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Facebook "Friend Request" Scam Warning

Has it happened to you or someone you know? Have you received friend request from someone you're already friends with?  The latest Facebook con has scammers creating imposter accounts using your existing profile photo and 'about' section to create a new account. Then they target your friend list to recreate your account.

Once the scammer sets up the phony account he/she can send messages as the real you and ask for money or help to lure you to a real location to hurt you or rob you.

How do you protect yourself from this? First of all, if you receive a friend request from an existing friend, go to the timeline page of the existing account, click the button next to the message button with 3 dots and click 'report this account'.

To better protect YOURSELF from this happening,  go to your own timeline, click 'View Activity Log'

  • under 'Filters' on the left rail click 'Friends'
  • under who can see your friend list mark it 'Only Me.'

This way if they come after YOUR account you will have no friends for them to see!

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