Why Am I Getting so Many Spam Messages on Facebook?

Fortunately, the default settings on Facebook Messenger hide spam messages from your inbox. They end up in a spam folder called Message Requests. So, most of the time, you won’t even see the spam; it just filters out without you realizing it’s there. Chances are that your Message Requests inbox is flooded with spam messages. So, why are you seeing an uptick in these spam messages in your account? What gives? The reality is that more people are coming online every year, meaning more users on the Meta platform.

Why am I Getting so Many Spam Messages on Facebook?

Common Facebook Scams

To access your Message Requests inbox, navigate to the Chats icon and tap the See All option at the top of your Chats pane. Tap the three-dot menu and select Message Requests. You can toggle between the Spam and You May Know tabs to see your Message Requests.

Unfortunately, many new users added to Facebook are bots. Despite the companies’ best efforts to prevent them from joining the platform, it still happens. There’s nothing good that comes from bots – nothing. In most instances, the bots are just tools scammers use to go fishing for suckers for their nefarious schemes.

You’re just a number to them. They’ll spam out millions of messages on Facebook with requests to capture as many leads for their schemes as possible. It’s done quickly before the Meta team catches onto their behavior and bans their accounts.

That’s okay for the scammer; they can create a new account with few resources, and getting them banned is just part of doing business.

Let’s look at the common types of Facebook scams on the platform to help you identify them. Some can be extremely sneaky, especially if you’re not up to date on the types that occur on Facebook.

Giveaways

The giveaway scam is a top choice for scammers. Scroll through your messages; you’ll see plenty of accounts with genuine-looking profiles. Some of these accounts are even well-established. The scammer may spend time warming the profile before attempting to scam anyone who responds to their messages.

The message will state that you’ve won anything from the latest iPhone to a cash prize; all you have to do is reply. That’s the gateway to the scam. The scammer knows that anyone responding to the message is mostly unaware of how scams work. You’re a fresh target they can manipulate.

If you haven’t entered any competitions recently, chances are you’re about to be duped by a scammer. Always keep that in mind.

The next step usually involves the scammer requesting your personal information. This can include a credit card number, or bank account details – or all of the above, to claim the prize. Once you hand that over to the scammer, they have everything they need to fleece you or sell your info on the dark web for a profit.

Example Message:

“🎉 Congrats! You’re one of 50 lucky winners of a brand new iPhone 15. Please reply with your name and address to claim your prize!”

Cloned Accounts

Cloned account scams are a newcomer to the platform, and it’s becoming increasingly common. It’s an account cloned to appear like a celebrity, business leader, or someone you know and trust.

Like the giveaway scam, the scammer will likely tell you they want to work with you on some project or send you something of value, like money. When you reply, they request your information, and that’s the end of the line for you.

Example Message:

“Hey! I just started a crypto investment group and thought you’d be interested. We’re giving away starter bonuses — send me your email and I’ll get you in.”

Fundraisers

Facebook provides a platform for nonprofits to raise funds from their followers. While this is a legit feature on the platform, plenty of scammers leverage it to catch people unaware and fleece them for their cash.

Example Message:

“Hi, we’re raising money to help families affected by the recent earthquake. Any amount helps. Here’s the link: [suspicious link]”

How to ID Spam Messages on Facebook

If you’re unsure how to detect a scammer waiting for you to reply to their spam message. Watch for these red flags to ensure you don’t get fleeced.

Verify the Account

The first thing to do is verify the account. Visit the profile and check it out, look for what people say about it, and see if it’s authentic. Search the same name and see if you’re dealing with a cloned account.

Bad Grammar

Look at the message. Surprisingly, most scammers have something in common – bad grammar. They put little thought into the message or reside in a country like Russia or Nigeria, where English isn’t their first language.

It’s Selling Something

Some spam messages might be from genuine accounts trying to sell you something like a crypto trading course or a pair of limited-edition sneakers. These messages probably don’t appeal to your interests and may or may not be scam sites. It’s not a message you should consider replying to.

Links

Never click on an external link in a spam message on Facebook. The link will usually drive you to a website. This is a “black hat” practice to falsely inflate the website’s visitor traffic so it gets a better Google ranking in search.

Some links may come from hackers looking for you to click the link. Once you do, they gain access to your account or upload a virus to your device. These phishing attacks can steal data from your device or browser to sell to bad actors on the dark web. Ensure you follow the best practice of never clicking on links unless you know the source.

Wrapping Up

While the Meta team does everything they can to ensure a safe user experience, they can’t effectively control the billions of accounts on the platform. Follow this list of red flags to provide a secure experience on Facebook.

Additional Reading:

Watch Out for “Violations Detected On Your Page” Facebook Scam

Scam Warning: Facebook Intellectual Property Email is Fake

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