Protect yourself from Facebook phishing emails

How to identify Facebook email phishing scams

While scammers put effort into creating fake emails, it’s almost impossible to replicate the original perfectly. You can usually spot a fraudulent email by looking at the details. Below are some key aspects to check if you suspect the email you’ve received is a Facebook phishing scam.

• URLs included in the email

• Sender’s email address

• Odd fonts and colors

• Poor spelling or grammar

• A sense of urgency

• Emails asking for personal details

URLs included in the email

The primary goal of Facebook phishing scams is to get you to click on a link that leads to a fraudulent website designed to look like Facebook. This site will likely ask you to enter your login information, which scammers will then capture.

To check if a link you received in an email is valid, hover your mouse over it and look at the URL in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen. If the URL doesn’t match or seems suspicious, chances are it’s fraudulent. Always examine the link for misspellings or unusual domain extensions. For an additional layer of security, consider investing in anti-malware software that scans emails for suspicious links and attachments.

Sender’s email address

One of the simplest ways to identify a phishing email from Facebook is to examine the sender’s email address. Phishing emails often use fake addresses that resemble official ones or include main keywords like “Facebook” to appear authentic. Always be cautious and, if in doubt, look up the email address using a search engine to verify its authenticity. Some email addresses that are officially affiliated with Meta are:

• notification@facebookmail.com
• noreply@facebookmail.com
• @business.fb.com
• @support.facebook.com
• @fb.com
• @meta.com
• @email.metamail.com
• @go.metamail.com
• advertise-noreply@facebookmail.com
• update@em.facebookmail.com
• @mediapartnerships.fb.com

Odd fonts and colors

Weird fonts and colors in an email may be significant red flags indicating a phishing attempt. Legitimate companies like Facebook maintain consistent branding and design that ensure their emails have a professional appearance.

While scammers try to mimic authentic emails, they don’t have access to the correct design resources. As a result, these phishing emails will often have odd fonts, blurry logos, clashing colors, and overall poor design quality. These inconsistencies can make the email look unprofessional and suspicious. If anything in the email’s design looks off, it’s best to avoid interacting with it.

Poor spelling or grammar

Always examine the email carefully for spelling or grammar mistakes, because phishing emails will often be written in poor English. Scammers may not take the time to proofread their content, which results in numerous errors. Look for awkward phrasing, unusual word choices, or inconsistent punctuation, which are common indicators of a phishing attempt. If you find multiple mistakes, be alert. Avoid clicking on links or opening file attachments.

A sense of urgency

Cybercriminals often use urgency to grab attention and lower people’s guard. Phishing emails usually threaten that terrible things will happen if the recipient doesn’t take action fast. For example, a scam email from Facebook might say someone is trying to break into your account. This pressure makes you more likely to fall for the scam before you can examine the email properly. It’s important to not rush into clicking on links or giving out personal info and check emails carefully before doing anything.

Emails asking for personal details

Another common sign of a phishing attempt is receiving emails that ask for personal information. Facebook typically won’t ask users to share sensitive details like passwords or financial information via email. Phishing emails, however, often contain urgent requests for such information under the guise of account verification or security measures. These requests may ask for Facebook login credentials, Social Security numbers, or credit card details. You should always exercise extreme caution and never provide any personal information in response to such emails.

Examples of Facebook phishing scams

Facebook phishing emails pretend to be from Facebook, trying to trick people into giving away personal information or gaining access to their accounts under the guise of urgent security alerts or offers of free premium features.

• Fake Facebook login pages

• Fake Facebook account restriction messages

• Fake Facebook locked account messages

• Fake Facebook/Meta support pages

• Free Facebook premium features

Fake Facebook login pages

Fake Facebook login pages are dangerous traps set by cybercriminals. They redirect users to counterfeit websites that mimic an actual Facebook page. Unsuspecting users may enter their login information, unknowingly handing it over to hackers. This situation is particularly risky for those who haven’t enabled 2FA (two-factor authentication) because 2FA can provide an extra layer of security. Always be cautious of links redirecting you to login pages, especially if they seem suspicious or unfamiliar.

Here’s an example of a fake Facebook login page:

Fake Facebook account restriction messages

Fake Facebook account restriction messages falsely claim a violation of terms or community standards. They aim to trick users into providing additional personal information, such as phone numbers, birthdays, and answers to security questions. Criminals use this information for identity theft or to gain unauthorized access to accounts. Verify messages through official channels, and remember – valid communication from Facebook typically won’t request personal information via email or direct messages.

Here’s an example of what this type of scam usually looks like:

Fake Facebook locked account messages

Watch out for fake messages claiming your Facebook account is locked. These deceptive messages might say there’s been suspicious activity or a violation of community standards and urge you to click a link. However, these links often lead to phishing sites trying to steal your login details. Always verify your account status directly on Facebook’s official platform because legitimate notifications usually appear in the app or on the website, not through unsolicited messages. Avoid giving out personal info in response to suspicious messages to keep your account safe from unauthorized access.

Here’s an example of a fake Facebook locked account message:

Fake Facebook/Meta support pages

Be cautious of fake Facebook or Meta support pages, which often mimic official pages. These scams typically involve messages claiming you need to take urgent action, such as through account verification or security updates. Remember, Facebook will never request your personal data, especially your password. If you receive a Facebook message asking for your password or other personal information, it’s likely a scam. Keep your password private and avoid sharing personal details.

Here’s what this type of fraudulent website may look like:

Free Facebook premium features

Be cautious of offers claiming to give away free or discounted Facebook premium features, especially from external sources. Remember, an offer to get these features through unofficial sources is likely a scam. Scammers create fake pages that might use Facebook’s logo and branding to appear legitimate, but it’s designed to steal your personal information or gain access to your account. Always double-check the URL and ensure you’re interacting with the official Facebook website or app.

Here’s an example of this type of fraud:

What to do if you receive a Facebook phishing email or message

If you find yourself on the receiving end of a Facebook phishing email or message, protecting yourself and preventing any potential harm is essential. First, exercise caution and refrain from clicking on links or downloading attachments in the message. Don’t share your login credentials or respond to the emails. Additionally, you can report the phishing email to Facebook – we’ll discuss how to do that later on. Lastly, educate yourself and others about the common signs of phishing scams to avoid falling victim to similar attempts in the future.

How to report phishing on Facebook

If an email or message you’ve received contains any signs that it might be phishing, you can report the attempt to Facebook in two ways. You can forward the phishing email to Facebook’s dedicated email address for handling such issues – phish@fb.com. If the phishing attempt happened on the platform, you can report it using the "Report" option provided in the platform’s interface. By doing so, you contribute to the collective effort in combating Facebook scams.

What to do if you’ve been phished on Facebook

If you accidentally entered your username or password into a suspicious link, someone else may be able to gain access to your account. Here’s what to do if you’ve clicked on a phishing link:

• If you can still log in, secure your account by resetting your password and logging out of any unauthorized devices. You can also set up alerts about unrecognized logins and use 2FA to secure your Facebook account.
• If you can’t log in anymore, try to recover your account immediately.
• Review recent activity on your account and check recent emails sent by Facebook to see if your Facebook account got hacked.

How to protect yourself from Facebook phishing emails

You don’t have to delete your Facebook account to stay safe. Here are some guidelines to protect yourself from Facebook phishing:

1. 1.Be skeptical. Don’t trust messages that demand money, offer gifts, or threaten to delete your Facebook account.
2. 2.Verify all messages. You can check important messages by visiting www.facebook.com or opening your Facebook app directly. You can also check if Facebook sent you any emails recently by going into the “Recent emails” section in your password and security settings.
3. 3.Avoid clicking links. Don’t click on links or file attachments in the email. Instead, go to the website or app directly.
4. 4.Don’t respond. Never respond to these emails with your sensitive information, such as your password, Social Security number, or credit card number.
5. 5.Get anti-malware software. Anti-malware solutions on your devices, like NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro, automatically scan URLs and block access to malicious websites and other malware.
6. 6.Limit the information you share online. Facebook is known as one of the worst apps for privacy out there, so you may want to make sure that you only include the necessary personal information in your account. By doing so, you will prevent criminals from making tailored phishing attempts and performing other threats like Facebook cloning. You can also turn off data sharing on Facebook and regularly delete your Facebook search history to protect your private information even more — you’d be surprised to know how much Facebook knows about you.