Have you found your Facebook account hacked, or perhaps you simply want to learn how to avoid being the victim of fraud?
While Facebook and Instagram serve as essential platforms for travel content creators to share their adventures, they have also become playgrounds for scammers. Unfortunately, their schemes are getting smarter by the day, and the risk of being targeted is only going up.
Scammers are flooding Meta
Meta, our digital gathering spot for all things travel, has also become a hotspot for scammers. As they blend into our feeds, their tricks become more subtle, making it tougher to spot them at first glance. So, what do these scams look like?
- They range from quizzes and marketplace deals to posts that tug at your heartstrings, asking you to like or share. Many will promise exclusive deals or rewards just for engaging. But here’s the catch: that click might cost you more than you bargained for, leading to malware on your device or involuntarily handing over sensitive information.
- Then we have the most direct threat to your Facebook or Instagram accounts, which involves messages or posts claiming you’ve violated Meta’s policies. The messages are meant to seem like they’re from Meta, threatening to suspend your account and directing you to a phishing site via a link for you to “verify your identity”. Once you enter your login details, scammers gain full access to your account and swiftly change your password to lock you out.
Recognizing these traps is the first step in protecting yourself from becoming their next victim.
Signs your Facebook account has been hacked
If you notice any of the following activities or changes in your Facebook account and they weren’t made by you, there’s a good chance your account has been hacked:
- Change of your profile picture
- New posts, comments, or messages from your account that you didn’t send
- Difficulties logging in, including problems with two-factor authentication
- Notifications from Facebook informing you that someone is trying to log in
- Emails from Facebook informing you that your email address or mobile phone has been added or removed from your account, or that your password has been changed
- A new device or location you do not recognize in the “Where you are logged in” section
The fastest way to establish whether your account has been hacked is to follow the steps in Facebook’s Guided Help. The sections below will cover the steps to take if you still have access to your Facebook account.
Reasons why your Facebook account may be hacked
So, you know that your Facebook account has been hacked, but how did it happen? There are several ways that this could have occurred:
- Clicking on a phishing link
- Downloading a malicious program or plugin
- Your password was guessable or repeats itself on multiple platforms
- Not using Two-Factor Identification
- Using third-party services that require you to sign in via Facebook or Instagram
What to do if your Facebook account has been hacked
There’s nothing worse than logging into your Facebook account and realizing it’s been hacked! You’ve taken all the necessary precautions, but somehow, one of those nasty scammers got through, and now you have a blocked account. What can you do? Here’s how to recover a hacked Facebook account:
Steps to take if you still have access to your Facebook account
First, you have to enter Instagram or Facebook recovery mode. Don’t put this off; start the process right away and be persistent. The instructions below will outline how to recover your Facebook account.
Change your password
The first step once you log in is to change your password:
- Open Security and login settings. Alternatively, you can click on your profile picture in the top right corner and click Settings & privacy. Then click Settings. Under Accounts Center, click Password and security.
- Click Change password and choose the account to update (Facebook or Instagram).
- Enter your current and new password.
- Click on Change password.
If you forgot your password, click Forgot password? to reset it. You will need access to the email address connected to the account.
If any of the steps do not work, check the help page on Facebook to see all other available methods.
Check where you’re logged in
You can also log out on all your devices, especially if there’s a new phone or computer logged in that you do not recognize. Here are the steps to follow:
- Open Security and login settings.
- Click Accounts Center and choose Password and security.
- Open Where you are logged in and select an account to check.
- Log out a particular device you don’t recognize or all devices.
Report the incident to facebook
Facebook allows you to report issues or actions that go against Community Standards to the Help Center:
- Click on your profile picture.
- Select Help & support.
- Click Report a problem and follow the instructions.
You can also report abuse, spam, profiles, posts, pages, ads, and more. Updates on the status of your report can be found in the Support Inbox.
If you do not have access to your account, ask a friend to report the issue. Make sure to provide as much detail as possible, including links and screenshots.
How to contact Facebook Support to recover your account
The first thing to do is write to META support. It will be a little easier if you have an ad account with Meta, even if you don’t use it. Advertisers are always a higher priority, and support responds quicker. So, if you don’t have an ad account, create one right now—just in case.
You’ll find a separate section there with a button to contact the support team.
How do you contact the support team?
- When you reach out to the support team, you may initially be connected with an automated system rather than a human. These bots are programmed to respond with generic answers. If you find yourself chatting with a bot via messenger or email, don’t hesitate to ask for a real person to talk to. It might take a few attempts, but persistence is key.
- Once you’ve got the attention of a live support agent, it’s important to explain your issue thoroughly and politely. Explaining your issue clearly can significantly increase your chances of a positive outcome. Share how vital your account is, whether it’s for business, a source of income, or crucial for your advertising needs, in order to highlight the urgency of your situation.
- Support agents might initially reply with automated responses like “Your request is being reviewed. Please wait up to 30 days.” However, if you receive this response, we suggest following up every 2-3 days. Different agents have different levels of authority and flexibility, and a more responsive agent might be able to fast-track your Instagram or Facebook account recovery.
How to recover your Facebook account if the hacker changed your email or phone number
When the email address linked to your account has been changed, Facebook automatically sends a notification to your original email address with a link to reverse the change. Check your inbox (and spam/junk folder) for this email. You can confirm the email was sent by Facebook by following these steps.
If you do not have access to your email address, try the Find Your Account tool. Make sure to use a device you’ve logged in before and follow the steps:
- Go to: https://facebook.com/login/identify.
- Enter your details: Provide your email address or a phone number registered to your account. If that doesn’t work, enter your account name or username. You can find the username in your profile’s URL.
- Select recovery options: Choose options like “No longer have access to these?”, “Forgotten account” or “Recover”.
- Follow the prompts: You may be asked to provide new contact information that hasn’t been previously associated with your account. Be prepared to verify your identity through Facebook’s security checks.
Reset your passport: Once you successfully verify your identity, Facebook will guide you through resetting your password. Choose a strong and unique password that you haven’t used before.
A personal experience from Angelika Eremeeva
My page got blocked after several false reports from haters. For 30 days, I waited for an answer, sending new requests every 2-3 days. Each time, I received a standard response asking me to wait longer.
Then, by some miracle, I connected with a supportive customer service agent who offered to call me and discuss my issue. After just 10 minutes on the phone, he unblocked my page, and I was finally able to access Instagram again.
My tips on how to protect yourself from hacking
- Turn on multi-factor authentication: Add an extra layer of security to your account.
- Save backup codes: Keep backup codes for login in if your primary method fails.
- Create an advertising account on Facebook: It can add credibility and extra protection to your account.
Monitor account activity: Regularly review your account activity history for suspicious logins, especially from unfamiliar countries. If you notice anything unusual, change your password immediately and use the “Log out from all devices” feature.
How to report someone impersonating you on Facebook
If your photo and personal information are used by a different account, you can report the impersonator.
- Find the impersonating profile on Facebook.
- Hover over the profile picture and click three dots below.
- In the drop-down menu click “Report profile”.
How to protect your Facebook account from hackers
Some security issues can be avoided with simple precautions. Protecting your Facebook and Instagram accounts against scammers requires a combination of vigilance and smart online behavior. The first rule in the digital safeguarding playbook is to avoid clicking on questionable links.
- Always think twice, whether it’s an unexpected message with an attachment or a link in a post that just doesn’t feel right.
- When it comes to sharing personal information, ensure it’s through legitimate, secure channels—similar to verifying the credibility of a source before quoting it in your travel stories.
- When an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers thrive on impulsive reactions, so take your time before responding.
- Watch out for fake Facebook communications. Messages claiming to be from Meta about policy violations or account issues can be scams. Facebook will never ask for sensitive information through external links or send urgent, alarmist messages.
Following these steps won’t just protect your account; it creates a safer online environment for you and your audience.
Final thoughts: The rise of scammers on social media
Are social media platforms the be-all and end-all for sharing your travel stories? Not entirely. While Facebook and Instagram are undeniably powerful platforms on the internet, relying solely on them can be risky. These platforms are like shifting sands–you don’t own your space there, and the rules can change without warning, potentially limiting your reach overnight.
Technology diversification is the name of the game. Expanding your online presence across multiple platforms can protect and even strengthen your connection with your audience, regardless of changing social media landscapes. For example, Pinterest excels at driving traffic with its visually driven and search-friendly nature.
Another invaluable asset in your arsenal is your email list. You own it completely, providing a direct and reliable way to reach your followers without platform-based restrictions.
By broadening your digital horizons, you’re expanding your audience and fortifying your defenses in a world where scammers are ever-eager to exploit a one-track strategy.