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Somebody just tried to scam me on Facebook

PostPosted: 30 Oct 2023, 20:14
by cromwell
Someone posing as a friend tried to get me to apply to something called the Bemis Foundation for a grant.

When I looked I was already friends with this person, and the language that she was using was not like her somehow. She did get the names of my son, daughter and grandchild out of me before I twigged. "She" was very insistent that I applied for this grant. It was a "Federal Government grant", so American.

I nearly fell for it too; I was being pressed to apply; first line from them was "What's your full name", at which point I realised they were phishing for details.

Now I'm wondering if I've been hacked; hopefully not. I've blocked the fake friend and the alleged agent. We'll have to see.
I'm going to be a lot more cautious in future on FB; it was the use of an old neighbour and family friends (obviously hacked) profile that thrw me at first.

There are so many people trying to rip you off, it's awful.

Re: Somebody just tried to scam me on Facebook

PostPosted: 30 Oct 2023, 20:58
by Osc
It’s awful, isn’t it, well done for realising in time.

Re: Somebody just tried to scam me on Facebook

PostPosted: 30 Oct 2023, 22:56
by jenniren
Good for you Crommers.

Re: Somebody just tried to scam me on Facebook

PostPosted: 31 Oct 2023, 08:20
by meriad
Well done for being alert Crommers....

The scammers are becoming more and more crafty, they really are. What used to be obvious spam / phishing emails, messages or whatever's are now so realistic that you really have to look hard and think twice. We have ongoing phishing training and testing going on at work because the hackers are just getting so much more sophisticated.

Re: Somebody just tried to scam me on Facebook

PostPosted: 31 Oct 2023, 08:57
by cruiser2
As I have mentioned in a previous thread, someone hacked one of my credit cards.

I am getting a lot of junk/spam mail on one of my email accounts. So I am going to close it and stop using it. I delete all the junk mail each day. There can be as many as 30.

Have set up a new email with another supplier which should stop the spam/junk mail.

If I don'tknow who is sending me an email I do not open it.

Re: Somebody just tried to scam me on Facebook

PostPosted: 31 Oct 2023, 10:22
by Workingman
Cromwell, good job you were on the ball, but I am intrigued. How did this fake friend assume that you were in the market for a grant? Had you said something or was it a shot in the dark?

Do not tell us on here, but have a good think about what could be going on so that you can act.

I found this page, which could be of help for you to secure things.

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/th ... fVw0a2Jvvr

It is not the Bemis scam but that is an almost copycat of one from last year. Good luck.

Re: Somebody just tried to scam me on Facebook

PostPosted: 31 Oct 2023, 10:25
by Kaz
:shock: Glad you realised in time!

Re: Somebody just tried to scam me on Facebook

PostPosted: 31 Oct 2023, 10:55
by cromwell
Workingman wrote:Cromwell, good job you were on the ball, but I am intrigued. How did this fake friend assume that you were in the market for a grant? Had you said something or was it a shot in the dark?


Complete shot in the dark I think, as i'm not in the market for a grant. I didn't get all the way down the route they wanted me to go, but I imagine it's just an appeal to greed. Tell us your name, tell us your address, a few details - yes, you qualify for this grant! Now, just give us your bank account details and all this lovely money will be yours....

I imagine that it would have gone something like that. If I keep getting them I might come off FB. Thanks for the link btw!