You sit comfortably on the couch, sip your coffee and check your emails. A new, somewhat disturbing clue catches your eye: an email from “META”. Upon closer inspection, it turns out that this is a deceptive game.

Screenshot of the fake email from Meta
Screenshot of the fake email from Meta

The “meta” email verbatim

Dear xxx,
We've identified an unresolved issue that's preventing your ad from being published.
The problem is that your ad content does not comply with our Advertising Standards and will be disabled in the next 24 hours. WHAT YOU CAN DO: To restore your ad account and verify its authenticity, please click the verification button below to update your account information: Verify
This is final warning, without any action taken, your ad will be permanently deleted. Meta Pro Team

The deceptive game with the “meta” email

“We have identified an unresolved issue that is preventing your ad from being published.” This is how the email begins and gives you a little shock. But stop! Before you impulsively click on the “Verify” button in the email, take a moment. The email address “no-reply-meta-restriction-case-49cd1 @ outlook.com” looks suspicious. A closer look reveals further inconsistencies.

Hidden traps on fake sites

If you follow the link, you will land on a seemingly trustworthy page called “Meta Support Inbox” or “Meta Business Help Center”.

Screenshot of Facebook/Meta fake page
Screenshot of Facebook/Meta fake page

And now things are getting dangerous. You'll be asked to provide a lot of personal information: your full name, your home and work email addresses, your phone number, and even your Facebook page name. When you enter this information, you will immediately be asked for your password.

But be careful: This is the moment when you could inadvertently hand over control of your account to fraudsters.

Why does everything look so real?

One of the most devious methods used by these scammers is to make the user feel like everything is fine. Even if you enter an incorrect password, it will claim that the password you entered is incorrect. A clever psychological trick to trick you into entering your correct password.

Screenshot of Facebook/Meta fake page
Screenshot of Facebook/Meta fake page

The consequences

Anyone who is careless and allows fraudsters access to their personal data and passwords unknowingly opens the door to a variety of risks and possible damage. Identity theft is the number one priority. Criminals can impersonate you, financial transactions in your name, and debts for which you can be held liable

Taking over your Facebook account allows scammers to impersonate you and interact with your friends and family. If you an administrator of groups or pages , you can control , manipulate or even delete . They may spread fake news, share malicious links, or promote products and services on your behalf, leading to further fraud.

Not only can this damage your reputation , but it can also result in legal consequences Restoring account can be tedious and time-consuming.

protect yourself

Avoiding falling for such tricks is easier said than done, especially as scammers become more sophisticated. But there are some rules of thumb that can help you stay safe:

  1. Check the email address: Official companies do not use third-party email addresses such as “Outlook – free personal email and calendar from Microsoft”.
  2. Never give out personal information: No matter how real it seems, think twice before sharing private information.
  3. Trust your gut: If something seems too alarming or urgent, take a moment to consider the situation.

Conclusion: An informed user is a safe user

The real challenge is staying vigilant in a digitally connected world where information and communication often seem so simple. Every email, every link, every request for personal information has the potential for fraud and abuse. Today's digital predators are not only technologically savvy, but also masters at exploiting human emotions and reactions. It's not enough to be technically confident, you also have to be mentally alert. If we constantly educate ourselves, are aware of the dangers and always maintain a skeptical eye, we can move safely and confidently in the digital landscape. Knowledge is not only power, but also protection.

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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 )