There has been a concerning surge in fake phishing messages being sent to social media accounts over the last while, particularly on Facebook, warning the owners of those pages about the potential risk of having their accounts deleted, blocked, or otherwise restricted due to some form of content violation, among other things.
As a leading social media management service provider, we at Big Rock Graphics have noted the rise in users being scammed with these deceptive notifications, which contain threats and warnings pertaining to violations of vague so-called terms and conditions relating to pages, payment methods, or ad accounts.
Let’s take a look at some of the ways that you can determine if a notification is real or an attempt at phishing.
Analyse The Language
Typically, the first and most obvious sign that a message is phishing is that it will contain spelling and/or grammatical errors. The moment you spot a spelling error or grammatical mistake, you can rest assured that the message is more likely than not a fake one.
Phishing messages also typically contain urgent and threatening language as a way of prompting an immediate reaction.
Analyse The Content
The content of the message should also be carefully analysed, as phishing messages will typically ask for personal information, login credentials, or even financial details. No legitimate company will ask for verification of this type of information through a message or email and will instead direct you to an official and secure page.
Examine The URLs
Typically, legitimate messages use hyperlinked text rather than pasting an entire URL address into the message. Fake messages commonly copy and paste the URL address directly into the message. Again, this is not completely foolproof, but it is one of the signs that a message is probably false.
The URLs themselves, however, tend to be a dead giveaway that the message is fake. This can be quickly determined by noting whether the URL matches the official company URLs.
Official Communication Channels
Facebook, for example, does not typically deal with account-related issues via the Facebook Messenger app. Rather, Facebook will send you an email from an official Facebook email address to discuss any potential issues with your account.
These emails tend to have a very particular format and are professional and even in tone.
Here at Big Rock Graphics, we provide expert social media management to ensure that you’re not only protected but that you get the most out of your social accounts. Contact us today to find out more about what we do and how we can help you boost your online presence.
