Few headaches are as aggravating to small business owners as Facebook scams on business pages. If a scammer is impersonating you and your team on Meta platforms, such as Facebook and Messenger, or other social media platforms or the Internet in general, it’s vital to take steps to protect your business. Otherwise, fraudulent activity can lead both old and new customers astray.
Here’s how some of these common rackets work, as well as how to best thwart them and shield your sensitive information.
Understanding scams and phishing on Facebook
One common trick that scammers use is to create a fake Facebook business account or other profile page that looks exactly like a real company’s social media presence. The idea of this inappropriate content is to mislead customers into navigating to a fake website and placing orders for products or services that don’t exist. Duped consumers can show up at your doorstep or start calling your complaints number, angrily demanding the goods they feel they are due.
In the process of making these phony transactions, consumers also hand over their sensitive personal information, such as their credit card numbers or even login credentials, to the scammers. This initial fraud lays the groundwork for identity theft.
However, this example is just one kind of phishing attack. Another is to send people unsolicited and unauthorized messages claiming to be you or your business. These often include suspicious links that lead to malware or a fake website.
Some of the most sophisticated attacks entail hacking into your business’s systems themselves. Scammers may attempt to steal your staff members’ login credentials by sending texts, emails, or messages to their personal devices or Facebook accounts. If they succeed, they may also be able to harvest your customers’ sensitive information.
How to protect your account and password
To keep your business safe, keep in mind that Meta communicates with users through Business Support Home. They will never contact you via Facebook Messenger or text message. If you receive one of these messages that appears to come from a Meta representative, it’s likely a scammer trying to steal your Facebook password or worse.
In addition, train staff to spot suspicious messages. Every time they receive a message, they should consider it carefully. Don’t trust, don’t click, don’t open, and don’t provide information — always double-check with the supposed source by picking up the phone or through another alternative yet trusted channel. Those are the main takeaways this training should deliver.
It’s also wise to follow rigorous security protocols. For instance, have your staff and customers only choose strong passwords that foil scammers’ login attempts. Remind them never to share this information with others.
If your business maintains an online portal for staff members, subscribers, or consumers, then consider enabling two-factor authentication. These advanced security protocols help stop scammers in their tracks, protect privacy, and give your loyal customers peace of mind. They also protect your business from any potential government compliance fees that could come on the heels of a successful cyberattack.
Staying informed about the newest threats is also an important element. Scammers are always thinking up new ways to separate people from their money, login information, and other valuables. For this reason, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the latest developments on a regular basis. To do so, consider visiting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Scam Alerts page if you have an American business. The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) also provides free alerts, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) maintains an up-to-date database of scams.
Report scams to help others stay safe
Phishing scams that involve you and your brand in fraud can damage your reputation through no fault of your own. For this reason, it’s crucial to identify and report any suspicious activity as quickly as possible.
If you think you could be embroiled in a scam, then the first thing to do is to stop all communications with the suspected con artists. Double-check that you are dealing with legitimate operators by contacting the entity using a separate, official means of communication. For instance, log on to Meta Business Support Home to confirm or disconfirm information about your business that may have been sent to you through email, text, or some other dubious means.
If it turns out that you were engaged with scammers, then it’s a good idea to change your password immediately and initiate a scan for malware on your device.
If you’ve already initiated a financial transaction, then contact your financial institution to halt it. You may also need to freeze your account or cancel the card that you used and get a new one reissued. Your bank’s representative can help you understand what may be required to keep your account secure, depending on the circumstances.
Once you have extricated yourself, it’s time to report the problem to the authorities. For instance, you can forward suspicious messages to Facebook directly at [email protected]. Each of Meta’s different platforms also has its own separate reporting portal. Here’s the Facebook page where you can report a problem.
You can also report someone who is impersonating another on Facebook by clicking the three dots on the fake profile and then “Report.” “Pretending to be someone” will be one of the options. The Facebook Help Center can also direct you to resources for troubleshooting.
For websites, consider reporting the problematic page to Google using their online form and submitting a notice to the BBB’s scam tracker.
Fight against scams on Facebook
Being targeted by malicious actors is hard to prevent, so it’s best to be prepared. With the proper knowledge, you can act quickly without falling for a trick. Identify scams, report policy violations, and protect your business!
