Fixin the little things is a page where I can share family and handyman information. Basically, this blog is all about me. Shameless self-promotion: of my family photos, of my services, of my writing, of my future, of my amazing ability to come up with clever ideas on photos of my life experiences . . . And also, a blatant visual aide when it comes to colors, spelling, formating, editing and computer stuff.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Fixin' The Little Things

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Why is someone sending friend requests from me on Facebook


Someone might clone your Facebook profile to impersonate you online, typically to send friend requests to your contacts and then use that access to scam them by asking for money, sharing malicious links, or gathering personal information, all while pretending to be you; this is done by copying your profile picture, name, and other publicly available information to create a convincing fake account.
Key points about Facebook profile cloning:
  • Scamming intent:
    The primary reason for cloning is to deceive your friends into believing they are interacting with you, allowing the scammer to solicit money or personal information.
  • Easy access to information:
    Since much of your Facebook profile is publicly visible, including your profile picture and basic details, it's relatively easy for someone to create a copy.
  • Friend request tactic:
    Cloned profiles often send friend requests to your existing contacts, who might readily accept believing it's you.
How to protect yourself:
  • Review privacy settings:
    Limit what information is publicly visible on your profile, including your friends list. (Use this link to run a Facebook privacy check to make sure you are aware of what can and canot be seen by friends and public. Most of mine are set to My Eyes Only.  Privacy Checkup LINK  )
  • Be cautious with friend requests:
    Always verify the identity of someone sending a friend request, especially if it seems suspicious.
  • Report cloned profiles:
    If you discover a cloned account, report it to Facebook immediately. If you can see the new cloned account, use the 3 dots to choose and report the profile as a fake. Eventually block the clone account if Facebook doesn't take it down.  
  • Inform your friends:
    If you suspect your profile has been cloned, let your friends know to be wary of any unusual messages or requests from you. 



Bookmark and Share

No comments:

Page Views