An English-language message warns of “a new friend request.” What's it all about?
This warning is not the first of its kind. Warnings about friend requests have been circulating on Facebook for years.
Users are wondering whether it is just a chain letter or whether they actually need to be on their guard:
Hi….I actually got another friend request from you yesterday…which I ignored so you may want to check your account. Hold your finger on the message until the forward button appears…then hit forward and all the people you want to forward too….I had to do the people individually. Good luck! PLEASE DO NOT ACCEPT A NEW ONE FROM ME AT THIS TIME.
Hello...I got another friend request from you yesterday...which I ignored, so you might want to check your account.
Press your finger on the message until the forward button appears...then you select forward and all the people you want to forward it to...I had to select people one by one. Good luck! Please do not accept anything new from me at this time. [*Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator]
The fact check
We already know such and similar texts from other warnings that deal with the topic of 1:1 identity theft from Facebook profiles.
In this nasty scam, fraudsters create copies of real people's Facebook profiles. To do this, they use the same name and the previously used profile and cover photo of a Facebook user.
The internet fraudster then visits the original profile and searches through the victim's entire friends list, who then receive another friend request . A majority of users accept these requests because they “know” each other.
If you confirm this request, the new friend will immediately send you a message requesting your own mobile phone number and the numerical codes, which will be received immediately afterwards. Absolute caution is required. These small and inconspicuous numerical codes are worth money!
By passing on the numerical codes, the fraudsters are able to redeem them at payment service providers and thereby charge the victim's cell phone bill. However, simply passing on your cell phone number does not result in a charge to your own cell phone bill.
never to pass on payment or confirmation codes sent via SMS to supposed friends - be it via messenger or social networks
So is this a serious warning?
As our colleagues at Snopes explain, this warning has a kernel of truth and has been around since the beginning of October. BUT even if this warning is well-intentioned, it becomes useless if it is sent on as a chain letter and without further explanation.
If you have reason to believe your Facebook account has been copied, ask a few friends on your list if they received double friend request
If so, and if there are really copied Facebook profiles of yours, report it to Facebook so that the fraudulent profile can be deactivated and inform your friends about this scam.
However, this can be solved more cleverly than simply forwarding a received message without noticing that this scam exists, but that you yourself were not affected by it and that your friends should also be on the lookout.
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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 )