Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

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A familiar name or profile photo does not prove a Messenger message is genuine: scammers can send messages from a friend’s compromised account. Be cautious with unexpected links and sudden requests for money or help. Verify unusual requests through a separate trusted channel, and if your own account shows signs of unauthorized access, use the platform’s official recovery process.

How to spot a suspicious Messenger message

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that hacked social media accounts may send random links or fake pleas for help or money. A message can therefore look as though it came from someone you know and still be unsafe.

  • An unexpected link: Don’t open it just because the sender is a friend. If the message claims you need to sign in, go to the service through its official app or type its known address yourself rather than using the message link.
  • A sudden request for money or urgent help: Contact the person through a separate channel you already trust, such as a known phone number, and confirm the request before acting.
  • Unusual wording or timing: A sudden plea or message that seems out of character is a reason to check independently, not proof by itself that the account was hacked.

The FTC’s August 2023 guidance on recovering hacked email or social media accounts notes that an account takeover can be used to send links or requests to the owner’s contacts.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Signs your own account may be compromised

Look for changes or activity you did not initiate. Any one sign can have another explanation, so assess them together and use the official recovery process if access or account details appear altered.

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The FTC also recommends checking linked email activity, including sent or deleted messages and forwarding rules, because email may be involved in access to other accounts. Its October 2024 account-recovery alert describes signs of account access and steps to take.

What to do if a Messenger message seems suspicious

  1. Pause before responding. Don’t click a link, send money, share a verification code, or provide personal details in response to an unexpected message.
  2. Verify the sender separately. Contact the person using a phone number or another channel you already know is theirs. Don’t rely on contact details or links included in the suspicious message.
  3. Use Messenger’s own controls. Meta’s Messenger help guidance says you can block messages from a sender or report a message that seems like spam or makes you uncomfortable. Reporting does not guarantee that a message will be removed.
  4. Tell the account owner through another channel. If the message appears to come from a friend’s compromised account, let them know so they can check their access and warn other contacts.

How to recover and secure your account

Start with the official recovery route

Open the service’s official app or type its known website address yourself, then follow its recovery instructions. Avoid recovery links or phone numbers sent in an unexpected message. For Facebook, Meta’s recovery guidance directs users to facebook.com/hacked from a device they have previously used to log in. Follow the instructions shown there; the recovery process determines what steps are available for your account.

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Secure access after you regain control

  • Change your password to a strong, unique one that you do not use for another account. In an October 2024 alert, the FTC recommends a password of 12 to 15 characters or a passphrase.
  • Sign out of other sessions or devices if the service provides that option.
  • Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) if available. The FTC stresses protecting email with a strong password and 2FA because email is important to protecting personal information online.
  • Check that the recovery email address and phone number on the account are yours.
  • Review account activity, messages, posts, unfamiliar contacts, and—if a linked email account may also be affected—its sent and deleted mail and forwarding rules.
  • Update your computer security software and run a scan, as the FTC advises. A scan can help check for suspicious software; it does not recover a social media account.

If personal information was stolen, the FTC directs people to IdentityTheft.gov for reporting and a personalized recovery plan.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
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Warn contacts and reduce the chance of another takeover

Tell friends and family through a separate channel that your account may have sent messages you did not write. Ask them not to click links, send money, or respond to unusual requests from that account. Once you have access, use the service’s reporting and blocking controls for suspicious messages or senders.

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Keep your email account especially well protected: the FTC says it plays an important role in protecting personal information online and recommends a strong password and two-factor authentication. If you use a physical security key, check that it is compatible with the service and your device, and understand the service’s setup and account-recovery requirements before relying on it.

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