Learn how to spot this phishing scam where you receive a Facebook Messenger warning that your account will be deleted.
A message pops up in your Facebook Messenger inbox from what appears to be an official Facebook account, “Meta Verified.” Unusually, the account name is misspelled as “Verrified,” with an extra “r.” But what catches your attention is that the message says your Facebook account shows unusual activity. It includes a PDF attachment and warns that your account will be permanently deleted if you don’t respond within 24 hours. The message includes the official Meta logo and states that it is encrypted, so at a glance, it seems real.
But this message is actually a phishing scam! Cybercriminals hope that you’ll be alarmed by the urgent warning about account deletion and act without thinking. If you open the PDF file, it could contain malicious links or direct you to a fake website that is designed to steal your personal data!
Tips to Stay Safe
Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to this Facebook phishing scam:
- If you receive an account warning through Facebook Messenger, don’t open any attachments. Go directly to the Facebook app or website yourself to check your account status.
- Use caution any time you receive an unexpected message that seems urgent. Cybercriminals often try to trick you by rushing you into acting before you’ve had a chance to think.
- In this particular scam, the message you receive is from an account with a misspelled name. Unusual account names or grammatical errors in “official” messages should always be treated as a red flag.
Stop. Look. Think. And don’t be fooled.
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