Facebook Hack Shows Importance of Internet Security

A recent Facebook scam reported by a few of our members – and countless others, according to news reports and social media accounts – is a good lesson about the importance of two-factor authentication. In two-factor authentication, also called multi-factor authentication, you add an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring two forms of identification, such as your email address and your mobile phone number.

The Facebook fraud, in which hackers gain control of people’s accounts, shows why it’s so important. Once an account is compromised, the scammers write a Facebook post that says you are selling discounted expensive items, such as a car, on behalf of a seriously ill relative.

The hacker instructs your friends to send a private message if they are interested. He or she will try to get them to send a deposit, even though they haven’t yet seen the item “for sale.”

Such scams have been reported in Georgia, New Jersey, Colorado, and New York, with unsuspecting friends losing thousands of dollars. When our members – one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast – belatedly discovered that their accounts were hacked, they tried to change their passwords. But the hacker was one step ahead of them. The hacker had installed two-factor authentication on their accounts, which they had not enabled themselves. That enabled him to control their accounts because he used his own phone number. So, when the real account owners tried to change their passwords, they were unable to get the authentication codes, because the system sent them to the hacker.

In one case, the hacker deleted a victim’s husband from her list of Facebook friends, making it much easier to conduct the scam undetected. Meanwhile, the hacker was chatting with the victim’s other Facebook friends and asking them to pay for goods via Zelle. One friend, who was about to send the hacker a deposit on a car, finally got suspicious. “Hey,” he wrote, “how do we know each other?” “I’m sorry,” replied the hacker, “but is this not a time to remember things as I’m growing older.”

Watch out for Phony Product Recommendations

For most people, it has become a routine step in shopping: browsing the internet for recommendations and guidance before deciding to buy. Sadly, much of the information is unreliable. Most “reviews” are actually paid-for, or the reviewer gets a commission if products are purchased. And according to The Washington Post, the online suggestions and product reviews are becoming less trustworthy than ever before.

For that reason, consumers are advised to be very careful before trusting what they learn about a product online.

Among the hazards:

• Artificial intelligence tools, including Chat GPT, now enable scammers to create dishonest product reviews and post them with ease, the Associated Press reported.
• Phony content, including “best of” lists, may be designed to rate highly on Google – landing higher in a consumer’s search than a product review posted by a legitimate organization such as Consumer Reports.
• Paid-for reviews all too easily find their way onto the internet. The Federal Trade Commission issued a final rule last year prohibiting the sale and purchase of fake reviews, but the problem persists.

One study of 73 million product reviews focused on health care, home services, and the legal sector, concluded that fake reviews cost consumers $300 billion. “The financial impact of these fraudulent practices is staggering,” said Roberto Cavazos, a professor at the University of North Texas and an author of the study by the Transparency Company, which researches deceptive practices online.

Protect yourself by considering certain questions: Is the evaluator an established source of product information? Has the reviewer backed up the favorable claims with credible, objective data? Read the fine print: is the reviewing company getting paid or receiving a commission for the evaluation or comparison. Does the review seem excessively positive? If you are not satisfied with the answers, the review may very likely be dishonest, misleading or unreliable – at best.

Top Five Scams to Avoid in 2025

Fraudsters are always looking for new techniques, often based on social trends. But when an approach works, they stick with it as long as they can. A review by AARP identified five long-established scams that consumers need to watch out for in 2025.

1. Employment scams. These cons all capitalize on the victim’s desire to cooperate with a new employer. When job applicants provide personal data – such as Social Security and bank account numbers – they may become victims of fraud, identity theft, or both. Fake employers may offer job seekers a signing bonus that is actually a fake check – and then request money back due to an “overpayment.” Or they may ask their victims to pay for training that they will never receive. Job applicants should always remember that phony job listings can end up on legitimate websites. And if an outside recruiter contacts you, it is prudent to confirm with the actual employer that a job offer is real.
2. Cryptocurrency scams. In Step 1 of this fraud, scammers develop a bond with their victims whom they may meet through dating apps, text messages, or social media. Once trust is established, they move on to Step 2, offering their targets an investment opportunity, which they will control. But the victim will most likely never see their money again, according to the FBI, which notes that the scammers are usually based overseas. Older adults are often the targets, with individuals age 60 and over registering almost 17,000 complaints for losses of $1.6 billion in 2023, AARP reported. In a different crypto con, criminals have stolen money by creating phony investment sites. The message is clear: Scammers are lurking in the world of cryptocurrency. If you choose to invest, be extremely careful.
3. Celebrity imposter scams. TV and movie stars often champion goods and services and are paid quite well for doing so. In this scam, the celebrity is an imposter who reaches out to the victim directly, asking for money for some innocent-sounding purpose, such as a charity. This fraud may target older adults through social media, focusing on vulnerable individuals who have been recently widowed and who are lonely. AARP advises that no true celebrity will ask you for money or offer real friendship online. Even if the “celebrity” is just recommending a product, before you make a purchase it’s a good idea to do an online search with the name of the celebrity, the product, and the word “fake,” according to the Federal Trade Commission.
4. Tech-support scams. Computer usage has emerged as a disturbing area of elder fraud. Adults age 60 and older are “five times more likely,” to be victimized than younger people, AARP reported. In a typical tech-support scam, the victim gets a message saying their computer has a virus. The message – which looks like it came from a real company like Apple or Microsoft – features a link or phone number that will give scammers access to your computer. If you take the bait, the scammers can capture valuable personal data stored on your device. Tip: do not click any links if you get this kind of communication. Honest tech companies do not send pop-up messages asking you to click on a link or make phone calls, warning that you have a problem with your computer.At EverSafe, we strongly recommend “fighting fire with fire.” Use tech to fight tech scams – you can designate a person or team to receive alerts along with you for suspicious activity. You can also send us a screenshot, email, or text message to request an opinion on whether the communication is fraudulent. Questionable emails can be directed to hotline@EverSafe.com and texts/voicemails to 240-630-1990.
5. Credit Card-declined scams. In this scheme, fraudsters lure their victims into paying multiple times for an item – by pretending their credit card has been rejected. In reality, there may be no item to purchase, or the credit card charges have already gone through successfully. In one example last year, scammers pretended to represent the American Automobile Association, offering people free emergency kits – if they paid shipping costs. Those who tried to pay were told their cards had been declined, and victims paid again with different credit cards. Consumers should be aware that in many instances, credit cards will have better fraud protection than debit cards. Also, when making an online transaction, buyers should be aware of sham vendors who may have designed a website to imitate that of a legitimate business.