Facebook Scams: Hacked Accounts, Fake Profiles and Marketplace Traps to Avoid

Facebook scams continue to plague American users, costing billions annually. In 2025 alone, scams initiated on social media platforms cost victims $2.1 billion, with Facebook accounting for the largest share at $749 million. WhatsApp and Instagram followed with $425 million and $234 million in losses, respectively. The latest guide from WarnScams sheds light on lesser-known Facebook scams, such as hacked accounts, cloned profiles, Messenger phishing links, and fake security alert pages.

Scams on Facebook usually involve hijacked or cloned accounts that exploit a friend's name to trick you into sending money, sharing codes, or logging into a fake page. Most scams don't rely on technical hacks but rather on hijacked or cloned accounts that borrow a friend's identity to pressure you into taking immediate action.

The process typically follows four steps: borrowing trust by using a real account or a convincing fake profile, creating urgency to prompt an immediate response, moving you off the platform to avoid Facebook's protections, and harvesting stolen data for further exploitation. The most common scam involves compromised accounts messaging friends with fabricated emergencies, demanding money through unconventional channels. Red flags include requests for money through non-conventional payment methods or a demand for secrecy.

To protect yourself, never send money or codes based on a message request alone. Verify urgent requests through a phone call using a number you already have. Be cautious of cloned profiles that lack depth, such as limited photos, few mutual friends, and a recent creation date. Accepting friend requests from cloned accounts can inadvertently lead to further scams.