Millions of Facebook users have warned of three “red alerts” – ignoring them can cost you

There are three types of Facebook messages that you absolutely must ignore.

Cyber ​​experts warn of a triad of dangerous posts and private DMs that could put you at risk.

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Hackers and crooks are increasingly turning to Facebook to extort money from innocent victims.

Billions of people use the app, hence it is a prime target for cyber attacks and online scams.

Now, cyber expert Jamie Akhtar has uncovered three worrying scams that should put you on the alert.

Ignore the advice and you could end up out of pocket.

Scam #1 – the “disabled account” phishing

“Currently, a very popular scam is to send Facebook users an email link to reset their Facebook account, claiming that it has been disabled for security reasons,” CyberSmart CEO Jamie said with The sun.

“Once the cybercriminals have your credentials, they can access your account, steal any personal information you have there, and wreak havoc.”

To avoid the scam, double check the communication.

Is it written oddly and is it from an official Facebook email address?

And does the reset link take you to a legitimate Facebook page?

“Usually just taking a moment to check these things can help you spot a fake pretty easily,” Jamie told us.

“Also, use multi-factor authentication like an SMS code when you sign up. This makes it much more difficult for any hacker to gain access to your account.”

Scam #2 – The Love Scam

“While this type of attack requires a lot more dedication and patience from the bad guys, it’s arguably a lot more effective and devastating when done well,” Jamie said, describing the con artist Tinder Swindler style.

“Typically, these scams begin with a random user contacting the victim and attempting to gain their trust through flattery or disarming honesty.

“This can go on for weeks or months before the cybercriminal feels they have the victim’s trust.

“However, they almost always end up asking for money and quickly disappear as soon as they have it.”

To avoid the scam, verify the person who is contacting you.

See if you have mutual friends and ask if their behavior matches that of a real person.

Ask yourself if they are pressuring you or trying to rush things.

“In situations like this, it’s important to trust your gut feeling. If things feel a little weird, they probably are,” Jamie warned.

“And finally, never, ever give money online to anyone you don’t know.”

Scam #3 – the fake job offer

“Another very effective Facebook scam we see a lot is fake job offers,” Jamie told The Sun.

“Generally, a cybercriminal will contact the victim seemingly out of the blue with an offer for an interview.

“The hacker creates a job specification for a ‘dream job’, usually with a salary and bonus package that’s a little too good to be true.

“When the victim replies, they will be asked to provide a resume or the information they would normally need to be considered for a job (name, address, email, ID, phone number, etc.).

“And that’s all it takes for a clever criminal to steal your identity.”

To avoid the scam, you need to verify the person who is contacting you.

Verify that the company they say they work for actually exists.

And use other sites (like LinkedIn) to check if they really work there.

Also, be brutally honest with yourself: are you qualified for the job and does the salary match the work you would do?

“Remember, it’s not uncommon for recruiters to contact candidates out of the blue on platforms like LinkedIn,” added Jamie.

“However, it’s quite unusual for a company to do this through Facebook.”

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