Many users talk about a Facebook “virus” or even a “hacker” who stole the passwords. Although this is not actually a virus, there is still a very dangerous fraud method behind these messages.
One should therefore not speak of a virus, but rather of a very successful phishing method. What exactly happens here in the end and also works thousands of times: unknown people want to steal your Facebook account using this method, all with the help of a supposed YouTube video!
Users repeatedly report about a “YouTube video” that a friend sent them. This video features the recipient's first name and smileys.
These and similar messages are:
The reason why so many users are falling for this scam at the moment is not only the sender they know, but also the fact that you are addressed directly by your first name. The first name is to the right of the two emojis!

Facebook phishing: new wave of fraud
You receive a message via Messenger from an actual friend from your own friends list. In this you will find what appears to be a link to a video. The YouTube logo has been placed here as if it were an actual video posted on YouTube. But that's not the case, because it's just a graphic, the link behind it leads to a fake Facebook login page.

Even if this login page looks REAL at first glance, you should pay attention to the URL/domain because it is NOT www.facebook.com. Anyone who enters the access data for their Facebook account in good faith will pass this on 1:1 to the actual fraudsters and they in turn have full access to the respective profile. But not only that.
The fraudsters can also directly take over the Facebook groups and pages where the respective profile has administrator rights.
Note: Under no circumstances should you open such or similar links to videos in which you supposedly appear. Inform the sender about the message, e.g. via WhatsApp or email, because the sender profile has probably already been cracked.
Help, I am affected and have fallen victim to this nasty scam!
- your Facebook account password immediately
- Inform your friends list about the mishap.
- Have your computer scanned for malware .
- If necessary, remove all harmful browser extensions in your browser and also check whether there are any other extensions/add-ons in the browser that you have not installed or that you are not aware of.
- Contact Facebook directly: If you believe your account has been hacked or taken over, you should visit this page on Facebook to protect your account. Facebook will ask you to change your password and review your last login activity.
- 2 -factor authentication on Facebook prevents access even if fraudsters have obtained the access data through phishing.
Why are so many people talking about a “virus” or hacked accounts?
As described at the beginning, this is less a virus or a hacker and more a form of phishing. However, this phishing method is so convincingly developed that many fraud victims do not even notice that they have fallen for a phishing trap and therefore assume that it is an automatism (virus) or external influence (hacker) and believe that the damage happened to them without any action on their part.
But that's not the case, unfortunately you have to say it clearly in order to understand how things work here: whoever spreads this news has previously fallen for exactly the same (or a very similar) trap. Your own account was not hacked, but you somehow gave your password to fraudsters in advance without noticing it.
“Whether you believe that or not. It is like that."
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Notes:
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