Facebook Warns Users with Fake and Multiple Accounts

Many Facebook users have reported receiving pop up messages that advise them that the social network has detected they are using multiple accounts.

Warning: Our Systems Detected You Have Multiple Accounts
It looks like you have more than one account on Facebook. Facebook is a community where people use their real identities so you always know who you’re connecting with. Maintaining multiple accounts is a violation of our Terms and could result in all of your accounts being disabled. Please remove this account and help us keep Facebook safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Some users complained and were worried about the warning because there are those who received the message who only have one account and do not use fake and multiple accounts on Facebook.

Apparently and based on reports by Facecrooks, Facebook is currently testing a system that gives warning to users who have opened multiple accounts. The social networking giant, however, says that they are still working on this system to be more accurate and they are only notifying possible violators. Facebook also says they are not taking any action on violators for the time being "so there’s no need for anyone to worry".

Facebook May Block Users Using Fake and Multiple Accounts
Nevertheless, it is a violation of Facebook's terms of service to use fake names and operate multiple accounts. Those who maintain fake and multiple Facebook accounts will likely have their accounts blocked or removed once the social network adopts stricter measures to deal with violators. Removal of fake and multiple accounts may be done by Facebook to combat spam and malicious activities perpetrated by fake Facebook users.

What to Do if You Have Multiple Facebook Accounts

1. Delete old and unused Facebook accounts that you have. Make sure to inform your friends in your old account that you will be merging all your contacts and activities in one Facebook account. If you do not want to lose posts and comments in your old account, you may want to download a copy of your Facebook data.

To do this, go to Account --> Account Settings and click "Download a copy of your Facebook data".



2. If you maintain a different account to manage a Facebook page, you may want to edit "admin roles" and add your Facebook account with the same admin roles and privileges.

3. Tell your friends to do something about their multiple Facebook accounts ASAP. Share this post on Facebook.

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Crimestoppers ATM PIN Reversal Hoax

The ATM PIN reversal hoax is gaining momentum in the social networking site Facebook. This hoax was originally spread through emails and is now making its rounds as tagged images in Facebook. It claims you simply have to key in your personal identification number (PIN) or atm password backwards in case of a robbery to call the attention of the authorities and police will be dispatched to the location of the crime.

The Hoax

ATM PIN Number Reversal - Good to Know!!

If you should ever be forced by a robber to withdraw money from an ATM machine, you can notify the police by entering your PIN # in reverse.

For example, if your pin number is 1234, then you would put in 4321. The ATM system recognizes  that your PIN number is backwards from the ATM card you placed in the  machine. The machine will still give you the money you requested, but unknown  to the robber, the police will be immediately dispatched to the location. All ATM’s carry this emergency sequencer by law.

This information was recently broadcast on by Crime Stoppers however it is seldom used because people just don't know about it.

Please pass this along to everyone.

This is the kind of information people don't mind receiving, so pass it on to your family and friends.

The Truth

This could have been an ingenious way of protecting ATM users from robbers. Unfortunately, this atm feature does not exist yet. The hoax message gives false hopes to ATM users that they can call the police in case of robbery situations. Crimestoppers already denied that the email and the supposed details about the ATM panic code originated from them.  Read the official  statement of Crimestoppers here.

What to Do if You Received the ATM PIN Reversal Hoax

• If you were tagged in an image that contains this hoax, untag yourself.


• Report the image by clicking the x mark beside it.


• Inform your tagger and your friends that this is a hoax by sharing this post on Facebook.

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Facebook Security Violation: What to Do if You Fell to this Scam

Why would Facebook security find your posts insulting to other Facebook users? You may have asked this when you received a Facebook security violation message that tells you your account will be disabled unless you confirm your account. The good thing is you did not likely receive a message from Facebook. You may have just received another fake message distributed by scammers in the internet.

The Facebook Security Violation Scam
Below is an example of the fake Facebook security violation message:

WARNING : Your account is reported to have violated the policies that are considered annoying or insulting Facebook users.system will disable your account within 24 hours if you do not do the reconfirmation.
Please confirm your facebook account below:
----------------------------------------
http://recovery-info-security.at.hm/
----------------------------------------
Thanks.
Facebook Security
█║▌│█│║▌║││█║▌║
Verified Official Page™ ✔ All Rights Reserved ©

In a gist, this message pretends to be from the real Facebook security team so it can more effectively scare you of losing your account. The scammers take advantage of your concerns to make you do things that will profit or benefit them.

Once you attempt to "confirm your Facebook account", you will likely be presented with a fake Facebook page that can phish out important information from you such as your password. You will likely have more problems accessing your account once you give your login details to the scammers.

What to Do if You Fell to the Facebook Security Violation Scam
1. If your received the message as a private message or chat, ignore and delete.
2. If you already answered forms and you have been tricked to give your Facebook username and password, change your password as soon as possible.

Go to Your Account Setting.


Select password>> edit password



3. You should also warn your friends about this Facebook security violation scam by sharing this post on Facebook.

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Who Viewed Your Timeline?

Did a friend send you a request to approve an application so you can see who viewed your timeline? This and variations of the messages you will find below actually lead you to fake Facebook applications. Once you give these apps access to "post in your behalf", you will likely see them posting spammy and often misleading messages on your wall.

The app and the messages may also prompt your friends to visit a page or a site where they are directed to answer survey ads.

Wow, we can already see who viewed our profile. Try it here
Wanna know who your top followers or profile viewers are? Check it out here

How can You Stop these Malicious Apps from Spamming Your Wall?
1. You should flag the messages generated by this apps as spam:



2. Make sure that you also revoke the Who Viewed Your Timeline apps' access to post messages in your behalf. Go to settings and remove the rogue application:



3. Warn your friends that timeline profile viewer applications do not yet exist and the ones spreading on Facebook are scams. Share this post on Facebook.

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Starbucks International Promo

Scammers are now using popular brand names like Starbucks when sending messages to their potential victims. In one of the random emails they send, for example, the scumbags claim that Starbucks is giving out cash gifts to short listed candidates. The email tells that you need to validate your email and requires you to send your name, mobile phone number, your date of birth and a scanned copy of your passport or driver's license.

Do not be misled by the message. By sending your personal details and giving a copy of your passport and driver's license to the anonymous people who claim to be somebody else endangers you of becoming a victim of identity theft.

From: STARBUCKS INTERNATIONAL PROMO
Subject: UK CUSTOMERS (VALIDATE YOUR EMAIL)

DEAR UK CUSTOMERS,

STARBUCKS IS GIVING OUT CASH GIFTS TO SHORTLISTED EMAIL CANDIDATES. THIS IS A WAY TO SAY THANK YOU.

YOUR EMAIL HAS BEEN SHORTLISTED AMONGST OTHERS AS WINNERS OF THIS YEAR STAR BUCKS EMAIL COMPETITION. YOUR EMAIL WAS SELECTED RANDOMLY WITH SEVEN OTHERS AMONGST MANY UK RESIDENTS EMAILS ENTERED INTO THE COMPETITION.

YOUR REFERENCE NUMBER IS XWT66577488BCK. A LUMP SUM OF TWO HUNDRED THOUSANDS POUNDS WILL BE SHARED AMONGST THE 8 EMAILS SHORTLISTED WITHIN 48 HOURS.

TO VALIDATE YOUR EMAIL, PLEASE REPLY TO verification@starbucksint.com WITH THE FOLLWING INFO:

NAME:
FULL ADDRESS:
MOBILE PHONE:
DATE OF BIRTH:
A SCANNED COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT OR DRIVERS LICENCE:

STEPHEN ROBERTS
PROMOTIONS MANAGER
Starbucks Coffee Company,

 

What to Do if You Receive the Starbucks International Promo Email

1. Ignore the message

2. Mark the email as spam



3. Warn your friends not to fall to this scam. Share this post to your Facebook and twitter friends.

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Phil Collins Dies in Car Crash

Is It True that Phil Collins Died?
Internet scams and hoax stories, for how many times, have already killed albeit virtually many celebrities and the apparent new victim is the English singer-songwriter Phil Collins. The singer is the voice behind hits that include You'll Be in My Heart, In the Air Tonight, Another Day in Paradise and Against All Odds.

If you see messages spreading in social networks particularly in Facebook that claims Phil Collins died in a car crash, please do not hit the share button. Phil Collins is well and alive and messages that say otherwise are a hoax.

Why Would People Spread False Rumors in the Internet?
Profit-driven scammers often spread malicious and often false news in the internet. Some hoax messages are spread to lure people to visit adsense and survey monetized websites where massive traffic is needed to make more money.

What should You Do?
Always google for more information whenever you see news story such as a death of a celebrity in your favorite social network. The chances are high that you have just gotten a viral hoax news. If you see a hoax story on Facebook, mark it as spam.

It also helps to inform your friends that the "Phil Collins Dies in Car Crash" news is a hoax, Share this article on Facebook.

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Scam Alert: Free Pair of Nike Shoes on Facebook

Has somebody invited you to an event entitled "Free Pair of Nike Shoes ( Just Do It!! )"? The event invitation tells you to invite friends so you can get the following free pairs of Nike shoes:

Invite 100 Friends = 1 Pair
Invite 200 Friends = 2 Pairs

The event you receive may also contain the following details:

Free Pair of Nike Shoes ( Just Do It!! )
Celebrating a whooping 3 billion dollars in profit, Nike have decided to giveaway Free pairs of Nike Shoes. Just Follow the steps to make sure you get one today. The Promo will end on the 1st of August 2012.

Since the promo says it will end by August 1, 2012, you will likely be inviting your friends to this event supposedly so you can get a pair of nice shoes from Nike. Unfortunately, this is yet another fake event on Facebook. The promised Nike shoes won't arrive in your doorstep regardless if you invite hundreds of your friends. This is a viral scam that promises non existent freebies and misleads people so they would answer surveys.

The Danger of Survey Scams on Facebook
Survey scams such as the one generated when you click the supposed Fans of Nike Shoes page solicit personal information from you. The survey questions may appear to be harmless but you may actually be giving your email or contact information that scammers can use against you.

What to Do if You Get the Free Pair of Nike Shoes Invitation
1. Scroll down to the bottom of the event page and you will see this:



2. Click report.
3. Warn your friends about this free pair of Nike shoes Facebook scam by sharing this article on Facebook.

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