. First, the criminals may use a fake profile of someone who the user is likely to add(like a beautiful woman) to see more details about the account the friends list of the account as well. What the then scammers do is that they completely copy the targeted profile to the slightest detail so that it becomes identical.
The cyber-scammers then begin to add people in your friend-list with the expectation that the people in your friend list recognize the duplicate profile and they believe that it is real. After this is done, the fake profile may write to the users and cause numerous damages to them.
One of the consequences of adding such a fake user account is that the account may send you malicious web links that may infect your computer with very dangerous malware, like Infostealer Trojans, Rootkits and even Ransomware Virus. Such ransom viruses usually encrypt the files on the compromised computer and ask the victim for money to get them back in the form of BitCoin.
Another consequence which has been reported by affected users is that the cyber-scammers were sending out messages related to requests for immediate payments. For example, the cyber-criminal may write to you from the fake profile that he was involved in an accident and needs several thousand dollars to pay his bail and other charges. The scammers may also ask the user to call fake numbers or subscribe his device to SMS fraud services which can result in an unexpectedly large phone bill.
There are also other dangers associated with fake user accounts, like:
- The cyber-criminal may set up a meeting with the user for one or other malicious purpose.
- Cyber-crooks may ask for financial and personal information such as your credit card details or social security number.
- After some time, the cyber-criminals can duplicate the account and report the other Facebook account for fake, meaning that they can “steal” your Facebook identity.
- Add friends to your friend list to send them malicious files and web links as well as scam them using social engineering techniques.
- Write to your friends anything they wish.
- Advertise to users’ applications that may steal credentials.
- Advertise groups to users and send fake notifications to them which can lead to malicious websites, like the latest Facebook Virus.
The scam has primarily been reported to affect countries in the United States and Central Europe as well, like Netherlands for example. Users who see friend requests from someone who is already in their friends’ list should immediately check in with the original Facebook user of the account. If there is a scam going on, it is strongly advisable to notify all of the users in the friends list of the compromised account via a shared message or a status update or any other means.
To protect yourself completely from such scam, we advise you to:
- Make your friends’ list private for others.
- Always do a quick check on accounts which add you.
- Make sure to install an advanced anti-malware program just in case you open a malicious web link from another scammed profile
Spy Hunter scanner will only detect the threat. If you want the threat to be automatically removed, you need to purchase the full version of the anti-malware tool.Find Out More About SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool / How to Uninstall SpyHunter
The bottom line is that Facebook scams may never stop appearing because they usually tend to work. It is a fact that for a while now, this has been the biggest social network on the planet Earth and its users are subjects to numerous scams and malware attacks worldwide.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
Follow Me:
I don’t know where to go or who to ask this guy sent me a friend request I accepted it.now he’s asked me to download the hangout app how do I find out if he is real or a scammer
Hi Amanda,
You should inspect his profile and look for signs to determine whether it’s fake or real. Does this person have many friends? Does he have personal, consistent photographs? Does he interact with his Facebook friends? You can also ask him various questions. If he sends you links or urges you to perform any actions, it is highly likely that he has an agenda. Clicking links sent by random people on Facebook has its risks, and we generally advise against it. But after all, what does your gut tell you?
Let me know what happens,
Milena