Facebook users repeatedly share warnings about alleged hackers and fraudsters. But what is true and what is fiction?

A hacker is not just a hacker - so cyber criminals have their own tricks to get access to users' data and money. A warning is currently being shared again:

Screenshot by mimikama.org
Screenshot by mimikama.org

Be careful, almost all Facebook accounts have been or are being hacked. The profile picture and your name will be used to open a new FB account. Then they try to convince your friends to add you as a friend again... and voila, they try to ruin your life! Your friends will think it's your account and accept the friend request. From this moment on, these pirates can write whatever they want in your name...
I am informing you today that I will NOT be opening a new account, so please do not accept a second invitation from me!
Copy and post this message to your homepage so your friends are warned. Don't forward or share, just copy and post.
There is also apparently a new hacker hobby on Facebook:
negative, insulting comments are placed between the comments of your contacts or friends.
These comments are mean, sometimes primitive, and seem to come from you. You can't see them - but your friends can. This can lead to a nasty misunderstanding.
If you as my friends/contacts should discover something disgusting or offensive in connection with my name: IT DID NOT COME FROM ME!
Copy this text and put it on your FB page as a warning.”

The fact check

In short, these are scammers who copy Facebook profiles and then use the newly created profile to write to all friends in the contact list and make insulting comments.

So the profiles were not hacked, but copied!

The method in detail

The fraudsters access all the information from a Facebook profile that they can collect through the public settings. They then create a new identity with the same name and the profile and cover photo they used previously.

Once this is done, the cyber criminal goes through the entire friends list on the original profile and sends each contact a friend request. A majority of users accept these requests because they “know” each other.

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In most cases, anyone who accepts the fraudulent request will quickly receive a message asking for the mobile phone number and the numerical codes, which are received immediately after the number is revealed. Absolute caution is required here: these small and inconspicuous numerical codes are worth cash!

By passing on the numerical code, the fraudster is able to redeem it at payment service providers. The victim then notices the fraud on the next cell phone bill.

What can I do against it?

First of all, ask the friend from whom you received this supposed renewed request whether he/she actually sent a new request. Of course, this is best done face to face. If possible, report the fraudulent profile.

You can also remember that a new friend request is logical if the friend in question has previously disappeared from the friends list - but you should still ask in this case too.

We recommend that you a report with the relevant state criminal police office In view of the increasing number of internet crimes, special units have been set up here. The so-called Cyber ​​Crime Competence Center works in a technically highly professional and networked manner.

Officials are well aware of the Facebook scam with fake profiles. Some organized gangs have already been stopped - including in the area of ​​Facebook profile copies.

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To do this, the officials are of course dependent on reports and therefore the help of those affected. According to the LKA Saxony, the number of unreported cases of such fraud is still very, very high.

You can find more information .

Conclusion:

Simply passing on your cell phone number to a supposed friend does not result in any inconvenience. Only when the fraudster gets his hands on the sent numerical code will a potential purchase be visible on the victim's cell phone bill.

In general, it is important to never pass on payment or confirmation codes sent via SMS to supposed friends - be it via messenger or social networks.

Article image: Shutterstock / Wachiwit


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )