Greg's Corner

Facebook Account Hijacking: How Scammers Exploit Lost Control

By Greg Collier

For some, losing control of your Facebook account may not seem like a big deal. You may only use Facebook sparingly to keep in touch with a handful of friends and relatives. If you lose access to your account, you can just open a new one and send new friend requests while telling your friends list you got hacked. However, letting your Facebook account remain in the hands of hackers can not only leave your friends and family vulnerable to scams, it could also lead to frustrated strangers showing up at your door.

For example, a woman from Alabama lost control of her Facebook account. Before she knew it, hackers took over her account and changed the password, locking her out of her own account. Then, the hackers posed as the woman and listed several items for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Once other Facebook users started responding to the listings, the hacker told the other users they were out of town, but would hold the item for them if they paid a deposit.

As you can probably guess, the Facebook users who paid deposits never received the items they thought they were purchasing. Victims of this scam started showing up at the home of the woman who had her account hacked. Thankfully, those who did show up at her home were reasonable when they found out they were scammed. However, it’s no stretch of the imagination to think things may have taken a wrong turn if the wrong person got scammed.

The woman stated that she’s trying to get Facebook to suspend her original account, but the hacked account is still active.

Scammers like this love to get their hands on existing Facebook accounts because it makes their Marketplace scams appear legitimate since an active and older account is attached to the listings.

In conclusion, safeguarding your Facebook account from potential hackers is not only crucial for your personal data but also for your online security. By following these tips and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to malicious activities. Remember to regularly update your password, enable two-factor authentication, review your privacy settings, and be cautious about the information you share online. Your Facebook account holds a treasure trove of personal information, and taking these proactive steps will help ensure that it remains secure.