Imagine this: You, a diligent business owner, receive a message claiming your Facebook account is on the brink of closure. You use your Facebook page daily to reach your existing customer and promote your products and services to new businesses. Panic sets in, and the urgency to resolve the issue becomes paramount. This scenario is not fiction but a reality faced by countless business owners as well as agencies like us navigating the treacherous waters of Facebook Messenger scams.

Statistics Snapshot:

According to CyberSmart, businesses across various industries have witnessed a surge in Facebook Messenger scams: with a staggering increase of 1000% (1) reported over the past year alone. This alarming trend highlights the need for heightened vigilance among business owners to safeguard their online presence.

The Carbon Pixel Advantage:

Amidst this growing threat, businesses are looking to digital agencies like us for support. With a proven track record in social media management , Carbon Pixel  can help businesses optimise their social media presence, manage their platform communications and spot Facebook Messenger scams before they become a business critical issue.

Unmasking the Scams:

So, how do these scams work? The method often involves a seemingly urgent message, claiming to be from Facebook Support or a related entity, letting  business owners know of an impending account shutdown. The message may request sensitive information or prompt the recipient to click on dubious links. Once engaged, the scammers gain access to confidential data, jeopardising the integrity of the business's online identity.

In the examples we’ve provided below you can very clearly see these “dubious links” are not Facebook URLs. It’s worth remembering that Facebook’s main domain is https://www.facebook.com/

Page links are usually formatted like https://www.facebook.com/subpage/. For example, Facebook's Help Centre is at https://www.facebook.com/help/.

Spotting the Red Flags:

To protect your business from these schemes, it's important to be vigilant at trying to spot red flags. Genuine communication from Facebook will never ask for sensitive information through unsolicited messages. Any urgent demand for personal details or immediate action should be met with scepticism. 

Verify the legitimacy of the message or access Facebook Help where they provide advice, for example Avoid spam and scams before taking any action.

Educating Your Team:

If it’s more than just you running your social media, making sure your team has the knowledge to recognise and respond to potential scams is essential. Send them regular training updates to enhance their awareness of common scam tactics and emphasise the importance of verifying unexpected messages. By doing so, your team can collectively help to defend against these online threats.

In the interconnected world of using Facebook for business, the threat of Facebook Messenger scams is an ongoing battle that shouldn’t be ignored. Just remember to be vigilant, don’t panic and take a moment to investigate.

If you are looking for support with your social media,  Carbon Pixel can help you optimise and manage your Facebook profile to ensure it continually contributes to the growth and success of your business.

(1) https://cybersmart.co.uk/blog/how-to-avoid-phishing-scams-on-facebook-messenger-for-business/