Watch Out For The Facebook Protect Scam Fooling Unsuspecting Users

ByAmy

Scammers are currently sending out spam text messages that looks like this “You have three days left to turn on Facebook Protect or you will be locked out of your account until you enable it”. The scammers include a link to activate, the email it’s sent from looks legit, AND Google brings up many resources suggesting it is real. But it’s all a scam.

Many of our readers reached out to us via email because they have received such messages and would like to know if it is actually legit so we decided to investigate.

As a Cybersecurity Analyst, I’ve taken my time to investigate Facebook protect and the recent scam surrounding this website. This article provides a clear understanding of this scam, how it works, what to do if you fall victim, and lots more.

A Little About Facebook Protect

Facebook Protect gives extra protection to accounts that Facebook thinks are in more danger. It was first made to help politicians and their teams stay safe from hackers. Also If you do not accept within the given time frame, Facebook may lock your profile. If you are a journalist and your Facebook account does not have 2FA, you must enable it however it must come from the legit Facebook mail [email protected] if it doesn’t, it’s a scam.

Exposing The Facebook Protect Scam

Scammers are using the fact that Facebook sends out these mails to target people using phishing text messages. They make the email look official and use the same topic to fool people. The scam starts when you click the link, it will ask for your account details, password and other personal info.

The truth is If Facebook didn’t tell you to turn on Facebook Protect, you don’t need to do anything before the deadline. You won’t even see the option to enable it in your settings until Facebook asks you to sign up.

How We Investigated

We checked if the email was real by doing a few things: opening it in a web browser on a computer, clicking on the three dots next to the ‘Reply’ button, and choosing ‘Show Original’. Then, we looked for certain bits of information in the email following reports on Reddit and online.

What we found was, this mail is sent from facebookmail.com and contains a malicious link to some third party website instead of [email protected]. As security analysts, legit emails from Facebook usually don’t have links asking you to do things like enabling Facebook Protect or logging in straight from the email. So, if there are any links or buttons like that, it’s better to be careful because it might be a scam.

So far, our check didn’t show any signs that the email is real. Plus, it’s got a link that Facebook said they wouldn’t put in emails. This further raises suspicion.

How To Protect Yourself From The Facebook Protect Scam

  1. Report Suspicious Posts: If you notice anything fishy on Facebook, report it right away.
  2. Verify Before Sharing: Always fact-check sensational news from reliable sources before sharing it.
  3. Stay Alert: Be cautious of clicking on links in
  4. Guard Your Data: Don’t enter your login info on unreliable websites you reach through Facebook links.
  5. Be Proactive: Keep your passwords updated and tighten your account’s privacy settings for extra security.
  1. Recover Your Facebook Account: Don’t wait. Take immediate steps to regain control of your Facebook account.
  2. Check Administrator Permissions: Make sure no changes have been made to the admin permissions on your Facebook pages.
  3. Review Recent Posts: Look over the latest posts made through your account to spot any suspicious activity.
  4. Check Comments: Check comments made using your profile for any signs of unauthorized use.
  5. Analyze Other Activity: Look into any other actions that could harm your reputation or security.

Final Words

If you get an email asking you to join Protect, it should be from this email address [email protected]. Also you should know that Facebook will never ask for your password in an email, Facebook message, or text. If you receive this fake email, do not click on the link.

Many people have also fallen for similar Facebook scams like I Can’t believe he’s gone, Look who died in an accident, DPD Postman Scam On Facebook Marketplace

Amy is SabiReviews Product Tester. She uses different products and shares her experience; the product's pros and cons to the general public.

With a budding interest in cybersecurity and internet crimes, Amy also writes well researched articles on trending topics related to Settlements, Newly invented products, Frauds, and Notices. She's an unbiased Investigator for SabiReviews. Joining hands to fight cyber crimes, threats, and fake products.

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