It's no secret that social media like Facebook has become an integral part of many people's everyday lives. But with the increasing popularity and number of users, the number of fraudsters who want to exploit unsuspecting users is also growing. One scam that is currently causing a stir are fake profiles that leave harmless-looking comments in order to lure their victims into a trap. Most of the time this is advance fee fraud.
The method is as simple as it is perfidious
The scammers create fake Facebook profiles that at first glance look like real people. These profiles then post irrelevant comments under public posts or in groups, for example:

“Hello dear friends, I am new to the site and I want to make new friends by discovering new horizons and I wish you find some of my new friends.”
or

“Hello dears, what a beautiful picture you have. I know you don't know me before, but don't be afraid, I'm just an admirer. I'm just writing a quick message to say hello to a beautiful woman like you. I never meant to flatter you, but you're really pretty. Maybe we can get to know each other and are eagerly waiting to hear from you. Smiling…"
But behind these friendly words there is danger lurking: advance fee fraud!
Unsuspecting users who respond to such comments or add the supposedly new friend to their friends list will quickly be confronted with a scam. This usually involves advance payment fraud. The scammers pretend to be in financial distress and ask for money. They often make up dramatic stories to elicit pity and get their victims to pay.
Advance fee fraud on Facebook can come in various forms
Below are some typical scenarios that scammers often use to trap unsuspecting users:
- Romance scam: Fraudsters pose as attractive people and build up a supposedly romantic relationship with their victim over weeks or months. Once trust is gained, they create a dramatic story in which they urgently need money, for example for a medical emergency or to unlock an inheritance. The victim is asked to advance the money - usually with the promise of paying it back later.
- Friends in need of help: Scammers hijack or impersonate the Facebook profiles of their victims' friends or family members. They pretend to be in an emergency situation and ask for financial support. The money should be sent to an account or money transfer service from which it is easy for the fraudsters to withdraw.
- Business opportunities: Fraudsters offer supposedly lucrative business opportunities or investments for which they require a financial advance. They promise high returns or profits, but they never materialize. Once the money has been transferred, the fraudsters disappear without a trace.
- Contests or lotteries: Scammers inform their victims that they have won a big prize, such as money, travel, or electronics. However, in order to receive the winnings, victims are supposed to first pay a “processing fee” or “tax.” After the payment, the fraudsters go into hiding and the promised profit does not materialize.
- Job offers: Fraudsters offer tempting job offers that promise high salaries and attractive working conditions. However, they charge an upfront fee for training materials, uniforms, or other alleged costs. After payment, victims receive no further information and the supposed job does not exist.
To protect yourself from advance fee scams on Facebook, it's important to be vigilant and not share personal or financial information with anyone you don't know. If there is any suspicion, the profile should be reported and communication stopped. It is also advisable to inform friends and family to warn them of similar scams.
We at Mimikama warn against reacting hastily to such comments or even transferring money to unknown people. Instead, you should be vigilant and look carefully before adding someone to your friends list. Signs of fake profiles can include, for example, a small number of friends, little personal information or missing profile pictures.
Conclusion: Facebook users should always be vigilant and not ignore their gut feeling. If a profile or comment seems too good or too friendly to be true, be careful. It's worth checking your privacy settings regularly and looking at your friends list critically. This is the only way to protect yourself from the growing danger of fake profiles and advance fee fraud on Facebook.
Also read: Free riders on Facebook: How fraudsters exploit legitimate competitions
Facebook Help Center: How to avoid scams on Facebook
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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 )

