Showing posts with label Facebook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Facebook. Show all posts

Facebook Marketplace & Google Voice Scam Asking for Code Allows Scammer to Steal Identity

If you use Facebook Marketplace to buy or sell things, you need to be careful of scammers who might try to steal your identity. A TikTok user named Michel Janse (@michel.c.janse) shared her experience of being tricked by a fake buyer who asked her to send a code to prove she was real. But the code was actually a way for the scammer to take over her Google Voice number and use it to create fake accounts.

Woman Scammed with Google Voice to Steal Facebook Profile

Michel Janse
Michel Janse explained in a TikTok video that she was selling some furniture and a woman contacted her with an offer. She checked the woman’s profile picture and thought she looked trustworthy. She preferred to sell to women because they seemed less sketchy, however, this story proves that anyone can be a scammer.

Google Voice Scam

Here's how it happened: The woman asked Janse to accept a phone call from Google Voice to verify her identity. Janse agreed and gave her number to the scammer. The scammer went on Facebook and had a code sent to Janse, asking her to tell her the code. Janse complied and gave her the code. This was a big mistake which allowed the scammer to steal her Facebook profile. Janse could sense that something was wrong.

She googled the situation and found out that this is a common scam. The scammer then used the code to claim her Google Voice number and link it to their own phone. They could then make calls and create accounts using her number, which is a form of identity theft. Janse said she was able to get her number back by sending herself another verification code on Google Voice.

Many people commented on Janse’s video and said they knew about this scam. They advised her to never send any codes and to keep communicating with the scammer on Facebook Messenger. They also suggested using a burner phone number or a different app for voice calls. Some people criticized Janse for falling for the scam, but she said she wanted to warn others and prevent them from making the same mistake.

Facebook Marketplace Scams

Facebook Marketplace can be a great place to find deals and sell your stuff, but you have to be smart and cautious when dealing with strangers online. Facebook has some guidelines on how to avoid scams and stay safe on its platform. You should always check the profiles of buyers and sellers, use secure payment methods, meet in public places, and report any suspicious activity. Don’t let scammers ruin your online shopping experience.

Never Give Out Your 2-Factor Authentication Code

Never give out your Google Voice number to strangers or provide an account PIN or 2-factor authentication Code to anyone who is trying to assist you. No technical support person needs a PIN or 2-factor authentication code to access your account.

Texas Woman 'Fears for her Life' After Scammer Steals Facebook Profile & Posts 73 Items on Facebook Marketplace

A 43-year-old woman fell victim to a Facebook Marketplace scam after a scammer took control of her Facebook profile. The scammer posted items like a couch for sale on Facebook Marketplace for $300. Local people paid for the items online and at least three people arrive at her house to pick up the couch. She now fears for her safety and has sleepless nights after her identity was stolen in this cruel scam.


Texas Woman Fears After Scammer Steals her Identity in Facebook Scam

KPRC 2 News reported that Monique Sherman from Katy, Texas "fears for her life" after a scammer stole her Facebook profile and started listing items for sale under her name and address, saying that at least 73 items were listed, including a sectional couch and a chicken coop.

Katy, TX is approximately 29 minutes from Houston.

Monique clearly remembers when she was online and Facebook was acting strange.

Monique Sherman
Monique Sherman; Photo credit: KPRC 2 News
She told KPRC 2 News:

“I was online actually posting and then it flickered and then it asked me to put in [my] password. And I was like ‘ok’ put in my password, it wouldn’t work.” -Monique Sherman, Facebook user that was hacked

This was likely the moment that the hacker was able to gain access to her account.

After that, she was locked out of her Facebook account.

The Facebook Marketplace Scam Begins

Monique started to receive strange notifications saying she was selling items on Facebook Marketplace.

She said:

“I kept on getting activity to my phone saying I’m selling this, selling that. Seventy-three things…chicken coops, all kinds of stuff.” -Monique Sherman, Facebook user that was hacked

A fraudulent ad saying she was selling a couch actually brought three people to her home, and they told her they already paid someone else for it. The messages sent from her Facebook account even "included a picture of her ID." A photo from fake ad can be seen in the picture below.

couch
A fake couch ad on Facebook; credit: KPRC 2 News


The situation was very unsettling for Monique, given that someone had hacked her account and took her identity.

She said:

"I'm at a loss...I’m in fear for myself and I’m also upset for other people.” -Monique Sherman, Facebook user that was hacked

After unsuccessfully trying to remove the ads selling items under her profile, Monique posted a message on at least one ad to warn others that it was a scam.

Her warning read:

"THIS IS A SCAM. SOMEONE HACKED MY PAGE AND USING MY ID & ADDRESS BUYERS DO NOT PURCHASE!!!"

After the incident, Monique told KPRC 2 News she is "taking a break from social media altogether."

The KPRC 2 News video can be seen below.



It is important that you keep your social media accounts secure. If possible, enable 2-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to your social media accounts.

Readers' Thoughts and Experiences

The author has received friend requests from relatives and even friends that look legitimate but have been spoofed by scammers.

Have you ever come across a fake profile on Facebook, or has your profile ever been hacked?

(Share your experiences in the comments)

Please share this article on social media so family and friends can stay informed and safe from identity theft online.

Sources

Clarke, Deven. "Facebook Marketplace scam leaves Katy woman fearing for her life after threats and people showing up at her house." KPRC 2 News. Last updated: 3 July 2023.

KPRC 2 News official Facebook profile.

KPRC 2 Click2Houston on Youtube

FACEBOOK ONLINE LOTTERY EMAIL PHISHING SCAM


From: FACEBOOK INC USA
email: info@facebookaward.com
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!!!

The following phishing email was received and reads as follows:

Facebook Award Email Phishing Scam

From: Facebook Award
email: guest@wcd.net
subject: CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!!!!

FACEBOOK ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
FROM: THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.
CATEGORY: 2ND
CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!!!
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded Final draws held on the (20TH November 2015) by Facebook group in cash Promotion to encourage all Facebook users worldwide, your Name was among the 50 Lucky winners who won $600,000:00 USD. each on the Facebook group promotion Award Attached to Ticket Number  (5647600545189) and Lucky Number (2551256002/244) Serial Number (55643451907).
You are required to contact our dispatch dept via email ( facebookinc.usa@aol.com ) and re-confirm your Award Attached, Ticket Number, Serial Number, Full Name, Contact Address and Cell Phone Number for further instructions.
Regards,
John Cole
Promo Coordinator.
Facebook Award

Editor's note: What is this Facebook Award?  It is an email phishing scam and not a legitimate award. Do not respond.

Aspartame: A Real Killer in Your Fridge and in Your Food!

Splenda, the sweet poison in your food is Aspartame


This "chain letter" style post on Aspartame is found circulating on Facebook and Melanoma.org:


A KILLER IN YOUR FRIDGE
SWEET POISON..A MUST READ !!!
In October of 2001, my sister started getting very sick She had stomach spasms and she was having a hard time getting around. Walking was a major chore. It took everything she had just to get out of bed; she was in so much pain.
By March 2002, she had undergone several tissue and muscle biopsies and was on 24 various prescription medications. The doctors could not determine what was wrong with her. She was in so much pain, and so sick she just knew she was dying.
She put her house, bank accounts, life insurance, etc., in her oldest daughter's name, and made sure that her younger children were to be taken care of.
She also wanted her last hooray, so she planned a trip to Florida (basically in a wheelchair) for March 22nd.
On March 19, I called her to ask how her most recent tests went, and she said they didn't find anything on the test, but they believe she had MS.
I recalled an article a friend of mine e-mailed to me and I asked my sister if she drank diet soda? She told me that she did. As a matter of fact, she was getting ready to crack one open that moment.
I told her not to open it, and to stop drinking the diet soda! I e-mailed her an article my friend, a lawyer, had sent. My sister called me within 32 hours after our phone conversation and told me she had stopped drinking the diet soda AND she could walk! The muscle spasms went away. She said she didn't feel 100% but, she sure felt a lot better.
She told me she was going to her doctor with this article and would call me when she got home.
Well, she called me, and said her doctor was amazed! He is going to call all of his MS patients to find out if they consumed artificial sweeteners of any kind. In a nutshell, she was being poisoned by the Aspartame in the diet soda.. and literally dying a slow and miserable death
When she got to Florida March 22, all she had to take was one pill, and that was a pill for the Aspartame poisoning! She is well on her way to a complete recovery. And she is walking! No wheelchair! This article saved her life.If it says 'SUGAR FREE' on the label; DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!I have spent several days lecturing at the WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE on 'ASPARTAME,' marketed as'Nutra Sweet,' 'Equal,' and 'Spoonful.'In the keynote address by the EPA, it was announced that in the United States in 2001 there is an epidemic of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus. It was difficult to determine exactly what toxin was causing this to be rampant. I stood up and said that I was there to lecture on exactly that subject.
I will explain why Aspartame is so dangerous: When the temperature of this sweetener exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in ASPARTAME converts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants. The methanol toxicity mimics, among other conditions, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus.
Many people were being diagnosed in error. Although multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence, Methanol toxicity is!
Systemic lupus has become almost as rampant as multiple sclerosis, especially with Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi drinkers.The victim usually does not know that the Aspartame is the culprit. He or she continues its use; irritating the lupus to such a degree that it may become a life-threatening condition. We have seen patients with systemic lupus become asymptotic, once taken off diet sodas.
In cases of those diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, most of the symptoms disappear. We've seen many cases where vision loss returned and hearing loss improved markedly.
This also applies to cases of tinnitus and fibromyalgia. During a lecture, I said, 'If you are using ASPARTAME (Nutra Sweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc) and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting, pains, numbness in your legs,
Cramps,
Vertigo,
Dizziness,
Headaches,
Tinnitus,
Joint pain,
Unexplainable depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision, or memory loss you probably have ASPARTAME poisoning!' People were jumping up during the lecture saying,'I have some of these symptoms. Is it reversible?'
Yes!
Yes!
Yes!
STOP drinking diet sodas and be alert for Aspartame on food labels! Many products are fortified with it! This is a serious problem. Dr. Espart (one of my speakers) remarked that so many people seem to be symptomatic for MS and during his recent visit to a hospice; a nurse stated that six of her friends, who were heavy Diet Coke addicts, had all been diagnosed with MS. This is beyond coincidence!
Diet soda is NOT a diet product! It is a chemically altered, multiple SODIUM (salt) and ASPARTAME containing product that actually makes you crave carbohydrates.
It is far more likely to make you GAIN weight!
These products also contain formaldehyde, which stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs. Formaldehyde is an absolute toxin and is used primarily to preserve 'tissue specimens.'
Many products we use every day contain this chemical but we SHOULD NOT store it IN our body!
Dr. H. J. Roberts stated in his lectures that once free of the 'diet products' and with no significant increase in exercise; his patients lost an average of 19 pounds over a trial period.Aspartame is especially dangerous for diabetics. We found that some physicians, who believed that they had a patient with retinopathy, in fact, had symptoms caused by Aspartame. The Aspartame drives the blood sugar out of control. Thus diabetics may suffer acute memory loss due to the fact that aspartic acid and phenylalanine are NEUROTOXIC when taken without the other amino acids necessary for a good balance.
Treating diabetes is all about BALANCE.. Especially with diabetics, the Aspartame passes the blood/brain barrier and it then deteriorates the neurons of the brain; causing various levels of brain damage, Seizures, Depression, Manic depression, Panic attacks, Uncontrollable anger and rage.Consumption of Aspartame causes these same symptoms in non-diabetics as well. Documentation and observation also reveal that thousands of children diagnosed with ADD and ADHD have had complete turnarounds in their behavior when these chemicals have been removed from their diet.
So called 'behavior modification prescription drugs' (Ritalin and others) are no longer needed.Truth be told, they were never NEEDED in the first place!Most of these children were being 'poisoned' on a daily basis with the very foods that were 'better for them than sugar.'It is also suspected that the Aspartame in thousands of pallets of diet Coke and diet Pepsi consumed by men and women fighting in the Gulf War, may be partially to blame for the well-known Gulf War Syndrome.
Dr. Roberts warns that it can cause birth defects, i.e. mental retardation, if taken at the time of conception and during early pregnancy. Children are especially at risk for neurological disorders and should NEVER be given artificial sweeteners.
There are many different case histories to relate of children suffering grand mal seizures and other neurological disturbances talking about a plague of neurological diseases directly caused by the use of this deadly poison.'
Herein lies the problem: There were Congressional Hearings when Aspartame was included in 100 different products and strong objection was made concerning its use. Since this initial hearing, there have been two subsequent hearings, and still nothing has been done. The drug and chemical lobbies have very deep pockets.
Sadly, MONSANTO'S patent on Aspartame has EXPIRED! There are now over 5,000 products on the market that contain this deadly chemical and there will be thousands more introduced. Everybody wants a 'piece of the Aspartame pie.'I assure you that MONSANTO, the creator of Aspartame, knows how deadly it is.
And isn't it ironic that MONSANTO funds, among others, the American Diabetes Association, the American Dietetic Association and the Conference of the American College of Physicians?
This has been recently exposed in the New York Times. These [organizations] cannot criticize any additives or convey their link to MONSANTO because they take money from the food industry and are required to endorse their products.Senator Howard Metzenbaum wrote and presented a bill that would require label warnings on products containing Aspartame, especially regarding pregnant women, children and infants.
The bill would also institute independent studies on the known dangers and the problems existing in the general population regarding seizures, changes in brain chemistry, neurological changes and behavioural symptoms.
The bill was killed.It is known that the powerful drug and chemical lobbies are responsible for this, letting loose the hounds of disease and death on an unsuspecting and uninformed public. Well, you're informed now!
Please print this out and/or e-mail to your family and friends.

Email Phishing from Bedroom

Email Phishing from Bedroom