Wisconsin woman’s warning to social media users
A Trevor woman is warning others after her Facebook page was hijacked. She says the hacker used her identify to scam three people out of money.
TREVOR, Wis. – A Trevor woman is warning others after her Facebook page was hijacked. She says the hacker used her identify to scam three people out of money.
The hack
What we know:
In late December 2024, Stacey Duchow says a hacker used a compromised password to lock her out of her account. Her email, phone number and recognized devices all changed, leaving her unable to reclaim the page.
“I started looking at ways I could get in contact with Facebook,” Duchow recalled.
The scam
What we know:
Duchow said she notified the social network through its recommended methods. She also reported the problem to Meta-verified customer service. A few days after she first notified Facebook, she said the hacker posted an ad for a car while impersonating Duchow.
The ad read, “Looking to sell my well-maintained 2022 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE for $2,000. Has 156k miles and rules perfectly with no necessary repairs.”
Duchow provided Contact 6 screenshots of messages in which the hacker told one interested buyer, “I’m getting a lot of text about the car.”
The hacker then asked for a deposit. The message reads, “The deposit is to hold it til you come see it and it’s refundable if you don’t like it.”
Duchow knows of three people who sent the hacker payments. One of them sent $500.
Difficulty getting action
What they’re saying:
Duchow says Facebook did remove her page a few times but it reappeared hours later. She says Facebook finally disabled to account after one week. She says other users reported the hack, too. She’s still unsure whether the page will reappear.
“It took numerous attempts to reach out to Facebook to let them know,” said Duchow.
It’s not unusual for Contact 6 to hear about hijacked Facebook pages or the difficulties users face reclaiming them. In the last three years, Contact 6 has gotten eight complaints about hacked accounts. Facebook hasn’t responded to any complaints forwarded by Contact 6.
Expert weighs in
Local perspective:
“A lot of social media companies, Facebook included, have been cutting staff,” said Michael Zimmer, director of Marquette University’s Center for Data, Ethics and Society.
Zimmer it seems like Facebook is prioritizing its concerns.
“It’s an issue with their own success,” said Zimmer. “They have so many users and now there’s so many people trying to do bad things on the platform. How can they keep track of all that?”
Facebook isn’t responding to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in California, either. A BBB spokesperson says that’s a big reason why its rating is an “F.”
“Facebook within the last 90 days has received a total of 1,000 complaints and these are complaints at the national level,” said Alma Galvan, BBB spokesperson.
Secure your account
What’s next:
The BBB says this is why Facebook users should use two-factor authentication and unique passwords. It says when making a purchase on Facebook: don’t provide personal information, don’t move conversations outside Facebook and meet only in a public place. Also, try to verify the seller is who they claim to be.
“The number of people this has happened to, I’m not alone,” said Duchow. “You need to be very vigilant of your account.”
Facebook did not respond to Contact 6’s request for comment.
What you can do:
If you have a consumer complaint and want to see if Contact 6 can help, file a complaint form.
The Source: Information for this report comes from Stacey Duchow and screenshots provided to Contact 6. Information also comes from Michael Zimmer at Marquette University, Contact 6 case records, and the BBB.
This article was originally published by a www.fox6now.com . Read the Original article here. .