- Facebook scams threaten everyone—but your business is especially vulnerable to attack.
- Learn the telltale signs of a fraud attempt and how to respond when scammers strike.
- Find out what you can do if a scammer gains unauthorized access to your Facebook business account.
How to Recognize a Scam on Facebook Messenger
All Facebook users should be on the lookout for fraudsters, but businesses must be especially vigilant. You’ve invested resources, effort, and time into your brand, and the last thing you want is a scammer stealing your login credentials and causing damage.
Our guide will demonstrate the three key characteristics of a scam on Facebook Messenger. We’ll show you how to respond when scammers contact you, and you’ll learn what to do if a cybercriminal gains access to your account.
Three Telltale Signs of a Scam on Facebook Messenger
Most digital scams are designed to target low-hanging fruit. By that, we mean that scammers aren’t world-class writers or thinkers—but there’s a reason they’re still successful enough to keep scamming. Many of their victims don’t double-check the message and accidentally hand over the keys to their Facebook Business Page.
Below are three of the most significant and recognizable red flags for a scam on Facebook Messenger. As a business owner, you should always look for these telltale signs.
1. They Communicate in Unprofessional Ways
When unsuspecting users receive a poorly worded message claiming to be “Meta Live Support,” many will note the terrible formatting and grammatical errors and simply ignore it. The fact is, scammers don’t have to write well because they’re primarily interested in people who don’t look very closely. Always proofread communication from Facebook with a keen eye for professionalism.
Besides questionable language skills, scammers also tend to choose communication channels that Meta staff would never use for official purposes. Meta employees don’t contact you through Facebook Messenger; instead, the system automates everything.
Thankfully, legitimate notifications and emails can be verified. The official help page recommends that you check in your Facebook settings if you have doubts about a message’s origin. If you see a profile like the one pictured below, you can be sure this is not an official Meta employee at work:
Note the fake URL, which includes “meta,” “.site,” and “.com” to make it appear more legitimate. “Bio.site” is not a Meta domain, and the support team doesn’t communicate with users through a regular account.
It’s worth noting that Facebook doesn’t threaten to take action on your account—they just do it. So, if your Business Page is ever suspended or limited, you will receive communication from Facebook via email, not Messenger. See the example below for a scam message claiming, “Someone told us that you violated our terms.” Sounds pretty sketchy, right?
Bad grammar (missing punctuation)? Check. Claiming to be a Meta Support Team member on Messenger? Also, check. Using scare tactics to get you to click a link? Of course!
2. They Want You to Click on a Link or Download Something
A scam on Facebook Messenger typically boils down to one thing: getting you to hand over your account credentials, knowingly or not. This fraud tactic is known as phishing, and it can come in many different forms. Most of these schemes direct you to a link where the scammer has set up a fake login page. They’ll prompt you to enter your username and password, which the scammer uses to steal your account.
Less often, a scammer will direct you to download something that seems innocuous, like a compressed file claiming to be images of your product. These files can contain anything from ransomware to keyloggers. Ransomware encrypts your files unless you hand over money, typically in the form of cryptocurrency. Keyloggers will report your keystrokes to the scammer and allow them to steal your credentials or financial information. In either case, it’s not something you want on your devices, so don’t click that link.
For businesses, this could manifest as a link that purportedly contains images of your products, like an item that arrived and didn’t match the description. Another example would be inquiries about whether you still carry “this product,” referring to a file that supposedly contains an image of something you used to sell. Don’t let your eagerness to make a sale override your caution—you can safely ignore these messages. We’ve provided three examples below that illustrate these business-focused schemes.
Once again, “this product” is not how normal buyers describe your offerings. Even though the file has “Screenshots” in the name, it’s anything but that.
Finally, the official Facebook help page on scams says, “If you get a suspicious email or text or social media message claiming to be from Facebook, don't click any links or attachments.” Here’s our addition to that sound advice: be suspicious of anyone claiming to represent Facebook. Don’t click unverified links in messages or emails, ever. When someone from “Facebook” contacts you about your account, open a new browser window and log in normally. If you can’t find information there that matches the message, it’s definitely not legitimate.
3. They Bully, Threaten, or Demand You Take Action
Scammers don’t want you to think. They want you to act rashly and quickly. The more urgent a message makes the scenario seem, the more likely it’s not coming from Facebook. A scam on Facebook Messenger often contains a link to a phishing site, but they may also add quips in the message like “Make sure to log in!” or “Appeal using this link.” Scams like these are all about keeping you from going through the proper channels and directing you to their harmful links or downloads.
Below are a few examples of these kinds of threatening messages:
Facebook will never threaten to delete your page if you don’t do something within a set period of time. There are official channels for disputes—and Messenger isn’t one.
This poor scammer has a truly tenuous grasp of communication, but they’re demanding you take fast action. Facebook would never communicate in this way. This message is safe to ignore and report.
Whether it’s a threatening message purporting to be Facebook Support or a copyright claimant, there are two things you must avoid: number one, don’t respond. The less you say, the better. And number two, don’t click any links or download anything from them. If the message is legitimate, you can find it by logging into a separate browser window. Besides, if the claimant is a real person and serious about the dispute, they will get an attorney to draft a demand letter to make it official—not message you on Facebook with a suspicious link.
How to Respond to Scams & What to Do If You’re a Victim
So what do you do if you think you’re being targeted by a scam on Facebook Messenger? Don’t panic! Scammers aren’t bright, and you’re not facing a significant threat. Odds are, you’re looking at an automated message that was sent to thousands of people at once—and there’s nothing about your business’ security that provoked it.
Next, avoid clicking on their links or responding to their message (apart from automated replies). Go through a regular channel like a new browser session and check your email to verify the message’s contents. If you’re not seeing the account suspension or other changes the message claims, you can safely ignore it and report it to Facebook as suspected fraud.
Finally, take a moment to review your Business Manager security settings. Do you have 2FA (two-factor authentication) enabled? Have you set up login alerts? Facebook’s Security Checkup Tool lets you quickly see which options you haven’t enabled and how to configure them. For Business Pages, you have the additional security option to receive alerts whenever changes are made in your Meta Business Manager Account, which is a setting we highly recommend using.
But what if a scammer succeeds in stealing your Business Account? If the worst-case scenario happens and you lose control of your Page to a scammer, report it to Facebook immediately. At this link, you’ll find a button labeled “My account is compromised.” This will take you through the process of recovering your account. Be ready to verify your identity with Facebook’s Support Team, but don’t worry—as soon as the account is flagged, Meta staff are on the job to keep your brand safe.
Securing Your Business’ Future With Expert Guidance
For businesses that want to thrive on Facebook and Instagram, there are many threats and pitfalls to overcome. A successful scam on Facebook Messenger hitting your account won’t spell the end of your brand, but it can leave a lasting impact on your operations.
At Social Ktchn, we understand the security landscape on Facebook and Instagram because we’ve spent over a decade driving millions in revenue through them. Our expertise in digital marketing not only makes us expert guides to a better bottom line, but it also means we’re seasoned veterans for protecting businesses on Meta platforms.
When you partner with Social Ktchn, we’ll help you minimize the risks scammers pose and give you the confidence to keep growing your business in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Contact us today to learn how we can elevate and secure your Facebook and Instagram operations.