Hackers can access a person’s Facebook account in so many ways. The user might be reusing passwords, and the hackers might be able to use credentials from previous cyber leaks to access a Facebook account.
Users might fall for a phishing email and unintentionally give away their login credentials. Alternatively, a person can accidentally get malicious keylogger malware onto the device that records keystrokes and sends them to the attackers. No matter how, if the bad actors get access to a social media account, they can capitalize on it quickly.
Real-life consequences: Pete Gagliardo’s story
A retired fireman, Pete Gagliardo, learned it the hard way. Hackers took over his Facebook account and started selling stuff to his friends. The unsuspecting social media pals thought that the adverts suddenly appearing on the New Jersey man’s Facebook wall were legit and started “buying” things from Pete.
However, instead of striking deals while helping a friend in need, Pete’s followers sent money to a fraudster. While the scam was unfolding, Pete was locked out of his Facebook account. He was desperately trying to gain access to his profile. Unsuspecting that his profile was being used to scam people. The bad actor stole a lot of money from the unsuspecting victims.
Christmas scam: Concert tickets and fake items
The incident happened on Christmas. The scammed friends thought they were buying concert tickets, agricultural equipment, and other stuff belonging to the victim’s father. One of the friends even purchased airplane tickets to go to the concert. But none of those items were real.
Struggle for recovery and Meta’s involvement
The hacker changed the password and the account’s email address. Making it impossible for the retired fireman to reset his password and warn his friends on social media. Pete approached Meta but was told that he would get a response within 180 days. So instead of waiting any further, he contacted a local TV crew who somehow managed to get a hold of Meta‘s PR team. Who sped up the process of resetting his credentials and eventually granted him access back to his profile.
Extensive impacts of account compromise
Scamming friends is one of many things hackers can do if they somehow manage to log in to a social media profile. They also can go through personal chats and look for clues to blackmail you. Furthermore, can delete precious images that you won’t be able to recover. Also, can deactivate and deface the account or unfriend your friends, making it hard to get things back to normal if you eventually somehow manage to get access back to the account.
Things can happen quickly, and one of the best ways to prevent damage is to look for signs that your account has been compromised. This includes unauthorized changes in payment information, password changes, and email amendments. Any abnormal change in account information should be considered a red flag.
Cyber protection for personal and loved ones
Having antivirus software installed on all your connected devices is undoubtedly a must if you wish to never be in Pete Gagliardo’s place. Hackers not only try to ruin your life but the lives of your loved ones, and cyber protection solutions often prove to be the only thing stopping folks from getting scammed.