Facebook users are being duped into thinking that their accounts have been cloned thanks to the latest viral message that made the rounds of the social networking site on Sunday. HOAX: If you get this message on Facebook, do not forward.
At first glance, it appears like a friend is trying to warn you about your Facebook account potentially being hacked — but it’s actually a hoax. Facebook users who are receiving these friendly reminders are being urged to resist heeding the advice.
Messages that have circulated on the social media platform in recent days have all been worded similarly to this: “Hi….I actually got another friend request from you which I ignored so you may want to check your account. Hold your finger on the message until the forward button appears…then hit forward and all the people you want to forward too….I had to do the people individually. PLEASE DO NOT ACCEPT A NEW friendship FROM ME AT THIS TIME.”
A Facebook spokesman told Fox News Tuesday these messages are taking the form of a “‘chain mail’ type of notice.”
“We’ve heard that some people are seeing posts or messages about accounts being cloned on Facebook,” the spokesman confirmed. Cloning occurs when a scammer copies your entire profile, including your name and photos, and creates a second identical account with hopes of gaining access to your friends’ profiles. Once they get accepted as a friend, they attempt to get personal information.
However if you believe your account has been duplicated, Snopes suggests checking in with some of your Facebook friends to see if they got a new friend request from a profile that resembles yours. If they haven’t, it’s likely the warning you received was a hoax.
This particular scheme won’t negatively impact you — you’re simply spreading fake information.