Beware of Facebook Scam Messages: “Your Page Has Been Disabled”
Social media scams are on the rise. The goal is to hijack your page and steal personal information using deceptive messages and links. One such prevalent scam targets Facebook page owners with fake notifications about their page being disabled.
This alarming new message has been going around Facebook threatening to disable pages if they don’t give personal information to “verify” their account. The message tells users they posted content on their page that misleads users and that their accounts will be disabled if they don’t confirm their account details, including personal information.
They’ll tell you to click on a link, and then ask you to enter personal information to verify that you are really the “actual Facebook user”. You click and then they have your data including your personal info and even your payment method. They will even lock you out of your own account!
You should always be leery of messages from unknown users, especially if they say they are from “Facebook User.”
If you get this suspicious social media message, email or even text claiming to be from Facebook, don’t click any links or attachments. Contact Facebook or check your Facebook settings so see if it really came from Facebook.
The scam starts with an unsolicited inbox message on Facebook claiming to be from “Facebook User” or a similar name. The message states that your Facebook page has been disabled due to various violations. It also may claim you have been warned about these violations in the past, and that immediate action is required to avoid permanent deletion of your page. You will be provided a “Confirm or Verify Account” or an “Appeal Disabling” link to supposedly verify your account in a short deadline. This link will send you to a phishing website impersonating the Facebook login page. If you submit your Facebook credentials here, you have just inadvertently provided these scammers complete access to your Facebook account.
This scam is specifically designed to instill fear and urgency in page owners about losing their invested time and efforts in building their page. The intrigue of a quick solution to recover the disabled page leads victims to act hastily without verifying the message authenticity.
How the Scam Works
Here is a step-by-step explanation of how the “Your Page Has Been Disabled” phishing scam operates on Facebook:
Receiving the Scam Message
You get a message in your Facebook inbox or messages folder from a sender impersonating “Meta Business Support”, “Facebook User”, “Facebook Community Operations” or a similar misleading name.
The message claims that your Facebook page has been disabled as per reports of violations received from one or more people or organizations. The third-party complaint adds perceived legitimacy.
Violations mentioned includes:
-Using someone else’s personal images or content without permission
-Posting misleading, inaccurate, or dangerous information
-Impersonating or misrepresenting a brand’s identity
-Violating Facebook’s community standards
The message may mention that you have already received multiple warnings about these violations and no action has been taken. It states immediate verification is required to avoid permanent deletion of Facebook page.
A sample scam message looks like:
Sender: Facebook User
Your Facebook page [Page Name] has been disabled for multiple violations of Facebook Policies and Intellectual Property Infringement Claims.
As per our records, you have already received multiple warnings about such unauthorized and misleading content on your page. Since no corrective action was taken, your page has now been disabled to stop further violation.
To appeal this disabling and recover your page, you are required to immediately verify your account ownership by clicking on the link below and completing the verification process within the next 24 hours.
Confirm Account Ownership:
https://account-appeals.facebook.com.verify.info/appealpage?ID=029834XX
Failure to verify within this timeframe will result in your page being permanently deleted from Facebook. This action cannot be reversed.
Notice, the message uses an authoritative tone alongside legal and technical jargon to seem legit. The 24-hour deadline pressures you into acting quickly, often without contemplating the validity of the message.
Visiting the Phishing Link
When you click on the “Confirm Account Ownership” or similarly titled link provided, it takes you to a fake Facebook login page, not the real platform. This phishing page looks like the actual Facebook site, including using the same blue color scheme, fonts and the Facebook logo. You’re then asked to enter your Facebook login email and password to begin the account verification process. If you submit this, the scammers capture your login credentials in real-time. In some cases, you may be redirected through multiple websites before landing on the phishing page. This is intended to hide the fake domain name displayed in the address bar.
Submitting Login Details
While on the phishing page, you’ll be asked to enter your Facebook email and password to verify account ownership.
As the site looks like a real Facebook login, most users end up submitting their details without realizing it’s a scam. After capturing your login credentials, you may see “Verification Successful” or “Your Page Will Be Restored” type of message. This is just to provide false assurance, so you do not suspect a scam. Unfortunately, behind the scenes, your credentials have already been stolen by scammers to gain access to your Facebook account along with all your information including your payment method.
Account Takeover
With your username and password, the scammers can now directly log into your Facebook account and page. This gives them full control as if they are you. They can post content, message your connections, see your personal information and more.
Here are some ways your compromised account can be misused:
-Posting clickbait, false news, or malicious links to your page to generate traffic, install malware etc.
-Spamming your friends and contacts with more phishing links or scam messages
-Accessing your profile info and sharing it on the dark web or using it to create fake accounts
-Taking over or deleting your Facebook page
-Removing you and others from having access to page
-Demanding you pay a ransom to regain access to your page
-Commandeering your account’s advertising tools for their own needs including your credit card
-Hijacking your linked apps like Instagram or Messenger
Within days, you may find unauthorized content being shared from your account. At this point, Facebook may also disable your account due to suspicious activity if reported by others.
You have now effectively lost control of your account, your page and your personal information because you accidentally gave away your login details.
What to Do if You Get This Message:
If you receive any unsolicited message about your Facebook page being disabled, here are some tips to protect yourself:
Remain calm – Scammers want you to panic and act without thinking. Carefully analyze the message before proceeding.
Look for typos/errors – Legitimate Facebook messages have no grammar or spelling mistakes generally.
Go to your account directly – Login and check for any page disabling notification from Facebook itself.
Don’t click links – Links lead to scammers being able to steal your info.
Ask for proof – Reply to the message requesting evidence of the disabling reason, warnings sent etc.
Report message – Use Facebook’s “Find Support” option to report the phishing content.
Turn on two-factor authentication as an added security layer protecting your account.
Change passwords – Periodically update your Facebook, email, and other passwords.
What to Do if You Shared Your Login Details
If you already entered your Facebook login email and password on the phishing site before realizing it’s a scam, and you are still able to access your Facebook account, take these steps immediately to secure your account.
Change your Facebook password – Do this via Facebook’s security settings. Choose a strong, unique password.
Enable two-factor authentication –through Facebook’s login approvals settings. This adds a second layer of verification.
Remove devices – Delete any saved browsers or devices through the security settings.
Check login activity – Facebook shows recent logins and locations. Look for any unknown sessions.
Revoke account access – Remove any granted access to third-party apps or sites through Facebook.
Look for unauthorized changes- on your account.
Review page content – Check all posts and info for any signs of unauthorized access.
Look at messages – Open your inbox and messages to see any phishing content sent via your account.
Assess privacy settings – Verify that your profile and privacy settings have not been tampered with.
Change app passwords – Update passwords for Instagram, Messenger, or other connected apps.
Use the Facebook hacked account form – Submit details to get help securing your compromised account.
Report phishing – Flag any scam posts or messages visible to others on Facebook.
Inform contacts – Let your friends list and page followers know about the hacking if needed.
Recovery Process for Disabled Accounts
If your account does get disabled by Facebook due to suspicious behavior resulting from the hacking, here is how to recover it:
Submit ID – Upload a photo ID using the Facebook disabled account form to establish your identity.
Dispute violations – List violations cited in the disabling message and explain how your account was hacked.
Request review – Ask Facebook moderators to review the disabling decision.
Be patient – The review process can take 1-2 weeks in most cases. Check your registered email for updates.
Enhance security – Strengthen account security during the waiting period. Update information and enable two-factor authentication.
Regaining access to a disabled Facebook account requires patience and cooperation with Facebook’s processes. With the right approach, most legitimate accounts can be restored over time.
Facebook Scam Prevention Tips
Here are some general tips to enhance your security and prevent getting scammed on Facebook:
Use strong passwords – Don’t repeat or reuse passwords. Use random strings of letters, numbers, and symbols.
Be wary of unsolicited messages – Don’t open messages from unknown contacts discussing account issues.
Check sender’s details – Verify the email address, profile photo, URL links etc. before responding.
Limit info sharing – Be selective about posting personal data publicly on your profile or page.
Secure connected apps – Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication for associated apps like Instagram too.
Beware of ads/offers – Don’t enter info or download files from ads making unbelievable claims.
Keep software updated – Use the latest OS and browser versions. Install anti-virus programs.
Report fakes – Use Facebook’s reporting tools if you encounter scam profiles or content.
Turn on login alerts – Enable email or SMS notifications for when your account is accessed from new locations or devices.
Stay cautious and attentive- it can help avoid you losing your account to scammers.
FAQ
Is this really from Facebook or is it a scam?
Messages about your page being disabled due to policy violations are almost always a scam tactic. Facebook will directly contact users prior to taking any disabling action.
How did the scammers know my page name?
Scammers target public page owners randomly. They can easily view page names, send messages, and post content.
What should I do if I entered my Facebook password on the phishing site?
Immediately change your Facebook password and turn on login approvals for added security. Also review recent account activity closely for unauthorized changes.
Why is Facebook asking for my password? Should I give it?
Facebook will never ask for your password directly via an inbox message. Any such request is a scam. Never reveal passwords or one-time passwords.
Can my account get hacked just by clicking the link?
Simply clicking won’t compromise your account immediately. But entering login details on the phishing site leads to will get it hacked.
What happens if my account gets permanently disabled?
You can recover a disabled account in most cases by submitting ID proof and disputing the violations cited. This process may take 1-2 weeks.
How long does Facebook take to reactivate a hacked account?
If you report a compromised account with details, Facebook will lock it pending identity verification. After submitting valid ID proof, account access is restored within a day or two.
How can I regain access to my page after getting hacked?
If you act quickly, changing passwords and securing your account should stop the hacking and regain page access. In the worst case, the recovery process may take 1-2 weeks.
LAST THOUGHTS:
The “Your Page Has Been Disabled” Facebook scam can seem quite convincing, but being aware of its red flags can help avoid you becoming a victim. If you do click on a scammers link, take immediate steps to lock down and restore your account. Being cautious and using Facebook’s reporting tools is key to keeping your account and data safe from phishing.